I love flowering plants in the yard. It’s so much fun to pick them out at the garden store and create bright flower beds and planters. But, I am bad about watering things (we have an irrigation system but it doesn’t reach all areas). My husband often refers to “my flower boxes of death.”
At the moment, I need ideas for two tall planters (really cool, with stag heads around the base) that sit on either side of the front door. I just pulled out the remains of chrysanthemums this afternoon. The planters get full afternoon sun (face west).
What sort of plants should I try next? We’re in north Florida, where it is supposed to be winter but temps are still hitting the 80s. Anyone got a good idea for remembering to water? Or a line on good artificial stuff?
I’m located west of you (Escambia co.) and am an avid container gardener. Here are some linkys for you:
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG319
(bedding plants - with a table of features for many plants)
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP326
(container gardens - general info and some examples)
solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/index.html
(contact info for your local County Extension Agent office - these folks are veritable fonts of information pertaining to plants and such)
I don’t have any advice on remembering to water. Do you want your plants to look healthy? If so, you’ve got to remember the water (and plants grown in contianers generally require more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground). You might look into flowering succulents, or species that are more drought-tolerant. Nose around on the EDIS website, talk to your Extension Agent, talk to knowledgeable nursery employees - not X-Mart joints.
And remember…plastic plants are for gravesites!
I can’t help you too much with Florida zone plants, but MsAnneThrope is right about two things (amongst many others, I’m sure) - containers need water much more frequently than plants in the ground, and plants in full afternoon sun really should be heat and drought tolerant plants wherever you live. That’s a merciless sun for plants. For containers in full sun, I’d probably water every day or every other day (far more often than plants in the ground). There’s really no way around frequent watering for containers; I think you just have to make it a habit - brush your teeth, water the containers.
ETA: That reminded me of another point - water early in the morning or late at night. Plants don’t like to get their drink in the heat of the day.
I’m another container plant killer. I completely underestimate how much water they need, and pretty soon my gorgeous flower boxes are looking kinda postapocalyptic.
One thing you might want to consider are the potting soils or soil additives that contain a gel-like substance that absorbs water and then releases it as the plants need it. I think Miracle Gro makes one of the potting soils, but you should be able to find that or something similar at your nearest nursery or through a garden catalog.
Water retaining gels are great.
Some other stuff: http://www.greenharvest.com.au/tools/water_saving_garden_prod.html
http://www.baag.com.au/fsg_watersavingproducts.html
Advice for keeping pot plants alive during a drought of bout of forgetfulness: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_/ai_10744016
Pigface (iceplant) is a succulent with beautiful and prolific flowers I think that portulaca is another. Gazania is a surviver too.
Thanks for the help. Next time, I’m going to dig a little deeper, so to speak, than just the local big box garden department.