Mini rock garden in trough

Creating a mini rock garden in a trough is very easy. It allows you to create a miniature garden a little high, easy to monitor and maintain, which will please children curious about nature. 

Yarrow or saxifrage are the king plants of a mini rock garden, producing their rosette pads. They are easy and colorful plants.

Different kinds of containers can be used, whether it is a real old stone or concrete trough, a small molded trough made of fake stone bought in garden centers or a recycled zinc basin, a large bowl, even chipped, because the possible defects can be masked by a plant that overflows.  Beware, however, of pottery that will not withstand the frost.

Drainage is important

The container, whatever it is, must be pierced at the bottom so that natural drainage is ensured and the trough in question does not turn into a mud bath! 

Alpine plants, although very resistant to drought, generally like to sink their roots quite deep into the soil. They are therefore provided with between 15 and 30 cm of soil; if the container is deeper, the base is filled with pebbles, pebbles, shards of tiles,. Whatever you have on hand.

Which soil to use?

Clay, loam or sandy garden soil is fine. If the soil is too clayey, with a tendency to be impermeable, it can be lightened with coarse sand. If the soil is too rich, with a high moisture content, it can be lightened with gravel as well. Rockery plants are less beautiful and more fragile if the soil is too rich. The bare earth between the separated plants will be covered with gravel.

How to choose the plants?

The rock garden is theoretically created for years, and must withstand the weather without any protection. For this purpose, it is necessary to choose hardy plants. Among the succulents that are seen on sale, make sure with a specialist that they are frost resistant in your region. Some classic examples:

The sunny and warm mini rock garden

The ultimate beginner's rock garden plants are houseleeks, of the genus Sempervivum. Extremely hardy, these little shaved cabbages come in all sorts of species and varieties that allow you to achieve a cameo of color and texture with this one genus. They form a carpet of tightly packed rosettes: for example, large flat rosettes with brown tips with Sempervivum tectorum, bright red rosettes for Sempervivum 'Othello', or small, round and nicely woven with white threads for the species Sempervivum arachnoides.

Their cousin, Jovibarba, are rarer and slower to multiply. A Delosperma nubigenum, hidden behind its yellow daisies, finishes to brighten up the whole (photo). These species of plants, succulent, can be transplanted from April to September.

A shadier trough

If you only have a shadier spot to set up your little rock garden, then you need to put saxifrages in it; there are moss-type saxifrages, which are bright green and like a little more water, and limestone-encrusted saxifrages, which are very compact, in a gray-green carpet, with beautiful flowers. Indeed, the saxifrages are resistant to the drought, but prefer not to overheat, they are satisfied with half-shade, or bright shade.  Their spring flowering is particularly attractive. The pots of the plants are basked before transplanting, which is best done in spring or fall.

Of course, a number of other plants can be suitable, as the world of alpine plants is vast. If you get absorbed in it, one trough after the other, if you become passionate little by little, do not hesitate to join SAJA, the Society of Alpine Gardeners. 

Cutting geraniums

You are dazzled by a variety of geraniums present at one of your friends or neighbors, you wish to multiply yours! Summer is the best season for cuttings. Get started, it's easy!

The right time

In summer the warm temperatures will ensure a good rooting of your cuttings, so it is the right season to propagate your geraniums and pelargoniums. Proceed to the cutting preferably in the morning on a healthy subject, without spots or parasites because it would then be weakened.

The right tools

Take a pair of disinfected pruning shears, small peat pots that can be placed directly in the ground afterwards or a bowl. Choose a "special seedling or cutting" mixture from the trade. You can also make it yourself by mixing 1/3 of good potting soil, 1/3 of peat and 1/3 of river sand.

If you want to multiply your chances of success, it is possible to use the cutting hormone available in powder.

How to proceed?

• Take an end of about fifteen centimeters in length by cutting it cleanly with the secateurs;
• Remove the basal leaves to leave only the two or three leaves of the upper part in order to limit evaporation and cut the flower buds if the cutting presents some to avoid the exhaustion of the plant;
• Prepare your pots or your terrine by filling them with the mixture recommended above;
• Pack the mixture well in the container;
• water copiously and let the excess water drain away;
• with a large pencil or with your finger make a hole in the substrate. This will receive the cutting;
• brush the base of the cutting with hormone powder (about 2 cm);
• place the prepared cutting in the hole;
• Gently fill in around the stem and pack it down;
• water again to eliminate air bubbles.

What next?

Keep your cuttings in a shady spot and water them often to keep the mixture moist without getting soggy. Do not use any fertilizer during this stage.

As soon as the first signs of recovery appear, which will be marked by the appearance of new leaves, you can transplant your cuttings into larger pots containing a good commercial potting soil. You will keep them in a sheltered place all winter to introduce them the following spring in their definitive location.

Planting in planters

When space is limited, such as on a balcony or a terrace, planting in planters is an interesting solution to grow some plants. Planters can be placed on the ground or suspended to create beautiful cascades of flowers.

