UNITED STATES—Potted plants would rather be in the ground. That is the simplest truth. Pots confine roots that would prefer to disperse more extensively into natural soil. Yet, container gardening is more popular than ever, for various reasons. Planters and pots happen to be practical for many situations. They allow cultivation of plants that require special accommodation.
Houseplants, for example, can only inhabit their homes as potted plants. There is no soil for them to disperse roots into. Cascading plants, like Boston ferns and pothos, can only cascade from elevated pots. Several popular houseplants live only as houseplants here. They might be too vulnerable to winter weather to live in the garden throughout the year.
Potted plants are also practical for balconies and elevated decks. Some condominiums, townhomes and apartments have no more garden space than that. Regardless of garden space, pots contain invasive plants, like mint and horseradish. Bamboo popularly grows in big tubs that it can not escape from. Also, pots protect vulnerable plants from gophers.
Potted plants that are not too heavy are somewhat portable.
Portability is a primary advantage of potted plants. Where winters are cool, potted plants that are vulnerable to frost can relocate to shelter. Plants such as cymbidium orchids can move to more prominent sites while blooming. Then, they can go to less prominent sites when they finish. Potted plants can move about on patios and decks like patio furniture.
There are also a few disadvantages to potted plants, though. They are always reliant on watering. Confinement of roots limits the drought tolerance of otherwise drought tolerant plants. Thin plastic pots can get uncomfortably warm in full sun exposure. They can also get quite cool during cool weather. Pots can rot wooden decks and stain concrete patios.
Conventional pots are wider on top and narrower at their bases for a reason. This shape allows firm root systems to slide out for planting in the ground or bigger pots. Such roots cannot slide out of pots that are wider in the middle than on top. Pots with narrower tops are practical only for small plants, like annuals. Such plants do not develop sturdy roots.
Highlight: Giant Taro
Even within confinement of large pots, giant taro, Alocasia macrorrhiza, is big and bold. Potted houseplant specimens grow about six feet tall. In the ground, they can grow twice as high. Individual leaves can grow three to six feet long, and two to four feet wide. They mostly point upward but may sag to point downward. Trunks, if any, are short and stout.
Giant taro is somewhat rare within home gardens, most likely because of its size. It might also be a bit more demanding than other foliar perennials. It requires quite a bit of water at regular intervals. Also, it appreciates regular applications of fertilizer. However, it can burn if fertilizer is excessive. Soil should be loose, organically rich, and moist but not saturated.
Giant taro is also somewhat rare within nurseries. The big dormant bulbs are sometimes available with other summer bulbs during spring. Initially, they grow slowly, especially if weather is cool. Growth accelerates as weather warms. Some vigorous plants produce a few pups that are quite easy to divide as new plants. A variegated cultivar is notably rare. “Elephant ear” is another common name.
Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.
