Dealing with Problems in the Container Garden

Container gardening has long been a popular way for apartment dwellers and others to enjoy the benefits of a delicious vegetable garden or a beautiful flower garden within the space they have available. There are many varieties of flowers, vegetables, and other plants that are perfectly suited to these small spaces, and living in an apartment, townhouse or other small areas need not mean forgoing your favorite hobby.    

While starting a container garden is a great way for plant lovers to make the most use of limited space, the fact that space is so tight can also mean less margin for error. That is why it is so important for container gardeners to be on the lookout for any problems with their plants and flowers.

There are a number of common problems that the container garden may encounter, including:

Tall, spindly plants with little or no production – this problem is often caused by an absence of sufficient light. If this happens to you, artificial lighting may be the answer.  If artificial lighting is already being used, the duration can be increased.

Stunted vegetable plants – if the vegetable plants in your container garden appear weak and stunted, the problem maybe a low level of phosphate in the soil. Changing to a fertilizer with a higher phosphate level can often correct this problem and help vegetable plants bloom in a limited space.

Wilted plants — if the plants in the container garden appeared listless and wilted, the problem may be as simple as insufficient watering. Additional watering may help the plants bloom. Another cause of wilted plants may be inadequate drainage of the soil. It is important to ensure that the drainage holes in the container garden are not clogged or blocked.

Yellowing plants-if the plants in the container garden appear yellow it may indicate an excess of moisture in the garden. If this is the case,  reduce the frequency of watering, and check to make sure the drainage holes in the container are not blocked. Inadequate fertilization can also cause yellowing of the leaves, so be sure to check the fertilization schedule.