Twenty years ago, you would not have found many containers suitable for gardening.
You could have only found a small number of clay pot and cachepots.
(Cachepots do not have drainage holes and are meant to be used inside the house.
) But things are different today.
Now you can find a large assortment of types of containers, in many different sizes.
Many are so beautiful that they can be used as decorative pieces without planting in them.
I love looking for new containers for my outdoor, and indoor, plantings.
I look for pots not only in gardening supply stores, but in antique shops and department stores.
I have also found some great pots at garage and yard sales.
There are many different styles of container planters that will fit in with almost any theme that you can think up.
You will find everything from Mexican pottery to plain clay pots.
I like to go to pottery shops to see how they have used their containers.
Some places really plant their pots for great visual effect.
There are a few guidelines that you should be aware of when purchasing containers for outdoor planting: All containers used for outdoors need to have drainage holes and work better without using saucers.
Water can stand for some time in saucers and keep oxygen from reaching the soil in the pot causing root tips to rot and die.
Container size must also be considered.
if you are going to plant fast-growing ornamentals, choose those of five to ten gallon or more capacity.
Plants grown in small plots will quickly become root bound.
You should also think about the shape of your container.
Those that are taller rather than wider and shorter are preferred.
This depends a lot upon the size and shape of the plant that you will be using.
What material should you use for your portable garden? Those that are made of plastic are, of course, less expensive than those made of quality clay.
You can purchase less expensive clay pots but they are more likely to crack and break.
Gardeners who live in arid climates, usually choose plastic because they hold water better than clay.
Wooden boxes, such as window boxes, can also be used for flowers but they need to be of an adequate size.
Small, narrow boxes do not work well because the soil dries out too quickly.
You can even use those old wooden buckets and tubs for a more country look.
Concrete can also be used but it is only suitable for stationary sites.
You won't be able to pick it up and move it easily.
Metal tubs, kettles and pots have also been used with success.
You will have to drill drainage holes in the bottoms of these.
Or, better yet, lay a few bricks on the inside of them and set clay pots on top of them.
Be sure to empty them frequently so that you don't have standing water that will breed mosquitoes.
The containers used for gardening are as varied as the plants that you put into them.
You only need to use your imagination to have a beautiful, useful garden.