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Top Container Plants for Shade: Best Picks and Tips

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If you don’t have enough space—let alone enough sunlight to peak through your place—yet still want to incorporate some greenery into your area at the least, tapping on container plants for shade is the way to go. Although most plants need full sunlight as their energy source, this isn’t always the case for all. Not all gardens receive enough sun, and that’s fine because not all plants need full sunlight to grow. There are few of those that thrive even under partial shade.

Interested to learn which of these I’m referring to? Read on.

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Container plants for shade: vegetables

Leafy greens: kale, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard

On the top spot for shade-loving vegetables would have to be leafy greens. Generally, they are the most tolerant when it comes to growing under shades and cooler temperatures. With just 3-4 hours of sun exposure a day, you can already enjoy your own fresh supply of leafy greens. However, this case would mean slower production but smaller, sweeter, and more tender, harvests.

Root crops: beets, carrots, potatoes, radishes

Second on the list for shade-tolerant veggies are root crops. Growing root crops in partial shades would help prevent them from bolting too quickly. Bolting is described as the sudden vertical growth of a plant entering seed production, usually followed by the plant’s death. Additionally, partial shades work well for root crops like beets, carrots, potatoes, and radishes because 4-5 hours of sun daily is already enough for them to thrive. Radishes specifically prefer shades, especially during the hot summertime. Generally, root crops may be harvested even before they fully mature. Just make sure to water them regularly to avoid woodiness.

Peas and beans

Peas and beans, like leafy greens, love cooler weather and are adaptable to shade. In fact, growing them under cool partial shades will help prolong their growing season. These vegetable varieties work with just 4-5 hours of daily sun. Remember to harvest as regularly as you can to encourage more production!

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Container plants for shade: herbs

Although herbs usually need more sun to grow, this doesn’t mean they can’t grow under the shade too. Four (4) hours of sun daily is enough for them to prosper. Take note that this would mean, however, slower and less dense production compared to those grown under fuller sun exposure. But, no need to worry since most culinary herbs are naturally fast growers—faster than lettuce. Moreover, when finally established, herbs like mint, chives, oregano, and cilantro, will flourish even with only 3 hours of sun a day.

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Container plants for shade: flowers

Different flower varieties grow best even on shady balconies or covered patios. Examples are:

  • Begonias. Most begonias grow best when not exposed to full sun. Placing them on filtered sun or partial shade for about 4 to 6 hours is usually the best estimate to experience them at their best. Moreover, most begonias grow fine even under full shade (no direct sun), but expect fewer flower blooms. Water them at a minimum for they don’t like soggy soils.
  • Impatiens. Impatiens are ideal for containers and they grow best under partial shade. At least 2-4 hours of filtered sun should be enough for their successful growth. Moreover, impatiens placed in heavily shaded areas usually grow taller with fewer blooms.
  • Lenten rose. The shade tolerance of lenten roses makes them perfect for city gardeners. Just like all the other woodland plants, they grow best under partial shade. Do not—unless it’s winter and the sun is extremely mild—expose them to full sun, ever. Just remember to protect them from harsh winter winds.
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Tips on how to make the most out of your shade-loving container garden

  • Instantly brighten up your shaded spaces by planting light-colored plants
  • All container plants, whether they require shade or not, need good soil to start. Do not use soil garden soil as they tend to be denser.
  • Do not overwater your container plants, especially those placed under the shade, as the lack of sun exposure would mean a longer period for water to sit on the soil

Check out this good read: Container Gardening Ideas: The Best Guide for You

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The Best Guide for Your Flower Containers

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Why wait to receive flowers when you can have your own supply yourself? Not enough space? No problem. Grow your own flowers in containers at home! This article is specifically made with the hopes to help you in your container flower gardening journey—from choosing the right flowers to identifying the different flower containers you can tap on.

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Flowers for container gardens

Container-grown flowers come in different colors, sizes, and varieties. Many flowers thrive well in containers, helpful in terms of adding instant aesthetic to your dull patios, balconies, or even tables. Few examples for this include:

  • Calla Lilly. This variety comes in different colors and is often used in bouquets or wedding floral arrangements. They are best grown an inch deep and an inch apart. When it comes to choosing the right containers for this, be sure to use those at least 10 inches wide in diameter to give their roots enough space to breathe and grow.
  • Chrysanthemum. Growing chrysanthemums in pots is quite popular for most houses. When growing them, be sure to put them in a spot that gets enough sunlight, but not too much to avoid drying them out. Moreover, Chrysanthemums have a shallow root system, thus, regular watering is a must. Also, remember to prune and clean from time to time to encourage more blooms!
  • Geranium. Geraniums are a common choice for most balcony gardens and grow perfectly in containers. When planting one, be sure to observe proper drainage as Geraniums do not like too much moisture. During their blooming phase, be sure to fertilize every 2 weeks to experience maximum results. Repot when necessary to keep them fresh.

Read:
25 Flowers for Container Gardens
The Best Flowers for Container Gardens

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Tips on how to make the most out of your container flowers

One key component of any successful container garden is good drainage. Make sure that in whatever container you choose, it has sufficient holes to support their growth. This is to ensure that excess water has a place to drain through. If you’re up-cycling old scraps, be sure to drill enough holes on their bottoms. Failing to provide drainage will drown your plant and rot its roots.

