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Container plants brighten up any small corner!

Annuals - Container Plants 1

Pots can turn a small space into a mini garden. This quiz looks at annual container plants, from choosing the right pot to keeping flowers coming steadily.

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Fascinating Fact:

Deadheading helps many container annuals keep producing new flowers. It also keeps pots looking tidy and stops plants putting energy into seed.

Container annuals often grow fast because their job is to flower within one season, but that speed means they can run out of water and nutrients quickly. A stable container with drainage holes helps prevent compost becoming waterlogged after rain, while a saucer should be emptied so roots do not sit in stale water. Using fresh compost gives plants a good start, then regular feeding supports flower production once buds appear. Grouping pots can shelter them from wind and slow drying, and rotating containers can stop plants leaning towards the light and becoming lopsided.

Key Terms

Rootbound: When roots circle tightly around the inside of a pot, leaving little space for water and fresh growth.
Pinching out: Removing the soft tip of a young plant to encourage bushier growth and more flowering stems.
Waterlogging: When compost stays too wet for too long, pushing out air and making it harder for roots to stay healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What size pot is best for annual container plants?

A larger pot is usually better because it holds more compost, stays moist for longer, and gives roots more room, which helps annuals keep flowering without constant stress.

Should I put stones or crocks in the bottom of plant pots?

It is usually not necessary, because drainage comes from holes in the base, but you can add a small piece of broken pot over the hole to stop compost washing out.

How do I keep annuals flowering in containers for longer?

Remove spent blooms, water before plants wilt, and feed regularly once flowering starts, because steady moisture and nutrients help plants keep producing new buds.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

This type of Begonia is grown from what?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/wdwbarber/

Bulbs

Corms

Rhizomes

Tubers

Available in a range of vibrant colours.
Choice, individual plants can have blooms up to 15cm across and can be very expensive to buy from specialist growers but they can be kept from one year to the next.
Garden centres usually sell cheaper mixed varieties that are raised from seed each year.
Needs plenty of water and grows best in light shade although it will produce some flowers even in deep shade.

It is usually referred to as Tuberous Begonia to distinguish it from Begonia Semperflorens and other types of Begonia

2 .

This is a variety of Petunia that has a profusion of small flowers on a plant with a trailing habit. What is its name?

Photograph courtesy of Beautifulcataya

Thousand Bells

Million Bells

Trillion Bells

Zillion Bells

Available in a range of mainly pastel colours.
Like all Petunias the plant is well equipped to deal with dry conditions - it flourishes on comparatively little water.
When compost is kept constantly moist it tends to go leggy by the end of the summer.
Grows quickly and rapidly fills the space allotted and in a mixed planting it often crowds out its neighbours!

3 .

Even when they are in pristine condition these flowers look as if they have lost some of their petals. What is the name of the plant?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/hach3/

Scaevola

Schotia

Schinus

Scopolia

Sometimes known as the Fan flower or Half flower because of the shape of its flowers.
An ideal plant for hanging baskets.
Vigorous growth means that the plant can trail a metre or more by the end of the summer.
Survives very dry conditions and when mixed hanging baskets have been neglected this plant is often the sole survivor!

4 .

Nemesia for bedding out are normally grown from seed but selected varieties for tubs and patio containers are often propagated by means of what?

Photograph courtesy of Ouneika

Cuttings

Division

Grafting

Stolons

Available in many different colours - both vivid and pastel tones.
Thrives in full sun but will tolerate a little shade.
Varieties of bedding Verbena tend to be short-lived but the more choice ones (usually vegetatively propagated) for use in baskets and tubs will flower for much longer.

5 .

What is the name of this popular hanging basket plant?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/bonguri/

Bidens

Brachycome

Diascia

Nemesia

Sometimes known as the Swan River Daisy.
The Swan River is a tourist attraction in Western Australia and the plant is native to that region.
Masses of small daisy-like flowers throughout the summer.
Delicate and fascinating foliage adds to its appeal.
Available in shades of blue, lilac, pink and white.

6 .

Plants of the Verbena genus are often known as what?

Photograph courtesy of Beautifulcataya

Vermin

Vermuth

Vermillion

Vervain

Both 'upright' and 'trailing' varieties are available in many different colours.
Throughout history stories abound about its mystical and divine properties.
The plant is not as vigorous as some basket and patio plants so take care not to plant it alongside very fast growing plants such as Surfinias.
The flowering period can be extended by dead heading.

7 .

Petunia flowers that have this type of marking are usually referred to as what?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.hear.org/starr/

Branching

Streaked

Striped

Veined

Thrives in almost any soil and situation. One of the most reliable of all garden plants.
Varieties have now been bred that have many striking flower patterns.
With such a wealth of interesting and different colours available it always seems a pity to grow the mundane reds and pinks that are so often seen.
It's worthwhile hunting down the more unusual varieties in garden centres.

8 .

Can Fuchsias be grown from seed?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/tjblackwell/

Yes, all of them are

Yes, with great success

Yes, with uncertain results

Deservedly one of the most popular plants found on British patios.
The plant is named after the celebrated German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).
Flowers come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
Happy in both light shade and full sun.
Needs to be kept well-watered for the best results.
Some varieties are hardy and in the south of the country they are sometimes used as a hedging plant.

All the named varieties that are so popular in gardens are grown from cuttings

9 .

What is the common name of Coleus?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/jam343/

Flame of the Forest

Flame Nettle

Flaming Vera

Forest Flame

Belongs to the genus known as Solenostemon.
Grown for its decorative foliage in many different colours.
A perennial that is usually treated as an annual.
Sometimes grown as a house plant.
It looks stunning provided that it is protected from the ravages of extreme summer weather - strong winds, hail or very heavy rain will decimate the delicate leaves.

10 .

This is a close relative of Cockscomb. To which plant genus does it belong?

Photograph courtesy of www.flickr.com/photos/maynard/

Artemesia

Celosia

Freesia

Fuchsia

Fascinating feathery flowers!
In America they are sometimes referred to as 'Wool flowers' but this term is seldom used in the UK.
Available in a range of reds, pinks and yellows.
Does best in warm weather and excels on a hot patio that is in full sun and shaded from the wind.
Filling a container with several plants of different colours makes for a striking display - see photograph.

Author: Colin King

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