Whether it's a tall stem, a small shrub, a taller perennial or even a vegetable - underplanting in a container pays off. By providing shade, it protects against overheating and high water loss, suppresses weeds and increases the visual appeal of the potted plant.
Which plants are suitable for planting under container plants?
Robust and undemanding perennials, ground cover, ferns, grasses and bulbous flowers are suitable for underplanting potted plants as long as theydo not require full sun,shallow-rootedandlow remain in growth. Suitable are:
- Begonias or Hostas
- Ivy or cranesbill
- Spotted Fern or Rib Fern
- Sedges or blue fescue
- Lily of the valley or grape hyacinths
Planting potted plants with perennials
Depending on which pot plant it is, it allows more or less light to penetrate to its root area. Make the underplanting for each potted plant dependent on itswater requirementsas well as thelight conditionsin the root areaSmaller perennials, which like partial shade and are suitable, are, for example:
- Lobelias
- Petunias
- Snowflake Flower
- Elf Mirror
These candidates, however, can cope with complete shade:
- Fuchsias
- Funkia
- Begonias
- Hardworking Lieschen
Plant potted plants with ground cover plants
Low and extensive ground covershade the potted plant's soil effectively,suppress weedseffectively and look magical thanks to their decorative leaves and/or flowers out of. Make sure that the ground cover for the container has shallow roots, likes partial shade to shady conditions and tolerates the soil of the container plant. It looks wonderful when the chosen ground cover harmonizes with the color of the potted plant or even contrasts it.
How about one of the following ground cover plants for your container plant?
- Ivy
- Small Periwinkle
- Storksbill
- woman's coat
- Fat Man
- Waldsteinie
- Carpet Thyme
Planting potted plants with ferns
Ferns are particularly suitable for potted plants that are originally native toforestsand visually interact with the ferns. For example, hydrangeas, rhododendrons and azaleas can be fantastically planted with ferns. Among other things,small ferns, such as: are suitable
- Spotted Fern,
- Lady fern,
- Rib fern,
- Striped fern or
- Rainbow fern.
Planting potted plants with grasses
Is the potted plant a larger specimen such as a standard tree or a climbing rose? Then you can underplant them with grasses that grow up to1 mtall. However, smaller potted plants that grow more widely can be better planted withlowandshade-tolerant grasses. The grasses surround the potted plants wonderfully from below, shading their root area and not stealing the show. The following are wonderful:
- Blue Fescue
- Bearskin Grass
- Gold-edged sedge
- White-bordered sedge
- Mountain sedge
- Pennisetum grass
Planting potted plants with bulbous flowers
Almost every potted plant can be planted with onion flowers. They tolerate a partially shaded to shady location and draw only a few nutrients from the soil. In addition, they do not come too close to the roots of the potted plant. Their value lies primarily in their appearance, which they present in spring. These onion flowers, among others, are suitable for planting under potted plants:
- Lily of the valley
- Daffodils
- Grape Hyacinths
- Chess Flowers
- Harebells
Tip
Regular fertilizer application for underplanted potted plants
If the potted plant has been underplanted, you should place even greater emphasis on fertilizing it regularly. The underplanting will rob it of some of the nutrients, which is why regular fertilizer applications prevent nutrient deficiency and thus slower growth and weakened flowering.