Another factor to consider would have to be proper maintenance. First, be sure to water your plants regularly to avoid drying them out. However, be sure not to overdo it. To check your soil’s moisture, you can stick your fingers in for about an inch and then from there, determine whether it is dry or not. Second, give your flowers the right nutrition. Regularly re-pot your flowers to freshen them up and encourage bloom after bloom. Fertilize whenever necessary. Third and finally, regularly pinch, prune, and remove dead or dying flowers.

Are you interested to learn about how to properly design your containers and improve your garden’s aesthetic? Learn more about the Thrillers, Fillers, Spillers concept.

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Ideas for flower containers

Choosing flower containers or containers in general for your garden is a crucial step to achieve success. Since it basically has no restrictions, provided the containers have enough drainage holes, this phase may come out as too overwhelming. But do not allow it to be. Use this freedom to your advantage.

Try up-cycling these as your flower containers:

  • Birdcages
  • Plastic bottles
  • Basins
  • Buckets
  • Trash cans
  • Kettles
  • Cabinets
  • Baskets

Remember that choosing flower containers may be crucial but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Widen your reach and do not be afraid to explore!

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Container Gardening Ideas: The Best Guide for You

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Container gardening ideas is a hot topic searched by many online. Although there are about thousands of solutions for it, still, no one can provide one definite answer.

Why?

Simple. Because gardening is a free space. In this, you can do just about anything you want, depending of course on the resources you have available. Needless to say, every container garden tells a different story.

That said, how can you make your container garden beautifully and uniquely yours?

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Container gardening ideas

When starting your container garden, it would be nice to research first into the various container gardening projects available online. Take inspiration from them and then twist and tweak their ideas according to your own style. The possibilities are endless. You can let them sleep on steps, breathe through windowsills, scatter around the corners and even let them hang on your walls—as long as you incorporate the right plants with the right containers and give them the right nutrition, your container garden is all set for success.

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How do you arrange a container garden?

In just about any course, you can never go wrong by beginning with the basics. Of all the components there are to think about when it comes to arranging potted plants, I’ve narrowed them down to three: selecting the right containers, clustering containers: the rule of odds, and combining the right plants: thrillers, fillers, spoilers.

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Selecting the right containers

Containers come in different sizes, colors, and even material. Know that choosing where to plant your plants make a big difference to your plants’ growth. A general rule you must keep in mind is to always give your plants adequate space to grow. The larger the container, the bigger the root space available, the better for mix-planting. Don’t forget your aesthetics too. Using the same colored pots can make your garden more unified. You can, however, always add a quick pop of color!

TIP: Don’t forget to add drainage holes to your containers!

Learn more about choosing the perfect containers.

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What does the rule of odds mean?

One famous rule in design is the rule of odds. This states that images are more visually appealing when you add an odd number of elements to a composition. This is a perfect rule that you can add to your long list of container gardening ideas. You don’t have to fill your entire space with plants. Instead, try clustering containers in odd numbers such as 3, 5, or 7. Incorporate this and instantly, spice up your container gardening arrangements.

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What plants go together in containers?

When mixing plants in containers, a common way to begin designing is to use the “Thriller, Filler Spiller” concept. This gardening design strategy utilizes three different plant types—perfect to create well-rounded and pleasing container gardens.

Thrillers

Thrillers are big and tall plants, used as the focal point of your container plant designs. Their height provides drama and vertical elements to your design, making them more eye-catching. They’re either placed at the center or sometimes at the back part of the containers. They can be flowers or ornamental grasses. Examples for this include:

  • Canna Lily. Canna lily is one of the best options that you can have as a thriller plant. Not only does it grow tall and bright, but it also thrives well even under the strong summer heat. Furthermore, its rich color is also a perfect addition if you wish to instantly warm your balcony up, along with other plants.
  • Asters. Asters can grow for up to 3-4 feet, perfect as centerpieces. Like Daisies, Asters have their starry-shaped flowerheads to thank.
  • Purple Fountain Grass.
  • Cosmos.
  • Salvia.
  • Dahlia.

Fillers

Fillers are more rounded plants used to enhance the thriller and fill the empty spaces. You can have one or two plant varieties as fillers, provided they aren’t too big or too tall to cover the thriller. Of the many plants that can fall under this category, try:

  • Angelonia.
  • Begonias.
  • Caladium.
  • Coleus.
  • Geraniums.

Spillers

Spillers are the plants that literally spill from the corners or sides of your containers. When viewed from all sides, place your spillers around your container as well. Moreover, when viewed only on one side, place your spillers in front of your container. Remember that they are what softens your design as they cascade beautifully over the containers. Well-chosen spoilers are what completes the whole design. Examples for this include:

  • Alyssum.
  • Bacopa.
  • Sweet Potato Vines.
  • Trailing Begonia.
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Container gardening tips and tricks

  • When planting different plants in one container, make sure that they have the same water and light requirements.
  • Remember to provide drainage holes to every container you’ll be using. Good drainage is a MUST.
  • Ceramic containers or terra cotta pots sips the moisture from the soil. With this, you would have to water your plants as much as you can. Do not overwater.
  • If you have a big planter to fill, make use of old cans, bottles, and milk jugs at the bottom of your container.
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DIY Container garden ideas

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