3 ways to fill the volume of pots

The considerable weight has an advantage. You can be almost certain that no one will steal them from you and when you wake up in the morning, the large pots with plants will still be there as before, especially if you keep them in an unfenced area. We are cowards, but fair, after all, anything happens…

How many stones to put?

It all depends on the height of the pot and what you will be growing.

• For example, if the pot is tall and annual flowers are planted, almost the entire volume of the pot can be filled with stones, leaving only as much space for the soil as the plants need.

• Another option, if you want to plant a bush in a pot, for example a beautiful hydrangea. Then put a few stones at the bottom of the pot and fill the rest of the volume with soil as much as possible. By the way, if you want to know more about hydrangea varieties and their selection, click here this link.

2. Large pots – light pots

I recommend this option if:

1. during the season you will want to move the pot from one place to another;
2. you intend to keep the pot on the balcony (for safety reasons, due to the structures that have to support the weight of the balcony and these large pots with plants).

In these two cases this method is particularly convenient, because although the pots are large, they will be enough easy.

So what will we need?

• First we find old disposable pots that have been lying in the basement or pantry for a long time and «seem» useless. If you have pots left over from growing orchids, they are perfect because they have lots of holes in the bottom and water conductivity is important to us.
• Fill a part of the volume of the pots with pots. It is better to turn them so that the watering water does not stagnate, but flows easily. You can crush them, tear them, the more holes and tears, the easier the water will flow.
• If you want the soil not to mix with the pots, you can put a film between them. In this case textile agrofilm would be the best choice. It holds one layer from the other, separates them, but the water flows down as best as possible.

When we have everything ready, we pour the substrate that will be used for planting the plant. Everything is really simple!

3. Large pots: lots of soil

By choosing this method, large vessels are filled with earth, so to speak, coming from the heart. We do not turn anything, but fill the entire volume with earth.

Naturally, before this, the bottom itself should be covered with a drainage layer. I, for example, use expanded clay granules.

Choose this method if you have high-quality soil specially designed for balcony flowers. You can also mix garden soil well with peat to make it as conductive as possible.

This option will especially appeal to plants, because the pot is large, there is a lot of soil, the humidity lasts a long time and there is a lot of space for roots. These conditions are the most similar to those present in nature and are the most favorable for the plant itself. Therefore, if you have the possibility, even for annual flowers, fill the entire large pot with soil.

The more soil in the pot, the less often you will have to water. Small pots with little soil dry out very quickly, so they need to be watered more often. Large pots are watered less often, using more water at a time.

Read also:

If you are wondering how to create an original composition with potted or flowerbed plants, read also: “Planting flowers in a bed – video instructions!”

Non-standard plants: potted peonies. Light «How to plant peonies in pots: an idea for the balcony«