Container Plants

Containers offer solutions to many gardening problems. Sometimes garden space may be limited, or restricted to the area of a patio. Other times, the winter is just too cold for your favorite tropical plant to survive. In these situations, the container plant is the perfect compromise. Containers are great for small areas, but they can also create a special point of interest in larger gardens. In cold winter climates, the container plant can simply be moved indoors for protection from the elements.

Many palms and sagos grow so slowly that they are ideal for growing in containers. Their slow growth habits and small mature heights make them perfect choices for small gardens. Several ideal choices include: Phoenix roebelenii, Cycas revoluta, and Zamia furfuracea.

CARE GUIDELINES FOR CONTAINER PLANTS
Light	When outdoors, sagos and palms can be in full sun or full shade. Indoors, sagos and palms need indirect, bright light. This means placing them near a south or west-facing window, but not directly in the rays of sunlight streaming through the glass. Direct light through a window pane could severely burn the leaves. If this happens, wait until a new flush of leaves appears, then remove the damaged ones.
Media	A good, all-purpose potting mix is best for palms and sagos. Look for ones that are 50% peat moss and 50% perlite or vermiculite. The peat moss helps to retain nutrients and water in the media, making it available for the plants to use. The perlite or vermiculite provides aeration in the media so the roots do not become water-logged and rot.
Water	Water thoroughly once a week. Your plant will need more water when it is outdoors than when it is indoors. In hot, dry summer weather, the pot may need to be watered every 4 or 5 days. Indoors, it may only need water once or twice a month. If your pot seems to stay wet, water less frequently. If it tends to completely dry out between waterings, water more frequently. You want to keep the soil evenly moist, not overly wet, and not bone-dry.
Fertilizer	The best fertilizers for palms and sagos are balanced and contain minor elements. A balanced fertilizer contains Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Minor elements that are essential for healthy palm and sago growth include Iron, Magnesium, and Manganese. Sagos require a little more nitrogen than other palms for ideal development. Slow-release fertilizers provide a steady supply of nutrients for the plants over a long period of time. The optimum fertilizer regimen is three applications per year: once in early spring, once in early summer, and once in late fall. Palm Power!™ and Sago Shot!™ provide the balanced nutrition needed to have healthy palms and sagos.