Contents
INTRODUCTION
- What are Vertical Planters?
Vertical planters are pots that can be used to utilize vertical space in gardens, balconies, and any available space in the house that is ideal for growing plants. There are different types of vertical planters available for different space utilization. The advantages of vertical gardening for small spaces are endless. Hanging baskets, vertical planters, stacked pots, wall-mounted pots, vertical pocket planters, and railing pots to utilize even the small balcony grills.
- Benefits of using Vertical Planters
For plant enthusiasts who struggle to grow plants in small spaces or rental spaces vertical container gardening is an ideal method. Because of the budget-friendly product availability, portability, and ease of utilizing the small spaces in gardens are the attracting factors to gardening enthusiasts. These planters are as easy to use as normal pots so no hassle.
TYPES OF VERTICAL PLANTERS FOR CONTAINER GARDENING
- Wall-mounted vertical planters
Wall-mounted vertical planters are used to grow plants in vertical spaces like balcony grill walls, grills, and compound walls. These pots are hook-type pots that can be hung on vertical grills, plant stands with hanging nets or you can choose vertical planters with panels. These are pots that are available below 8 inches not ideal for bigger plants, but you can grow all types of succulents and houseplants in them. Sometimes these wall-mount planters come with stands that are used to create garden walls.
- Hanging Vertical Planters
Hanging baskets are widely known pot types to utilize vertical space., there are different sized, shaped pots in different materials. Hanging pots are used to hang in ceiling hooks with the help of s-hooks, and hanging pot chains, or hook-hanging pots can be used to hang on grills, balconies, and window grills. If you don’t have ceiling hooks in houses you can use plant hangers and drill them to the wall to hang a plant pot or you can use plant hook holders. I already posted a blog post about Hanging Basket Check out to know more.
These pots are widely used in commercial places and gardeners who have lack of space. These Stacked pots are useful to utilize even the small corners., with this stacked pot you can grow 10-15 plants in one pot. You can set up an entire house need edible plants in one stacked pot, herb garden, flower garden, or succulent garden in one place. A thematic way to grow plants in small spaces.
These pockets’ vertical planters are similar to fabric grow bags. These planters can be hung on compound walls, indoor walls, and any walls that are ideal for growing plants. Highly porous material and well-aerated option for plants. These pocket vertical planters are lightweight and easy to install.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT VERTICAL PLANTER FOR YOUR SPACE
- Factors to Consider When Choosing a Vertical Planter
The first and foremost thing while choosing a vertical planter is., these are used to hang on some kind of surface it is not ideal to grow any heavy plants or deep-rooted plants. These vertical planters are ideal for growing succulents, houseplants, herbs, and shallow-rooted small vegetables and fruits.
- Space Requirements for Vertical Gardens
Ensure the dimensions of the wall you gonna utilize for vertical planters and vertical planters are matching. Choose pots based on your wall types, vertical wall planters are ideal for flat surfaces, narrowed balconies with grills need hook-hanging pots, and small corners need stacked pots.
Make sure the space around the vertical planter is free to access the plants for watering, pruning, and other gardening work. Choose vertical planters based on your wall’s capacity to hold., if the wall is thin and unstable choose lightweight pocket planters. If the wall is sturdy with grills choose a hook vertical planter, the flat and sturdy walls are suitable for vertical planters with panels.
- Light requirements of vertical planters
Choose plants based on space requirements or choose place based on plants light requirements. You can identify the sunlight requirements and light-related details in my blog post about sunlight.
For low-light areas choose plants that tolerate shade like ferns, pothos and houseplants. For Moderate-light choose herbs and flowering plants. For Direct-light areas choose succulents and dwarf vegetables. For the Indoor vertical planter wall, try to adopt a light-reflecting method or use artificial lights to get the proper light requirement for the plant or choose shade-loving plants.
BEST PLANTS FOR VERTICAL PLANTERS IN CONTAINER GARDENS
- Vegetables for vertical planters
These are the easy vegetables for vertical gardening, leafy vegetables like lettuce, and spinach and most of the leafy vegetables are ideal to grow in vertical planters. These are quick crops and easy to grow. Peas and beans love to climb and can be trained to grow up a trellis. Cherry tomatoes and compact cucumbers are ideal to grow in small spaces and vertical spaces. A compact variety of carrots, zucchini and radishes are ideal to grow in vertical planters.
- Herbs that thrive in Vertical Gardens
These are the top herbs for vertical planters that can be easily grown in stacked vertical planters. Basil is an easy-to-care and grow herb that needs well-draining soil. Parsley an easy-to-grow herb that can be used for culinary needs. Thyme is a hardy that tolerates less watering and grows even in small spaces good for meat garnishes.
Mint is a fast-growing herb ideal for food dressing. Chives are ideal for small containers and add flavour to dishes. Rosemary is an upright herb that can be used for hair growth and culinary purposes. Sage is a good choice for vertical gardening you can use them for meat stuffing. Cilantro is a popular culinary herb that can be easily grown in small pots.
