If you have an assortment of plant pots that are looking a bit sad, it could be time to re-think what you have growing and enliven them with a few bold ideas. Potted colour is easy and not expensive. So consider these tips to add a splash of colour to your patio or balcony garden.
1. Choose statement pots
One way to make a big splash is to first buy a few statement pots in ceramic, glass reinforced concrete (GRC), terracotta, or good quality plastic.
Choose a variety of textures, colours, and shapes. Then choose plants to contrast or harmonise with the pots. You can group them on a patio, along a path, or at the front door.
2. Buy small succulents
If you forget to water your pots regularly, try different textured succulents as they are very hard to kill once they get established. Buy them small, and choose a suitable potting mix that’s both the best quality and has water crystals.
Succulents come in a large range of colour leaves, and they reward you with an unexpected range of bold coloured flowers. So use a suitable succulents mix for them.
3. Pick plants for your coloured pots
White pots will look good with any flowers. A useful fuss-free plant is Alstroemeria, the Peruvian lily. A yellow, orange or pink variety will look fresh and brighten any space.
Or try a variety of green foliage plants in dark pots for a sleek, textural look.
Petunias are always cheerful. Try pink in a blue pot, or yellow in a red pot. There is now a perennial petunia which looks stunning in a hanging pot.
Coleus have variegated leaves and so are a show-stopper on their own. Tree begonias have velvety leaves with long delicate flower spikes of pink – they look too perfect to be real. Any good garden centre will have a bold array of punnets available now.
Choose colours that suit your outdoor space and try different combinations: red petunia with blue lobelia around the sides, or blue petunia with white lobelia trailing down the sides.
Zinnias are perfect potted annuals. They come in a range of colours and are best grown from seed, since they don’t like to be transplanted. Choose a slate grey GRC pot or trough for a magnificent summer display.
4. Keep your colourful pot plants thriving
Want to keep your display looking good for many months? Start with fresh potting soil and add in some slow-release fertiliser. Water the seedlings or plant immediately and keep them out of the hot sun until they’ve recovered from the shock of being transplanted – a shelter will work if the pot can’t be moved.
Most potted plants need to be watered daily. If you can’t manage that, it’s worth connecting up sprayers or drip lines to each pot, as well as to a timer. This also means you can have a few days away with less worry.
If there’s any bare soil showing, use flat pebbles to cover the surface as it can help prevent the soil from drying out.
Keep your pots out of the wind, as the plants aren’t as robust as those planted directly in the ground. Deadhead annuals and lightly prune, then give a liquid feed every 6 weeks to keep them growing vigorously.
No matter your taste, each summer you can choose a new combination of annuals, succulents, ferns, dahlias or marigolds. There is always enough choice to make your pots a feature in your garden.
