I absolutely loved seeing the entries for this months giveaway! The garden walk throughs whether video or photos were fabulous. I sat grinning like a Cheshire cat for every entry. I hope you all enjoyed seeing each others gardens as much as I did. You'll find attached a video of this month's drawing for the winner of the Container Garden Planner. Check it out and be sure to congratulate our very first giveaway winner.

Think roses are only for sprawling garden beds? Think again! With the right approach, you can grow stunning, fragrant roses right on your patio, balcony, or porch. Container-grown roses offer all the beauty without the commitment of digging up yard space—and they’re easier to manage than you might think. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬? * Space-saving: Perfect for small gardens, balconies, or rental spaces. * Mobility: Move your roses to chase the sun or protect from harsh weather. * Control: Easier to manage soil quality, drainage, and pests. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 Not all roses are suited to pot life. Look for compact or patio varieties such as: * Miniature Roses: Small but mighty in color and bloom. * Patio Roses: Bred specifically for containers. * Floribundas: Produce abundant clusters of flowers. * David Austin English Roses (compact varieties): Fragrant and repeat bloomers. * Groundcover or Shrub Roses: Dwarf types can do well with ample pot space. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 * Size matters: Pick a pot that’s at least 15–20 inches wide and deep. * Material: Plastic is lightweight, but ceramic and wood offer better insulation. * Drainage: Ensure the pot has several holes and use pot feet or bricks to elevate it. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐱 * Use a high-quality potting mix enriched with compost. * Avoid garden soil—it's too heavy and may harbor pests or diseases. * Mix in some perlite or coarse sand for drainage. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 * Place the rose at the same depth it was growing in its nursery pot. * Position in full sun—roses love 6–8 hours of direct sunlight. * Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy). 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 * Fertilize regularly: Use a rose-specific fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the growing season. * Deadhead spent blooms: Encourages more flowers and a tidy plant. * Prune in early spring: Remove dead or spindly stems to promote healthy growth. 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬

This is my first time ever planting a garden and to be honest I figured I would kill everything (I can't keep spider plants alive for the life of me!) but thought I would give it a try. I think I am doing ok, in fact my grandson calls it my jungle! lol

You’ve been nurturing your container-grown tomatoes, peppers, or squash with care—only to discover a dark, sunken spot at the base of the fruit. That’s blossom end rot, and it’s a frustrating problem that strikes even the most attentive gardeners. The good news? It’s preventable with the right approach. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐭? Blossom end rot is a physiological disorder (not a disease) caused by a calcium imbalance in the plant. It shows up as a black or brown leathery patch at the bottom (blossom end) of the fruit. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 * Inconsistent Watering: Fluctuations in soil moisture make it harder for plants to absorb calcium. * Calcium Deficiency: Often not due to a lack of calcium in the soil, but the plant’s inability to take it up. * Poor Soil Mix: Using soil that lacks nutrients or drains poorly can contribute. * Overfertilizing: Excess nitrogen can promote rapid growth and outpace calcium availability. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 * Tomatoes (especially early fruit) * Peppers * Squash and zucchini * Eggplant 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟏. 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 * Keep soil evenly moist—not too dry or soggy. * Water deeply and regularly, especially during hot or windy weather. * Consider self-watering containers or drip irrigation for steady moisture. 𝟐. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐱 * Choose a high-quality potting mix with good drainage and organic matter. * Avoid using straight garden soil or reused mix that may be depleted. 𝟑. 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐦 * Mix in crushed eggshells, bone meal, or garden lime when planting. * Use a balanced liquid fertilizer with calcium if needed. * Foliar sprays can help, but root uptake is more effective long-term. 𝟒. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 * Too much nitrogen encourages leafy growth at the expense of fruit health. * Use a balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer designed for fruiting plants. 𝟓. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞 * larger pots help regulate moisture and reduce stress. * For tomatoes and peppers, aim for containers at least 5 gallons in size.

[IMPORTANT READ] Wow! A huge thank you to each of you who joined The Potted Garden Society. This isn’t just a gardening group — it’s our green corner of the internet. Together, our mission is simple: 👉 Build a vibrant community of 10,000+ passionate plant lovers — from curious beginners to backyard legends — who are here to share, learn, and grow 🌼 Think of Skool as your gardening clubhouse. A space where tips bloom, ideas grow roots, and plants (and people!) thrive together. Here’s what we’ll dig into as a group: 🌱 Seasonal planting tips, tricks & troubleshooting 🌼 Celebrating plant wins (with proud pics!) 🐛 Solving pest & soil challenges 🍅 Learning how to grow food at home 🌿 Swapping advice on tools, composting & containers Our FIRST main focus as a community: 🔥 Help each other grow more confidently each season 💬 Make daily conversations about real plant wins & woes 🌍 Share eco-friendly ways to garden & give back to the earth A Few Quick Things: 1️⃣ This space is for plant newbies and seasoned growers 🌻 2️⃣ Say hello below 👋 Tell us what you grow, your zone or location, and a pic of your current favorite plant! Let’s grow something beautiful — together. Let’s grow The Potted Garden Society! 💚 – Donna