What Are the Best Tips for Designing a Dish Garden?

A dish garden can be an attractive addition to nearly any room. When planning one of these gardens, it is important to choose the right container. One that is long and wide will allow a gardener to show off his plants, but one that is too deep might allow some specimens to get too large. Some type of drainage material is needed in the bottom of the pot, and sand, pea gravel, or marbles are all good choices. It is important to choose small houseplants that grow well together in order to produce an attractive garden.

One of the first steps in dish garden designing is choosing a container. One that is around 3-inches-deep (7.24 cm) is a good choice. The container does not have to be a flowerpot, as a basket, teakettle, or cooking pot could also be used. It can be a good idea for a gardener to drill a few holes in the bottom of the container if there are none in it already, as this helps with water drainage.

Another thing that helps with water drainage is to have the right material. Gardeners may want to add a little bit of material to the pot before adding soil, as this will help ensure the container has good drainage. Some people like to add a little bit of charcoal on top of the drainage material, as this helps to absorb excess water in the event the plants do receive too much.

Choosing the right plants will ensure the garden's success. People should choose dish garden flowers and plants based on the amount of light the container will receive. It can be a good idea to cut out pictures of the plants and arrange them on a piece of paper in order to get an idea of what the finished garden may look like. Very large specimens should be avoided, because these could crowd out smaller foliage when placed inside the dish.

After creating the garden, the proper care is needed to help maintain it. Some basic dish garden care can include trimming plants when they become too large and watering them regularly. Should some of the plants become diseased, they should be removed in order to keep the others from becoming infected. With proper planning and care, one of these gardens can provide many years of enjoyment no matter which plants are used.