- Flowering plants for vertical containers
Most of the annuals are ideal for vertical containers, annuals are shallow-rooted. Petunias are a vibrant choice of vertical gardens, Geraniums are hardy flowers that tolerate low maintenance, Begonias are ideal for shade spaces, and pansies are available in a wide colour range ideal for partial shade, impatiens are ideal for direct sunlight spots and bring colour to gardens.
Verbena is a drought-tolerant flowering plants that do well in small pots with vibrant colours. Sweet alyssum works well in vertical planters and attracts pollinators, Morning Glory is a climbing plant that will quickly cover a trellis with colourful flowers, Marigolds are natural pest repellent perfect for vertical gardens and ideal for full-sun.
- Trailing plants for a fuller look in vertical Planters
String of pearls a succulent that can add a unique texture to vertical gardens. English ivy is to grown hardy plant that is ideal for vertical gardens. Pothos family plants are ideal choices for vertical gardens because of easy to grow, fast-spreading and ideal for partial shade. Tradescantia are ideal for hanging vertical planters.
Creeping jenny is known for its bright golden or green leaves to add colours to vertical gardens. Spider plant is a spill-out plant that can be grown in small pots. Trailing lobelia with delicate blue, white and purple flowers. Sweet potato vines are great to add green and purple colour to vertical gardens.
SETTING UP YOUR VERTICAL PLANTER FOR CONTAINER GARDENING
Step-by-Step Guide to Assembling Vertical Planters
Hanging baskets and hook hanging pots don’t need any assembling; you can just buy and plant and then hang them. Stacked pots need simple assembly work like stacking the pots.
The vertical planter for the wall needs some professional help or needs to be assembled carefully. Pocket vertical planters also need to be hung properly with nails and placing nets for these vertical planters has to be placed on walls carefully.
- Soil and Fertilizer Tips for Vertical Gardens
The best soil for vertical gardening is a lightweight potting mix. Avoid red soil or garden soil; these are heavier soils. Use a combination of cocopeat 50%, perlite 30% and compost or manure 20% to the pots. Organic matters heaviest the potting mix, Instead of adding too much compost or manure while making potting mix add seaweed like liquid fertiliser once a month.
- Watering Tips for Vertical Containers
How to water vertical planters, this is the question of most gardeners who want to try vertical planters for the first time. Hanging baskets with bottom trays or self-watering hanging baskets are ideal for precise watering. For vertical planters choose small-sized Watering cans for easy to carry and less pressured watering. A watering sprayer is also needed for vertical planters to mist the plants, misting is necessary in hot weather and sunny spot planters.
- Preventing Pests and Diseases in Vertical Gardens
To prevent diseases in vertical planters make sure the soil drainage, and drainage holes and avoid over-watering issues. Regularly pruning and deadheading with the help of pruners the dead parts prevent pest and disease attacks. Checking for pest and disease signs in plants and treating them with neem oil spray in early stages prevent pest problems.
CARING FOR PLANTS IN VERTICAL PLANTERS
- Maintaining Vertical Gardens Year-Round
Year-round care for vertical planters is simply adjusting the watering needs based on seasons. Increasing watering frequency and misting in summer helps the plants tolerate heat and maintain an ideal temperature. For extreme cold and monsoon weather try to move the planters inside or protect them with a temporary roof.
- Pruning and Harvesting Tips for Vertical Planters
Pruning for vertical gardens is important, to control the excess growth that makes the plant heavy. And head pinching pruning to encourage the herbs and leafy greens plants growth. If you growing leafy greens in your vertical garden try to harvest in time to encourage the growth and avoid overwhelming the plant. If you want a manageable height for vining plants or edible vining plants try to trim the height you need.
- Troubleshooting common issues in Vertical Gardening
In vertical planters like vertical wall planters, or stacked pots the water flows downwards after watering, this might affect the top plants and become drier. To avoid this issue use drip irrigation or misting method to keep the plants hydrated.
Plants in vertical wall planters might blocked by overgrown plants or the sunlight can’t be reached to the bottom. Arranging sun-loving plants on top and shade-loving plants on the bottom is a solution to this.
Vertical planters are limited-spaced planters., so the root bound is common. To avoid this, choose slow-growing plants like houseplants and succulents or shallow-rooted plants. If you see the signs of root-bound like seeing roots in drainage holes, quick dry soil, wilted leaves and slow growth repot the plant or trim the plant and if you’re experienced in root pruning you can do that as well.
Nutrient deficiency is another issue in vertical planters because of the limited space. Feeding liquid fertilizers biweekly to promote growth. Identifying the pests and diseases in vertical garden planters is tricky because of the structure, so inspecting the plants biweekly and treating them in early stages are preferable methods.
CONCLUSION
Vertical planters are a gift to small-space gardeners and plant enthusiasts with limited space. These different types of vertical planters help you to utilise your small vertical spaces in a beautiful garden.Not only these vertical planters are portable and trendy ways to create green walls, but these pots are also affordable and rent-friendly options as well. Choosing the vertical planter based on your space makes the container gardening experience more blissful.
Not only vertical planters, knowing about any container gardening products before buying helps you to spend money on the right products that help you build the dream garden you want. Check out my website mypotsgarden.com to learn more about container gardening and be a happy gardener.
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