Low-carbon container growing

Although potted plants have a smaller role to play than plants in the ground, they still take carbon from the air. Indoors, they’ll also help create a more natural environment by absorbing pollutants and oxygenating the air. Manage them sustainably and you’ll maximise those benefits.
 

Sustainable ways to grow plants in pots

Part 1 - choosing your pots and plants

• Use second-hand containers: look in reclamation yards, vintage shops, and online auctions for zero-carbon pre-loved planters. Choose the biggest you can: With a few exceptions, the larger your pot, the more your plants can spread out their roots. Choose pots that have a diameter of at least 45cm (18in). Or build your own planter boxes from reclaimed wood.
• Grow plants that like container life: Plants that are happiest in containers are relatively slow growing, with naturally small root systems, such as dwarf (“patio”) fruit and veg, small shrubs like skimmias, and herbs.
• Use pot dishes: Catch and recycle water and
  To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key plant nutrients usually derived from soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are absorbed from the air. Other vital soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Gardeners can add nutrients by applying fertilisers (either artificial or naturally derived) to boost plant growth and improve flowering and fruiting.

  nutrients by using containers with saucers or reservoirs wherever possible.
• Plant permanently: Permanent shrubs, trees, perennials, and grasses absorb carbon over the longest period and generally need less compost, water, and fertilizers than hungry, fast-growing bedding plants.

Potted orchards of fruit trees and berries are the ultimate in sustainable container growing

Many herbs make ideal low-input container plants

Part 2 - sustainable techniques

• Grow from seed: Raise your own annual flowers, bedding plants, or vegetables from seed, sown into pots of home-made compost.
• Don’t change all the compost: When replanting
  Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They are generally easy to grow from seed or can be bought as young plants from garden centres. Annuals are ideal for growing in summer containers and filling gaps in borders. Some examples of annuals include sunflowers, cosmos, sweet peas and zinnia.

  annuals in spring, leave as much
  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

  compost undisturbed as possible by digging out and replacing only the top 5cm (2in) of old compost.
• Use captured rainwater: Plants prefer rainwater, as it’s full of nitrogen and slightly acidic (unlike tapwater, which tends to be limy). You’ll avoid all the emissions involved in treating and transporting tapwater, too.
• Feed with home-made fertilisers: Artificial fertilisers are another source of greenhouse gas emissions (and tricky-to-recycle plastic bottles) so make your own.
• Grow a container fruit garden: Potted orchards of fruit trees and berries are the ultimate in sustainable container growing, majoring on permanently planted, carbon-rich woody trees.

More low-carbon gardening ideas

How to grow a low-carbon garden

How to grow a low-carbon garden

Using sustainable materials

Using sustainable materials

Planting a low-carbon garden

Planting a low-carbon garden

Make a low-carbon wildflower meadow

Make a low-carbon wildflower meadow

Grow your own garden sundries

Grow your own garden sundries

Grow a potted mini orchard

Grow a potted mini orchard