Outdoor plants - keeping them happy and healthy!

I like to keep my outdoor plants bug-free, for several reasons.  The first is that many bugs are harmful to plants - chewing on their leaves, and eating their fruits.  The other reason is just the general "ick" factor.  Who wants to tenderly trim back a plant that's covered in little creepy crawly things!!

Down here in South Florida, our outdoor plants are bug-magnets all year long.  I needed an all-purpose insecticide.  One that's simple to use, and effective against all types of bugs.

I chose this Sevin-5 product for a few reasons.  It states that it kills over 65 different insects.  With that many, I figure the odds were pretty good that it would work on all of my mystery bugs.  It also states that this product can be used on vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, and lawns.  I figure that's a pretty diverse number of uses.  Finally, this product is inexpensive... and comes in a convenient shaker can.  It's easy to use (just shake it out) and quite effective.

Read the Full Review Here

Now that you have happy, thriving, bug-free plants, it's time to make sure their pots are appropriate.  Pots should be right-sized.  Too big, and you run the risk of over-watering.  Too small and your plant will become "root-bound".  (Depending on the type of plant you have, you might want to limit the plant's growth, and/or trim its roots, to keep it in a smaller pot). 

Drainage is essential.  Help drainage succeed by placing rocks or gravel in the bottom of the pot, before adding soil.  Without this step soil will eventually pack the drainage holes, and water won't be able to seep through.  Use saucers to contain a small amount of the surplus water.  Especially nice - saucers can help keep your deck clean from dirty runoff!

Planters come in many different types and materials.  Terracotta and ceramic planters might not fare well in cold climates, as they may crack.  And, they can become quite heavy.  Plastic pots are much lighter, but are also subject to cracking, especially if the plant gets to be very heavy. 

Plastic, wood, and metal window boxes allow you to make an attractive display by planting several small plants together. 

Hanging planters should be light-weight, and their hangers strong enough to hold your plant.  Be careful with plastic hangers - I've had my fair share of them break!

Finally, once your plant gets heavy, you might find you simply can't move or carry the potted plant anymore.  That's when it's time to invest in strong, sturdy plant caddies.

These attractive caddies from Plastec are a life-saver.  Well, that may be a bit of exaggeration, but they are definitely a back-saver.  When my plants get too heavy to move around, they get placed on a caddy.  With sturdy wheels, wells to catch excess water, and an attractive design, Plastec is my choice for caddies.

Plastec 14" caddy - read full review here


Plastec 17" caddy - read full review here