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Mixed pot mistake?

IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
in Problem solving
Have I made the mistake of over planting pots and also mixing too many different varieties of plants in one pot? 

For example, my senetti is surrounded by yellow nasturtiums and the leaves are growing higher and standing up like umbrellas over the flowers. Should I try to carefully dig the nasturtiums out and replant elsewhere?

Other pots have mixtures of iris with rudibeckia, figs with creeping phlox, figs with California poppies, lillies with poppies etc.

Do I need to stop this habit and sort it all out?

Posts

  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I’d certainly take the nasturtiums out, they’re grow too much in rich compost they grow better ie more flowers in poor soil. Use your judgement on the other mixes and,as we all try to do, learn by your mistakes. 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Hi there, I think it's really down to personal taste.  Grow what you like and experiment - you can adjust your combination if it doesn't quite work and change colour, height etc.  Personally I prefer single species to a pot for more impact.  This also enables you to use the right planting medium and to water and feed according to each specific plant's preferences.  I'd also recommend topping your pots with grit or pebbles to minimise splashback when watering and to deter weeds, plus conserve water.  Keep on growing!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    There are 2 main things to consider.
    First is that the plants all need the same growing conditions, so no damp lovers with ones that need dry soil, or shade and sun lovers together.
    Second, that one plant will not grow to the detriment of the others.
    Some plants may need the pot to themselves in order to flourish without competition, especially shrubs and trees, but also bulbs that need to store energy for next year's flowers. Even if you get that bit right, some plants grow much more vigourously than others and will restrict their growth.
    In addition some flowers last longer than others, so may spoil your display. So it can be a bit tricky and you need to know your plants well, but that doesn't mean it can never work  and there are plenty of lovely combinations possible. Sometimes it is easier to have plants in separate pots so you can try different combinations and chop and change as things are looking their best and remove as they fade
    As far as your pots go, I don't know about figs and their requirements, but I've grown most of the rest and they are generally no problem. Iris come as various types though, with different needs, so which kind are you growing?
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I’m always surprised when I see colour combinations like salmon pink alongside buttercup yellow but, if the owner likes it, that’s all that matters.
    Rutland, England
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I think the fig needs to be in a container on its own. They get huge.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    I took your advice @Bilje and the nasturtiums have come out into their own pot so let’s see if they survive. The difference was just too jarring and they started to cover the senetti flowers. Again I didn’t realise how much it would fill the large pot. 

    I’ve tried to clear a few things from the fig pot but it’ll take autumn to take the lillies from there. 

    Will start taking some pics of the pots to see how they look to remind me next year.
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