Specificity of the culture in window boxes

A window box is by definition a container that is longer than it is wide, so it is possible to install several plants side by side. This specificity implies a choice of plants that require similar growing conditions, especially in terms of watering and exposure. It is out of the question, for example, to install cactus and impatiens together because these plants require opposite care. The result would be very quickly catastrophic!

Another parameter to take into account is the small volume of substrate for a number of plants that is often too large. Always keep in mind to install your plants at a reasonable distance so that they can grow and develop properly without competing too much.

For the same reason, the base substrate must be very rich and the fertilizers regular and sustained because the nutrients are quickly exhausted in such conditions. Let's add that watering constraints are also present, especially in the middle of summer, in hot, dry and windy weather. Depending on the plants, daily and abundant watering may be necessary!

Choose deep planters where the roots can properly develop.

Security

Often hung on the street side of a balcony, the planter must be firmly fixed to avoid accidents in case of a gust of wind. In this case, a light material should be chosen, again for safety reasons. Keep concrete or terracotta planters on the ground so that they do not hurt anyone if they fall.

How to plant in a planter?

Whatever the material chosen for your planter (iron, terracotta, plastic, stone, concrete...), drainage holes must be present at the bottom of the container. If they are not present, you will have to drill some.

Place flat pebbles on these holes to prevent the substrate from escaping and then pour a layer of clay balls or pebbles to ensure good drainage so that water does not stagnate at the roots;

Choose a very good commercial potting soil and add some compost and a bit of ground horn.

Pour a layer of this mixture on the draining bed and install your plants by respecting a good planting distance;

The neck of the plants should be about 1 cm from the top of the pot;

Fill in the remaining gaps with the mixture and pack the entire surface well;

Water thoroughly and add more mix if necessary.

Place your planter in its final location according to the requirements of the chosen plants.

Remember to water often and add liquid fertilizer regularly.

Growing lilacs in pots

Common in gardens as a lone subject or in compound hedges, the lilac can also find its place on a terrace or a balcony planted in a pot. Dwarf varieties are preferred to create beautiful scenes without taking up too much space, while still enjoying the wonderful fragrance of this shrub.

Which varieties for a pot plantation?

Choose preferably small varieties for a culture in pot. There are many cultivars not exceeding 1.5 m to 2 m in all directions. Among them:

• Syringa meyeri 'Palibin' with pink/blue flowers ;
• Syringa meyeri 'Josee' pastel pink;
• Syringa julianae 'Red Pixie' purple/wine-lily;
• Syringa microphylla 'Superba', otherwise known as 'Little Leaf Lilac' with pale mauve repeat flowering;
• Syringa 'Bloomerang Pink', a compact hybrid with repeat flowering of deep pink;
• Syringa persica Laciniata, the Persian lilac with sharply cut foliage and blue/mauve flowers, hardy to -15°C.

In what type of pot should I grow the lilac?

Choose a large pot with a minimum diameter of 40 to 50 cm and the same depth to give the roots room. A square or rectangular wooden pot, a large tub, or an unglazed ceramic pot will do the trick. Avoid bulging pots that are too difficult to unstuff and black plastic containers that heat up too much under the summer sun.

When to repot lilac?

Plant your lilac in a pot in autumn in the mildest regions, everywhere else, wait until spring or choose a hardy variety.

An annual topdressing with compost is sufficient for the first two years after planting, then a repotting will be necessary to renew the substrate.

How to plant lilac in a pot?

• The pot must be pierced at the bottom so that water does not stagnate.
• Add a layer of clay balls, gravel or small pebbles to the bottom of the pot to promote drainage, as the lilac hates having its roots constantly soggy. The drainage layer should make up about 20% of the volume of the pot.
• Prepare a mixture of ¼ good potting soil, ¼ garden soil, ¼ compost and ¼ coarse river sand.
• Pour a layer of the mixture at the bottom of the pot over the draining bed.
• Place the root ball and adjust the height, adding more mix if necessary, so that the neck of the shrub is 3 to 5 cm below the top of the pot.
• Fill in any gaps and pack well around the stem.
• Water copiously and add more mix if necessary.

Where to install a lilac in a pot?

A full sun exposure sheltered from drafts is ideal in the northern regions of the Loire. In the south, place your lilac in mid-shade in summer to protect it from the scorching midday sun. In winter, it can be placed in full sun, but be careful with watering in regions where rainfall is rare in winter!

How to water a potted lilac?

Like all plants grown in pots, lilacs will need more attention than if they were grown in the ground. So be careful, if you are used to growing it in the garden, it will require more care in a pot, especially in terms of watering in summer, which must be very regular so that your plant does not 'burn out', especially when exposed on a balcony in full sun!

In order not to make a mistake, never let the substrate dry on more than 3 cm of surface in summer.

In winter, make sure it doesn't run out of water if it doesn't rain.

What fertilizer should I use for my potted lilac?

Prefer an organic fertilizer, less aggressive than a chemical fertilizer, it will be better assimilated by the plant with just as much efficiency and this, without weakening it. In March, scratch a mixture of crushed horn and dried blood at the foot of the shrub or pour a handful of organic granules on the surface of the mixture. As it is not afraid of limestone, you can add a handful of chimney ashes at the end of winter, the blooming will only be more opulent!

