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Feeding container plants... Slightly confused

CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
edited February 2019 in Plants
Hi guys,

I have quite a few perennials in smallish 10 inch terracotta pots due to having run out of space in the garden and planning to buy a house this year so I am keeping them in pots temporarily. However I am confused as how to feed them throughout the year.

So most of them are already in pots from last year and I have read it is best to scrap away the top 1-2 inches of soil and put in some fresh. Do I always add some slow release fertilizer at this point or is it better to feed them with some liquid nitrogen seaweed every 2 weeks until they produce buds and then switch to a high potash feed?

Also how does this work for plants like Shrubby Salvias and Penstemons in containers? Monty said once on gardeners world that these plants like to be treated mean and they thrive and flower better in poor soil. So is this still true when it comes to these plants being in containers? Or is it still better to feed these particular plants?

Thanks
Craigh

Posts

  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    I use liquid feeds, have used Chempak now use Tomorite or similar, with slow release fertilizer, in the compost mix, to good effect.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi Craig - I'd do what's easiest for you and your circumstances. 
    Replace a bit of compost and mix some slow release fertiliser in with it. That will keep them going for a good while. Keep the moisture levels as appropriate to the plant, and deadhead etc as normal.
    That means they're all being treated the same and saves you worrying about when you fed that one, and whether it had a certain food etc. 
    You can add a liquid feed later in the year if necessary as cornelly suggests, if any plants are heavy flowerers. 
    I wouldn't overly worry about them after that.  :)

    In the ground, plants have access to more, or less, food and moisture depending on their position and the other plants around them, so that can be a bigger factor than when they're in a pot. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    Thank you both. I have got lots of slow release fertilizer so I may try to use that up. As you said that way I don't have to think about it too much.

    And what about the shrubby Salvias and penstemon? Would you still feed these too or should I do as monty says and give them poor soil (or compost in my situation)?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd just treat them the same for now Craig. They're going to be limited in their access to nutrients anyway by being in the pot.
    It would be more of an issue if you were feeding them every week with extra food, whereas a little slow release stuff will do no harm over several months. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    Brilliant thank you.

    I can't wait to find a new house so that I can get everything in the ground as it would be much less hastle with all the watering etc!


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Definitrely Craig!
    Keep us posted as to how they do, or if you have any problems, and we'll try and help.
    Most potted plants are a wee bit trickier than if they're in the ground, but as long as they're healthy and not too dry/too wet, they should be fine for a good while.
    If they get too big, you can divide most perennials quite anyway, and have even more plants to look after....;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KiliKili Posts: 1,104
    Fairygirl said:
    I'd just treat them the same for now Craig. They're going to be limited in their access to nutrients anyway by being in the pot.
    It would be more of an issue if you were feeding them every week with extra food, whereas a little slow release stuff will do no harm over several months. 
    Craig, Fairygirls got it in one. Id do as she says . I scrape away the top surface soil and replace with fresh compost and mix in a bit of Fish, blood and bone.

    I also tip out compost from any pots I've used for annuals and turn that over with a spade  then, mix in F,B & B and reuse it. Reduces the amount of new compost I have to buy and recycles the old compost which is just the growing medium which has been depleted of nutrients which FBB replaces in most part.

    Kili

    'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

    George Bernard Shaw'

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    CraighB said:
    Brilliant thank you.

    I can't wait to find a new house so that I can get everything in the ground as it would be much less hastle with all the watering etc!


    CraighB, I have to agree with you there. I had to actually water some pots today. Totally unheard of in the last 2 years since I have started container gardening. It can be a bit of a hassle, especially all through the summer time.

    With the feeding, I never feed unless I see signs in plants/shrubs. So far, I have found that provided you scrape out the top layer and re-lay a new topping of compost, it's sufficient to keep general perennials happy. The compost can get compacted, so I pierce the soil with skewers to make sure air and water gets through.

    As for Salvias, don't need to feed them. In fact, make sure you have added grit in the compost. Excess feeding only creates lots of floppy lush green foliage that cannot sustain their height at the later part of summer.
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