Cracked Pots

“You have more success with your container gardening than I do,” my friend C. said. Sometimes. At times I have more success than other times but I just keep going—my only option would be to not garden at all. Unthinkable.

One thing that helps me succeed is my almost exclusive use of terra cotta pots outdoors because they have good drainage and can “breathe,” though they must be watered often in the heat of summer. Of course they eventually break down after years in the elements. The other night I picked up this pot of peppermint to put it under the table to protect it from the cold; the problem is, I picked it up by the rim. Oops, the rim stayed in my hand but the pot didn’t; I had some soil to sweep up. Perhaps I can glue it back but if I do the pot will have to be empty and clean—so I’ll wait ‘til next season. I’ve had it for many years so I’m not worried; I definitely got my money’s worth.

Plastic pots break down too—and fade in the sun. While broken pieces of terra cotta pots can be used for garden decoration or drainage in the bottom of another pot, broken down plastic pots can only be thrown out (not a good idea for the landfill!) or in some areas, recycled. However, plastic pots (or glazed pottery ones) can be preferable for indoor gardening since the dry air of homes from the furnace or air conditioning can dry out the plants more quickly than you expect.

The new growth on the peppermint plant has fuchsia stems!

Plan B

What a humid day! Last evening a blanket of gray clouds pressed down the oppressive heat. They were so heavy with moisture that I knew they’d have give it up. They did.

And that’s the problem—not the rain, we’re glad for it. It’s just that our gullies have been washed several times lately and uncharacteristically, the rain has inundated my garden. Usually welcome, the rain waterlogged my pot of hydrangea stem cuttings, causing several of them to rot—even though they were in a terra cotta pot.

So today I was able to rescue three cuttings and followed the rules more closely, putting them in a small plastic pot with a lighter “sterile” seed-starting medium. They’re now out of the way of downpours but I’ll have to watch closely that they don’t dry out. Many plant cuttings can be “just stuck in the dirt” and they will grow but apparently not these. I did add more rooting powder.

If you look closely at the picture on the right you can see tiny bits of new growth! We’ll see how it goes.

It’s yet another two-red-hibiscus-day and yes, the grasshopper was back. But not for long, I sent him flying--further this time.