miscanthus giganteus in pots?

Hello
I am a newbie to the forum and came across the website whilst looking for an answer to the above question. Brilliant forum. I have planted miscanthus giganteus along one side of my garden to create a wind/privacy break and would like to continue the theme on a patio, but I would have to plant in pots. Has anyone planted this type of miscanthus in pots? Or does anyone know of a another tall grass that would complement miscanthus giganteus but grow in a container?
Look forward to any advice.

 

Hi Geena and a warm welcome to the forum.

I don't really know anything about this plant. However, in my experience, you can grow virtually anything in a pot - as long as the pot is big enough. I am currently growing a Brugmansia arborea in a pot, which is about 9 feet tall (including the pot), and I have loads of other younger ones at only 7 or 8 feet.

Looking on another forum, I see Miscanthus giganteus can grow up to 10 feet in this country. I always add 30% sharp sand to my compost. It helps drainage and also adds weight to the pot giving it more stability against being blown over.

 

I've been looking at this plant as there ws a discussion on another forum

nice shrub, looks similar to some type of bamboo ... only thing that 'put me off' was that it can tend to be 'invasive' when planted in the ground (read that on another forum) ... could do ok in a large trough pot, but some say it grows to 3m high and tends to 'flop'?

check these:
exotic plants - Bamboo > Borinda papyrifera CS1046 -

exotic plants - Bamboo > Borinda macclureana -

exotic plants - Shrubs and Trees > Phormium tenax - New Zealand Flax

loads more on that site, and am sure that many will grow in a large trough like planter pot if fed and fertilized regulary

 

found this link on another forum ... it is the RHS trials and awards for Miscanthus

http://www.rhs.org.uk/getattachment/91824ee0-c494-4146-9b59-6a6dae808205/Miscanthus-Bulletin.aspx

 

Good evening Geena and welcome to the site.

 

Geena, welcome to the site.

 

Hello everyone
Thanks for warm welcomes. I am going to have a go at growing this plant in pots. We have ordered 12 at 3 feet tall and we have 30 ltr pots to put them in. We have them along a wall in the garden and this scheme would mean that we have a continuous line along the side of the garden. The ones in the ground are growing well, I have read that they 'bush up' rather than spread throughout the garden. We want the hedge to be a privacy screen. This plant is good for windy, coastal areas apparently, it will get a test here, we're about two miles from the sea in a windy spot!
Geena :o

 

Hi,
We have been growing Miscanthus Giganteus extensively for over 15 years in many countries and conditions. It will not survive very long in 30cm pots and will need lots of regular watering. Its rhizomes over time can grow to over a metre clump, underground. It is an excellent windbreak, and this strain will not not creep, so plant it directly into the ground if that was your primary concern. Giganteus is also sterile so will not set seed. We have crops in windy North Devon and they stand it better than most. An alternative windbreak which is quite novel is to plant salix (willow) and weave it into a fence. It is easy to grow but whereas the Miscanthus will grow each year for maybe 20 years plus (and can be easily removed if needed), the willow will eventually grow into trees, unless you keep it coppiced. If the ability to move your windbreak is important, then woven willow is easy to remove (every 2/3 yrs) and then very easy to replant (just push live sticks into the ground in winter).
Alternatively, use biodegradeable pots (ie see Napac Biotech) made from Miscanthus etc. If I can help further, please ask.

 

Hi,
If you are still accessing this site and blog, I may be able to help. We grow Miscanthus Giganteus commercially and have many years experience.