Grow your own plant with the right location, pot and soil

Put your Plant in the right Place

Photograph and share at least 1 possible location for plants
Snap a photo of your possible plant locations.

1. A location that meets all the criteria from the lecture
1. Adequate Sunshine/Lighting (minimum 4 hrs per day)
2. Water Access
3. Plant Friendly Temperature Range (varies by plant)
4. Safe from elements/predators...and most cunning plant predators of all...Children!

Find the right Pot for your Plant

Step 2: The Right Container
Find at least one container for your plant to live in that meets the criteria we talked about in the lecture.

Take a picture of the container and share it, along with a description here.

Feel free to post multiple examples!

Be Creative!

Good Luck!

Choose the right Soil for your Plant

Show us your Soil!
Find a growing medium (soil) that is suitable for your plant or seeds.

Take a picture and share it, along with the contents with the rest of the course.

Select the Right Plant

Share the story of your plant
Share pictures and the story of the plant or seeds that you are going to grow and why you want to have them around.

Potting it all Together!

Show and Tell Your Dazzling Finished Products!
Please share your final projects with The World!

I can't wait to see what creative green genius ideas and plant combinations you have come up with!

Get Those Seeds in the Ground!...er...I mean, the Peat Moss!

Show and Tell us all about your Awesome finished Projects!
Please share your final projects with The World!

I can't wait to see what creative green genius ideas and plant combinations you have come up with!

Additional Resources

Good Example: The Balcony

My Balcony

1. Adequate Sunshine/Lighting (minimum 4 hrs per day)?

South East Exposure gets minimum 4-5hrs direct morning sun per day.

2. Water Access?

Water close and available

3. Plant Friendly Temperature Range? (varies by plant)

Located in a tropical region and due to facing direction, not vulnerable to afternoon temperature spikes. Plants used must be adapted for tropical temps

4. Safe from elements/predators...and most cunning plant predators of all...Children!

Check! No children, no pets!

We are a go for a new plant home!
Bad Example: My Freezer

Example 1: In my freezer

1. Adequate Sunshine/Lighting (minimum 4 hrs per day)?

Nope

2. Water Access?

Yes

3. Plant Friendly Temperature Range (varies by plant)

Not even close

4. Safe from elements/predators...and most cunning plant predators of all...Children!

Iffy at best.

The Freezer is no place for a plant.
Kamal Meattle: How to grow fresh air
Container Example: Coffee Cup

1. Adequate size? (depends on plant)

Large enough for small desk plant or starting seedlings

2. Adequate Drainage (depends on plant)

No acceptable drainage, would need significant gravel layer for artificial drainage or holes drilled in the bottom

3. Safe? (sturdy enough for location and growing conditions)

Sturdy enough to resist water and soil from growing conditions although overwatering could make a huge mess if it overflowed
Container Example: PIll Bottle

1. Adequate size? (depends on plant)

Too small for adult plants, only suitable for starting seedlings

2. Adequate Drainage (depends on plant)

No acceptable drainage, too small for significant gravel layer for artificial drainage, drilling holes in the bottom would be the only acceptable solution

3. Safe? (sturdy enough for location and growing conditions)

Sturdy enough to resist water and soil from growing conditions although overwatering could make a huge mess if it overflowed

The PIll Bottle is too small for anything beyond starting a seed before transplanting to larger container
Soil Example: Potting Soil Compost mix

1. Source and Materials?

Store bought potting soil/compost mix. Contains compost, humus, chicken manure and some chipped wood mulch

2. Fertilizer Component?

Chicken manure used as organic fertilizer component

3. Organic?

Per labeling, this is an organic potting soil mix.

This is a good mix for repotting mature plants or well established/rooted cuttings. The chicken manure most likely makes it too nutrient rich for starting seedlings.
Soil Example: Sphagnum Peat Moss Starter Mix

1. Source and Materials?

2. Fertilizer Component?

As you can see in the ingredients, there is some Lime to adjust the pH but other than that, no added fertilizer.

3. Organic?

According to the label, it sure is!

Overall, this is a go for starting delicate seeds and other young plants or cuttings.
Assignment Example: Cinderella Pumpkin

A pumpkin like the one above was given to me last Halloween.I love pumpkins, but even more, I love pumpkin pie, so I roasted the pumpkin, made pie (obviously), pumpkin hummus, pumpkin bread, froze the rest of the roasted pumpkin flesh and then saved the seeds to grow more!
Some ideas for budding container gardeners: Here!
Pro Tip: Plant Watering

To know for sure if your plant needs water, dig your finger about 1/2 inch into the soil near the edge of the pot. If you don't feel any dampness, the plant probably needs some water.
Pro Tip: How often to Water

Potted plants with adequate drainage are hard to over-water in one attempt. However, that same drainage often allows house plants to dry out completely, leading to the common brown, wilted house plant we have all seen.

Just like a person can't drink enough water for a month all at once, a plant and it's soil is more receptive to more frequent, smaller waterings to avoid water stress.

Studio Armstrong

Design Studio

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