Potted plants add color, texture, beauty and versatility to your indoor and outdoor spaces. Here's everything you need to know about container gardening.

Bog Garden in a Pot

Learn how to grow a unique container garden full of plants that prefer damp soil.

Excerpted from How to Grow Practically Everything
Filed under: Container Gardening, How To

If you have no space for a bog garden but would like to grow some of the plants that prefer damp soil, create a container display. Simply plant up a large, nonporous pot — made from glazed earthenware, synthetics or galvanized steel — with your favorite plants to perk up a shady patio or poolside.

When to Start: Late spring
At Its Best: Early to late summer
Time to Complete: 2 hours

Materials Needed:

large, nonporous container
plastic sack
gravel
soil-based potting mix

well-rotted organic matter
Astilbe 'Fanal'
Carex 'Silver Sceptre'
Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon'

Line the Container

Select a large nonporous container and make sure it has a drainage hole; drill one if it doesn't. Line the container with a thick plastic sack, such as an old compost bag. With a fork, pierce a few small holes around the sides of the sack, about 2 in. (5 cm) from the bottom.

Lined Container With Drainage Hole for Planting

Prepare to Plant

Fill the base with 3 in. of gravel, which will prevent soil from clogging the drainage holes around the sides and create a water reservoir at the bottom of the pot. Then add a layer of soil-based potting mix with some well-rotted organic matter.

Add the Plants

With the plants still in their pots, check that they will sit at least 2 in. below the rim of the pot when planted. Then water the plants, and remove them from their pots. Place them on the layer of potting mix, and fill in around them carefully with more of the mixed soil and organic matter.