Container Garden Ideas: Best Flowers for Potting

Container Garden Ideas: Best Flowers for Potting

Container gardening is a great way to beautify your home with plant life when you don’t have enough space to dig a garden or flower bed, or if you live in an apartment or unit without yard space. You don’t have to worry about mulching, weeding, or doing much digging. All you need is an appropriate container, some good potting soil, and the flower variety of your choice.

If you’ve been intimidated to start a container flower garden, here are our top potted flower choices and container garden ideas.

Tips for Starting a Container Garden

There are a few considerations to keep in mind to help you get started on the right foot, no matter what you’re planting. First, when it comes to container gardening, you don’t want to use just any container. Be sure that it’s one that has been thoroughly cleaned and hasn’t stored any harmful chemicals or substances that could leave behind residue that disrupts the health of the plant. You also want to make sure it has proper drainage. If the container you have on hand doesn’t already have drainage holes, you can easily drill a few around the bottom. This will keep excess water from sitting in the container and causing root rot.

You also want to do some research ahead of time on the flower variety you choose. Note how much sun it needs and how often it likes to be watered. Consider whether you’ll be able to place your container in a spot that allows for the amount of sun your flowers require.

Soil is also fundamental to the success of your flowers, whether they’re in a container or the ground. The best potting mix for container gardening depends on what you’re planting. What works for growing your tomatoes may not be the best potting soil for flowers. Different formulations have different ingredients and ratios, and some are better suited for particular needs and flower varieties.

When looking for a good potting soil for flowers, unless your variety requires a certain type, look for a potting mix that is super absorbent and allows for aeration if your container is to be outside. If your container will be inside, go with a potting soil that provides moisture consistency and resists degradation so you’re not frequently repotting. Most mixes are formulated with certain nutrients that flowers need, but you may want to look for one that contains fertilizer or solely organic ingredients, depending on your preferences.

Lastly, be prepared to keep an eye on your flowers. No plant is a 100% set-it-and-forget-it variety. Make time weekly to take a look at the soil, water as needed, determine if there are any pests or diseases, and deadhead any dead bulbs to encourage new growth.

Best Flowers to Grow in Containers

With those tips in mind, here are our favorite flower choices to grow in containers.

Begonias

Begonias have so much personality, they look great in a container all by themselves. There are over 1,800 varieties of begonias, all native to subtropical areas. They’re an annual flower that can flourish virtually anywhere, with large, ruffled petals and colors ranging from white to pink to orange. Most varieties do well in containers. They prefer partial shade and little water. As long as you don’t overdo it on the watering and keep them in a well-draining pot, they should thrive.

Note: Begonia roots are poisonous to pets, so keep them out of reach.

Begonias

Geraniums

Geraniums are one flower that actually tend to do better when potted. They come in a variety of bright colors (that pop of vibrant red is unmissable) and are prolific bloomers. They do like moderate to full sun, though a few varieties prefer a bit more shade, so be sure to read up on the variety you select. Go easy on the water, as geraniums are prone to mildew if overwatered.

Geraniums

Daffodils

Who doesn’t love daffodils? The yellow and white blooms are synonymous with the start of spring and are a sign that winter is over and the sun is here to stay. Daffodils are hardy flowers that are quite easy to care for, making them ideal for beginner gardeners. Some even say that healthy daffodils can outlive their caretaker. Give these sweet flowers lots of sun, and water them moderately. Keep in mind that you’ll only see blooms in the spring, as daffodil bulbs go dormant in summer.Daffodils

Dahlias

You can’t be unhappy with dahlias around. These flowers are absolutely gorgeous and can brighten up any patio or porch. Dahlias thrive in containers and burst into an array of colorful, heavily textured blooms with intricate designs. Like many flowers on the list, they do need full sun for most of the day and moderate watering. It’s important not to let the soil get overly dry or soaked. Some dahlia varieties have heavy blooms, so you may need to stake them as they grow taller to keep them from drooping over.

Dahlias

Tulips

Tulips favor a larger container. You’ll need a minimum diameter of 18 inches and a height of at least 15 inches. Plant them in the fall and water them well when you do. Once they begin to bloom, you can water them just as you would your other bulbs. Place tulips in a sunny spot and wait for early spring to see those bright pops of color start to emerge.

Tulips

Hyacinths

Hyacinths are not only uplifting to look at; they smell nice, too! Pick a large enough container to plant your bulbs close together but not touching. Plant them in the fall to see blooms in the spring. Keep them in a dark spot during fall and winter, then start to gradually expose them to the sun as spring comes around. Once they begin to bloom, you can move them to full sun. Do try to group bulbs of the same color in the same container. Planting different bulb colors in one pot could result in different blooming times and a result that doesn’t look in sync.Hyacinths

Calla Lilies

The calla lily is a popular choice for container gardening. It can grow up to two feet tall and comes in white, pink, orange, red, purple, or green flower colors. Calla lilies do well in part shade. The warmer the climate, the more shade you’ll want for them. Keep the soil damp but not so water-logged that the roots rot. It’s a good idea to use bulb fertilizer monthly until the plant begins to bloom. If the foliage gets dark at the tip, cut back on fertilizer.

Calla Lilies

Impatiens

If you’re looking for a container flower that actually thrives in full shade, impatiens are your match. They can grow indoors or outdoors and require very little sunlight. Most varieties also don’t need much watering. Low-maintenance and resilient, these annuals bloom frequently throughout most of spring and all of summer. Do keep an eye on the soil moisture, though. If impatiens get too dry for too long, they’re quick to wilt.

Impatiens

Muscari

Muscari may not be a flower you’re as familiar with, but it’s an eye catcher that grows quite well in a container. Also called grape hyacinth (though not actually related to hyacinths), this flower likes partial to full sun and around an inch of water each week. Make sure your container has proper drainage. Like most other plants, too much saturation is likely to result in rot. You’ll see its beautiful blooms in early spring with small and delicate blue, white, or pink flowers that give off a faint grape smell.

Muscari

Snapdragons

You can’t miss a snapdragon. Those tall stalks and colorful blooms are quite unique in the flower world. Snapdragons like moderate sun and water and come in yellow, white, pink, red, and a variety of other bright colors. One thing to know about snapdragons, however, is that they’re prone to pests. They’re gorgeous to add to your container garden, but they might be short-lived compared to other container gardening plants.

Snapdragons

Other Container Gardening Tips

Hopefully you have some useful container garden ideas to get you started. When it comes to designing your container garden, consider pairing short and tall flowers together (taller stalks in the back) to add some dimension. Vary your flowers by size and texture and consider what kind of color palette you want to display. With the variety of flower choices above, you’ll have no issue creating a lush container garden with months of eye-catching blooms.

And if you want other options that are good for container gardening, see our wide selection of container gardening flowers for spring planting and container gardening flowers for fall planting that we recommend.