Garden Planters: Bring the garden indoors, or explore container gardening on your patio

~ Selecting & Arranging Plants in Interior Planters ~

It can be lots of fun to pick out and arrange the plants that go in your planters.  You need to focus on both what is best for the plants and what works well in the area where you are placing the planter.  There are so many types of climates in California to make any blanket recommendations in this area. However, there are some general guidelines that can be used if you are in Yosemite or Death Valley. Below are some basics.

When placing your planter you should take into account:

• temperature
• humidity in the air
• light
• proper ventilation

Though it may seem as if your home maintains the same temperature throughout, it really does vary quite a bit.  The area near your windows can be as much as 20 degrees higher or lower than the average temperature of the rest of the home.  So make sure that you test the average temperature of an area before you place your plants there. 

Also homes are built with people in mind, not plants, and many plants find the interior of the home to be extremely drying.  Try not to place plants near a heater  vent or other dryer areas.  During the winter months work to keep your plants hydrated by spritzing them.

All plants need light to grow and thrive.  However some need more light than others and others need less.  Make sure you know whether your plants desire full sun, partial sun or shade in order to grow well.

Ventelation is important to ensure your plants get the air they need to stay healthy.  Make sure your home has plenty of ventilation but make sure you don’t leave the plants where a sudden draft can cause a temperature drop.

Selecting and Grouping Plants

Do remember to select plants for your interior planter according to how much time you have to devote to them.  It can be incredibly depressing to buy a high maintenance plant only to have it wither and die on you.

When arranging groups of plants in your planter you can really go artistic in combining color and textures, foliage and flowers, and of course that groundcover.  Decide if you wa taller foliage or shorter foliage.  If the planter will operate as more of a room divider you will probably lean towards taller foliage.  Take in the colors of the room where the planter is to be placed.  You can really create a striking effect in a darker corner with brightly colored flowering plants.   If your home is rented you probably have white washed walls you can soften the harshness of that artificial whiteness by placing feathery foliage against the walls.

Here are some basic guidelines for grouping your plants in a garden planter.
1. Select plants with differences in color and texture to create interesting contrast in the planter.
2. Make sure you have varying levels of height so some plants set off others
3. Choose colors in your plants that will either complement or set off the colors of your room

Installing Plants in the Planter

You can install plants in you planter in a few different ways.  There is the option of installing plants directly into the open soil.  You can also keep the plants in separate pots inside the planter and fill in the spaces with a layer of pebbles.  Some people also prefer to place a covering of peat moss or vermiculite over the potted plants to add decoration and help keep moisture in.

If you have tall foliage remember to stake your plants so that they grow properly and don’t tip over.