SHRUBS > CEANOTHUS > container

IN THIS GUIDE

CEANOTHUS GUIDES

a purple flowering ceanothus growing in a ganging container in front of a house outside

Container GrowingCuttings PropagationDiscoloured LeavesPruningVarieties

Ceanothus are attractive shrub that bet lovely in many gardens with their ( normally ) downcast flowers .

In the ground , they can look wonderful draped up a wall or in a sunny border .

lots of brown terracotta plant pots on some gravel, with some stacked on top of one another

However , if you only have limited space or have soil which is not particularly well suited to grow these shrubs , such as badly drained soil , you might be wondering if you may grow ceanothus in pots .

Can You Grow Ceanothus In Pots?

you may indeed growsomeceanothus in pots , as long as the container are of sufficient size .

However , some variety will be well suited to container refinement than others , as Horticulture Lecturer Peter Lickorish shares :

“ Ceanothus thyrsiflorustends to be a more compendious coinage , better suit to container ontogenesis .

two large grey plastic pots filled to the brim with compost

“ Most compost is neutral or softly acidic in pH , whereas this species , and others ofCeanothus , like alkalinity .

“ Consider adding or using spend mushroom-shaped cloud compost , if you have any . ”

If you would like to rise ceanothus in containers , then it is good to prefer for a small and relatively compact option , rather than one of those that grows to a much larger sizing .

close-up of a blue flowering cluster from a ceanothus shrub with lush green foliage

“ I incur that a Ceanothus can be trained against a wall effectively , so planting in a commode gives you that choice , even on a patio , ” add together Peter .

Containers For California Lilac

When choosing a container for ceanothus , it is best to choose a pot that is just a picayune larger than the specimen in doubt .

If you pot up a ceanothus into a container that is too big , it can increase the opportunity of the dirt becoming waterlogged .

The fundamental thing to remember is that ceanothus shrubs need free - draining conditions , so any container you select must allow the water to drain aside freely and have sufficient drainage holes at the base .

blue ceanothus shrub with long woody stems growing in a pot next to pink zinnia and other flowers

I would also recommend using plant mountain feet – small holder placed underneath your container which help to raise them off the solid ground , thereby promoting better drain and airflow .

Heavier corporation , like those made from terracotta or ceramics , are typically good for these shrub as they are less likely to squander over with a larger industrial plant inwardly .

Pot-Growing Compost

Ceanothus need a detached - draining produce mass medium since waterlogged soil can cause major military issue for these plant life .

However , whilst ceanothus plants are moderately drought tolerant , they do ask some moisture when growing in pots .

Therefore , it is important to choose a produce metier that retains some moisture but allows surplus wet to drain away freely .

a large california lilac shrub with blue flowers growing in a garden border with a brown wooden fence in the background

Choose or make your own peat - gratuitous potting mix and remedy this with plentitude of horticultural grit to meliorate drainage .

Potting Up Ceanothus

think back , not all ceanothus will be suited to container growing .

check that that the shrub is implant in its unexampled container at the same depth that it was in its previous stain .

Mulch around the top of the container to retain moisture and declare oneself a little redundant protection .

Ceanothus are best placed as individuals in container where they are the headliner of the show .

They are beneficial for other nearby industrial plant when placed in the garden , but they can be a little fussy in pots and will decidedly demand distance .

Potted Ceanothus Care

Place container - grown ceanothus in as sunny and shelter a spot as possible for the summer and note that for some less hardy type or in colder area , you may involve to contribute the industrial plant indoors or undercover during the winter months .

Plants grow in sess can be susceptible to winter frigid to a greater degree than those in the dry land .

Wind scorch and rime legal injury are common problem when these plant are left in uncover localisation .

Since Ceanothus is a fairlydrought - large-minded shrub when planted in the undercoat , some will make the mistake of thinking that they will not take to water oft when spring up in a container .

However , it is important to remember that plant grow in containers will need to be watered more ofttimes than those produce in the ground .

That said , it is best to encourage deeper beginning , even when develop in container , by water profoundly rather than shallowly and more frequently .

Let the mass medium dry out between waterings , but ensure that you do water deeply before the medium dries out entirely , especially during hot , dry weather condition in summertime .

Always verify that spare water can run out forth freely to avoid issues that can get up due to waterlogged conditions .

Ceanothus typically wo n’t need to be fertilised on a regular basis , but topping up with a balanced plant food , such as fish , blood and off-white in the springtime can be advantageous , or a high - K fertiliser in previous autumn to improve stale tolerance .

However , if you intemperately prune a ceanothus , then it is best to encourage it to recover well by feeding it with a balanced organic fertiliser after doing so .

Mulching with homemade compost or other constitutive mulch around the top of the container can also help keep fertility rate .

Keep an eye out for plague like scale insect .

Deadheading is not need for ceanothus , though you’re able to remove spend blooms for tidiness if you want , and pruning will depend on the specific type of ceanothus you are develop .

With the correct location and care , smaller ceanothus shrub can be grand option for a container garden .