How to Best Use Pots & Planters to Grow Strawberries

Strawberries are most easily grown in special pots or planters. Typically, these pots are shaped like an urn and have holes on the sides which allow the plant to spread out. With these special pots or planters, which can be left above ground or buried in soil, growing strawberries becomes fairly easy to do.

There are several materials that strawberry pots can be made out of. Strawberry plants will grow in each material, but each has pros and cons.

Plastic can be decorative or plain, and is generally inexpensive; sometimes it can be too light and will lead to your plants falling over in the windTerra cotta/clay is usually attractive and will hold heat well, however it loses moisture readily and so needs to be watered more oftenWooden barrels are also good at holding heat and add interest to your garden, however they tend to be heavy and may rot if not made of good woodCeramic pots are attractive and retain water well, but they are generally more expensive

With a different sort of pot and growing style, you have to put your strawberry plants into your pots a certain way. Know that for a strawberry pot, ever-bearing and day-neutral are the best types of strawberry plants to use.

Fill the pot up with soil until the lowest pocket(s) and insert one plant into each pocket; fill around them with soilInsert a 1” tube with holes drilled in its side into the pot, but not directly over the drainage hole; use this later to make sure that all the pockets will get sufficient waterContinue filling in soil and adding plants to pockets until you reach 2” below the rimAdd 3-4 plants to the top of the container and fill in with soil

Strawberries are perennials, so as long as you take good care of them, they should continue to produce fruit year after year. They can fairly easily be grown in either pots or planters. Here are some tips for keeping your strawberry plants alive and healthy in the long run!

Any soil high in organic matter will work well for strawberry plants; consider adding compost, peat, leaf mold, or bone meal to make even better soilStrawberry plants need at least six hours a day of sunlightWater daily or as neededEither add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil or fertilize every few weeks with a water-soluble fertilizerWatch for pests or fungus, which will need to be treated with some application of insecticide or fungicidePick strawberries when they are ripe, and remove any rotting fruit or yellowed leaves

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How to Best Care for Large Indoor Planters

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Having large planters indoors can transform an ordinary looking room. There are many large, decorative planters available online and in stores that range in style from modern to classic and everything in between. While it is easy to choose a stylish large indoor planter, it is also important to maintain your planters, so that your plants will survive and keep your indoors looking great.

There are many larger plants that will grow well and look great in your larger indoor planters. Depending on how you want your room to look— tropical, desert, traditional, zen, etc—there are many plants to that will give you just the feeling you want. Here are just a few ideal for growing indoors:

FicusBromeliadsPalms (especially Coco palm)DracaenaStomantheSucculents/cactusCitrusAlocasiaPhilodendronKalanchoeMaindenhair fernsOrchidsDiffenbachia

Being indoors means that your plants will be subjected to a very limited environment in the ways of nutrition. You must make sure you put your plant in a place where it will be able to get everything it needs to survive.

Place your planters by a large window or skylight so they can get (at least) 6 hours of sunlight a dayIf you do not have enough light indoors for your plants, consider getting artificial fluorescent lighting for themPlace the planters where there aren’t large fluctuations in temperature; temperatures in bedrooms or living rooms stay fairly constantKeep your plants away from direct heat sources like heaters or fireplaces; your plants will dry out very easilyAvoid placing your plants in high traffic areas unless they are well-groomed and will not bother someone walking by

Watch your plants carefully and make sure to water or fertilize them as needed. It is also important to check for insects and disease.

Use distilled water (which prevents mineral buildup) to water your plants as neededUsing a non-salt based product to fertilize your plants will also prevent mineral buildupRemove dust from plant leaves  with a soft cloth to allow the plant to absorb as much light as possiblePrune your plants on a regular basis as they growCatch any disease or pests early on to prevent a real problem from occurring; if it does become a serious issue, make sure to only use products safe for living areas.Sometimes plants will benefit from being outside for a while, so place your movable planters outside every once in a while if you can

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