Gardening in your backyard is a wonderful way to cultivate fresh produce, add beauty, and practice a fulfilling skill. What if you don’t have a yard or community garden, though? Don’t worry — you can still build a container garden right on your porch, patio, or windowsill. The experts from Clifton Feed and Service Center in Bosque County, TX, explain what gardening supplies you need to get started.

5 Steps to Cultivating Your Container Garden

1. Choose Your Containers Wisely

Potted plants are more vulnerable than those outdoors. When grown in closed containers, plants require more water. To help them retain sufficient moisture, choose as large of a pot as possible. It may be tempting to pack them into smaller spaces to create more volume, but it may hinder their growth. You should also choose one that provides sufficient drainage.

2. Purchase Your Gardening Supplies

To start constructing your container garden, you need quality fertilizer, plenty of pots for your plants to grow into, a watering can, and a spray bottle. Purchase new soil after every season; choose a soft, fluffy variety such as a Pro-Mix.

3. Create a Watering Schedule

The best time to water your plants is in the morning or evening, or as soon as the top inch or so of soil becomes dry. Rather than lightly watering your plants frequently, give them plenty of water as needed so they get as much moisture as possible.

4. Fertilize & Fortify

Fertilize your plants’ soil about twice a year with a quality time-release fertilizer. Since your potted plants can’t soak up all of Earth’s nutrients like those outside can, being diligent about fertilizing is important.

5. Treat Them Well

Make sure your plants receive the direct or indirect light they need on a consistent basis. Most plants like a decent degree of humidity, so considering Texas’ arid climate, you may want to purchase a humidifier. Spritzing your plants regularly with a water bottle will also help.

From fresh herbs like rosemary and chives to vibrant spider plants and succulents, plenty of plants are perfect for growing right at home. To purchase the gardening supplies you need to get started, visit Clifton Feed and Service Center today. The store also offers farm supplies, livestock feed, and pet food and supplies. Check out their website to learn more.