How do I prune my potted lilac?

Smaller varieties grown in pots are only moderately pruned. The removal of wilted inflorescences in spring and autumn on remontant varieties constitutes the major part of the pruning operations. If necessary, it is possible, still after flowering, to remove dead wood and to aerate the silhouette a little by pruning the branches that cross in the center of the shrub and by reducing some branches by 1/3. Be careful, because lilacs bloom on the previous year's wood. If you prune too late and too short, the blooming may be compromised!

The culture of cycas in pots

Cycas is a popular indoor or patio plant when grown in a pot. With a short trunk and beautiful glossy foliage that makes it look like a palm tree, cycas is an easy plant to grow.

A primitive plant

Cycas are primitive plants belonging to the Cycadaceae family. Neither ferns nor palms but intermediate between the two, they grow naturally on rocky slopes or in dry, open forests in Australia, Japan, Madagascar and the Pacific Islands. The genus is composed of about fifteen species of which Cycas revoluta, and Cycas media, which are the most commonly cultivated.

Very ornamental, these plants are however cold; they will be planted in the open ground only in regions where frost does not occur. That is why, a culture in pot is recommended everywhere else in order to be able to winter the plant out of frost during the cold season.

How to plant cycas in a pot?

1. Choose a large enough and heavy enough container so that the plant does not tip over. The container should have a hole in the bottom to prevent the roots from rotting.
2. Place a pebble at the bottom of the pot and pour a good layer of clay balls to ensure good drainage (about 20% of the volume of the pot).
3. The nature of the mixture is very important in the culture of cycas; simple potting soil will not be sufficient because it needs a very rich substrate. Make a mixture of clay garden soil, compost, coarse river sand and pine bark. Add a little charcoal powder to this mixture.
4. Spread a layer of the mixture over the clay balls and place your plant in the center of the pot.
5. Pour the mixture around the root ball to fill in any gaps and pack the soil around the stipe.
6. Water copiously and add more mix if necessary.

How to grow cycas in a pot?

Cycas need bright light to grow well. Place it in a winter garden, a veranda or a bright apartment. Shade the windows during the hottest hours of the day if they are facing south.

In the summer, when frost is no longer a concern, you can gradually bring your plant out into the sun on the terrace or balcony. It will spend the summer there and will then be brought back before the first frost.

If you choose to grow your plant outdoors all year round, remember to protect the pot with bubble wrap and the aerial parts of the plant with a winter veil if you do not live in a privileged region.

As far as watering is concerned, cycas needs water regularly during the growing period but let the mixture dry on a few centimeters before watering again because this plant hates having its roots constantly bathed.

In winter and outdoors, let nature take its course. Indoors, water every 15 days and allow a short dry period during the coldest months.

A repotting may be necessary every 4 years in spring in the same type of mixture. If the subject becomes too big to be repotted, be satisfied with a surfacing with compost and crushed horn powder every year.

Growing boxwood in pots

An easy to grow shrub that always stays green, boxwood can also be planted in pots to decorate a terrace or balcony. The icing on the cake is that it can withstand most exposures and can even be sculpted into a topiary!

A precious shrub on a terrace

Boxwood (Buxus) is a hardy evergreen shrub belonging to the Buxaceae family. Native to the Mediterranean basin, it gives off a characteristically pleasant scent. Its small leaves form a compact clump that can be pruned into a ball, spiral or cone shape. It is therefore an ideal subject for a contemporary terrace as well as for a classic style balcony.

Planting tips

One important thing about boxwood: it hates having its feet in water! Choose a terra cotta pot with a hole in the bottom. Unglazed terra cotta allows for gas exchange and retains much less moisture than plastic pots.

Place a drainage bed equal to 20% of the volume of the pot at the bottom of the container. It will be made of gravel, clay balls or small pebbles.

Place a geotextile film on the drainage bed, followed by a layer of potting soil with ground horn powder.

Soak the root ball of your box tree for two hours in a basin of water before planting in order to rehydrate it and facilitate its recovery.

Place the roots on the substrate and fill in the vacant space with the same mixture up to the plant's collar. Pack and water.

Growing boxwood in a pot

For pot culture, choose a dwarf species such as Buxus microphylla, of which there are many varieties and cultivars. Boxwoods are equally at home in semi-shade or full sun. Be careful, because in the hottest regions, it will prefer half-shade in summer. During this period, it will be necessary to water it often because the culture in pot has this particularity to ask for waterings more sustained especially in period of strong heats and of big wind. Never leave water in the cups and wait until the root ball is dry on the surface before watering copiously again. In winter, natural rainfall should be more than enough, except in case of exceptional drought.

Boxwood is an easy shrub: it tolerates frost, pollution and even lack of water if it is not constant. Slow growing, repotting will only be done every 5 years. A surfacing every year will however be welcome. As for the famous pruning, it is done twice a year, generally in May and September, to keep the shrub in good shape.