Have I put too many bedding plants in container ?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by bluegeranium, May 31, 2024.

  1. bluegeranium

    bluegeranium Apprentice Gardener

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    I planted some containers with petunias but now they are flowering I think I may have overdone it! Should I transfer some to another pot or will they die? Or just leave them and hope for the best
     

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  2. Plantminded

    Plantminded Total Gardener

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    I think you’ve been a bit generous there! Three plants per pot would probably be better. They are going to struggle if you leave them so I would reduce the number per pot and plant up some more pots. Try to remove the plants with as much roots as you can and leave the replanted pots in a shaded area while they recover, keeping them well watered.
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      It looks a bit like a TV plant up, they always seem to cram too many plants into a container and leave no room for growth, just instant effect.:smile:
      It looks nice now but might be a struggle keeping it like that, one or two will take over and swamp the rest.
       
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      • ricky101

        ricky101 Total Gardener

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        You might be able to keep them all together if you are totally vigilant and water very regularly, perhaps 2 or 3 times day on a sunny day , along with added diluted liquid feed such as tomato feed.
         
      • bluegeranium

        bluegeranium Apprentice Gardener

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        Thank you I will get on to it tomorrow and hopefully they will survive. I did put a whole tray in each which I think was 9 might actually have been 12 oops! I’ll certainly remember next time thanks again for the advice.
         
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        • BenCotto

          BenCotto Gardener

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          A serendipitous outcome is that you can see the colours of the petunias so can replant in harmonious combinations. However I realise many people, and my mother was their cheerleader, belong to the nice-splash-of-colour school of gardening.
           
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          • mazambo

            mazambo Forever Learning

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            We did three 12" x 12" containers of busy Lizzie (impatiens) only 5 plants per container.
             
          • fairygirl

            fairygirl Total Gardener

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            As @BenCotto says, at least you can see the colours and can decide how you want to put them, if you move any.
            I think you might have to do that because over the next month or so, the plants will be trying hard to grow, and there may be very little compost left in the troughs - it'll be full of roots. That makes it hard for them to do well longer term, and also to try and separate them at a later date. It'll be harder to keep them happy.
            If you do decide to separate them, they might sulk and wilt for a little while, so it's important to keep them somewhere out of direct sun/heat until they recover.

            Always difficult to make the decision though. :smile:
             
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