Melissa Holcomb at Southern Patio has been a great help to me. Her planters have been even better. These containers are great for gardeners but especially those of us who garden on patios, balconies, and rooftops.
Southern Patio containers look decorative like ceramic, but are actually a lightweight composite material that they call "fiberglast". It are not as fragile as ceramics or terra cotta, but it can fracture and chip so handle the containers gently. The big benefit is having a decorative container that is portable. It is easier to shift the pots around for different views and effects.
My secret for all containers is to drill drainage holes about 3-4" up the side of the pot rather than through the bottom. Having holes on the sides allows for some water to remain in the bottom of the pot as a reservoir for the plant. A mixture of Better-Than-Rocks and lava rocks is used to fill the container up to 3-4" so that the soil mix and main rootstock are always above the holes and well-drained. Feeder roots have no problem accessing the reservoir when the plant needs a drink.
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