Beginning Patio Gardening
- Carol Wallace
- Cottage_Garden
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» Carol Wallace - Posted by Carol for Anne: Dear Gardener, I have recently d
Posted by Carol for Anne:Dear Gardener,
I have recently decided to brighten my screened-in patio with plants and
flowers. The only problem is that I have not had any experience with plants
or flowers. I have no idea where to begin or who to talk to. My patio does
not get direct sunlight. Only one side is open and it faces North. It rarely
sees any sun because there is a ridge behind the patio so all the trees block
direct sunlight. It is very humid and hot even in the winter because I live
in South Florida. I would like to know if you could suggest some plants and
flowers that I could start with. I don't want to spend a great deal of money
just in case I don't have a green thumb. Please help.
Anne
-- posted by Carol Wallace
» Cottage_Garden - Anne, You will undoubtedly find an incredibly wide selection
Anne,You will undoubtedly find an incredibly wide selection of recommended plants at your local garden centers; it is often a good idea to experiment with one or two and use them as bench mark plants, and then build on that experience.
This spring you might try some impatiens, an inexpensive annual, and see how it does. Once night time temps are reliably warm, you might also try some caladiums. This will give you a chance to practice your gardening observation skills a little before jumping into any big investments.
Both of these plants prefer warmer temperatures, and depending where you are in Florida, it may be a bit cool yet to try them. Do you have any neighbors who garden? If they have a similar patio and exposure they may be able to make suggestions. If you are lucky, they'll even have "starts" to spare!
My biggest hint is to suggest adding the water-holding polymers to the potting soil. They help the moisture level stay more even, thus reducing plant stress during peak heat.
Also, you may be surprised by how much light your patio actually receives. If the walls and/or floor or ceiling are white or a pale relective color, there may be more light than you think!
Hope this helps a little bit to get you started.
Barbara Martin
Eco-Gardens Editor
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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