Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers

Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers | Growing Ornamental Grass

Growing ornamental grasses is fun, you can decorate your house, garden, balcony or patio with them. 

Grasses are not only for lawn or for ground cover. They can add a visual charm at any place if you grow them in containers.

Growing and care for ornamental grasses is relatively easy. You can start to grow them from seeds.

Growing ornamental grasses in containers is a great way to feature grasses without letting them branch out and taking over your whole garden. Container grown grasses are also easier to control and they looks stunning when grown with flowers.

Growing Ornamental Grasses in Pots

Ornamental grasses are excellent way to create privacy in the garden, especially in a patio, balcony or terrace. They are extremely resistant to drought and grows rapidly. Although they can tolerate moisture, but the soil should not be waterlogged.

Growing Position

Decide where you want to grow the ornamental grass. Ornamental grasses generally thrive in a spot that gets at least five to six hours of sunlight daily.

Choosing Right Pot

Choosing right pot is also important for growing ornamental grasses in pots. Pot should have good drainage and must be wide enough to let the grass spread and deep enough to support the root system. 

Requirements

Soil

Use a mix of one part compost, one part top soil and one part perlite for making a good growing medium for grass.

Watering

A general rule is to water your plants only when the top two inch of soil is dry. However, different grass varieties have different needs and some even like to sit in water so make sure to do a good research about the grass variety you’re growing.

Fertilizer

Fertilize annually in spring with slow release 3 – 1 – 2 fertilizer. For tropics, fertilize your plants in winter. Take care not to over fertilize grass.

11 Best Ornamental grasses for containers

1. Bamboo MuhlyBamboo Muhly

Almost fern like but fine in texture, bamboo muhly grass grows easily. It takes its name from its notched stems and feathery foliage. It thrives in the tropical climate, loves sun and heat and grows well in containers.

2. Japanese Sweet Flag

This low growing (12″) ornamental grass is good to grow in containers if you don’t want tall variety of grasses. Japanese sweet flag is low maintenance and grows in moist and soggy soil and in semi shade to full sun.

You can grow this ornamental grass with other moisture loving plants or with aquatic plants.

3. Red Fountain Grass

Beautiful red fountain grass looks stunning, it’s an arching upright plant. Fill the pot with its rich burgundy color of foliage and you’ll see how beautiful it looks.

4. Japanese Forest Grass

Once you see Japanese forest grass, you’re going to want it. This is the plant you can grow in shade, its foliage comes in yellow green stripes and grows in clump. Grow this ornamental grass in a dark ceramic pot for absolute stunning look.

5. Blue Lyme Grass

Blue lyme grass grows aggressively in all kinds of soil. It grows in both tropical and non tropical climate. Its sword like foliage grows up to 3 – 4 feet that fold as they grow tall. It’s bold and spiky and form beige colored flower heads usually in summer.

6. Fiber Optic Grass

Fiber optic grass grows well in tropics, in colder climate you can grow it as annual. It hangs down gently in a curve and creates an unusual effect. It’s one of the best ornamental grasses you would like to grow in containers.

Fiber optic is a low growing, fine texture grass and can be planted in full to partial sun, it loves moist soil.

7. New Zealand flax

New Zealand flax is perennial in frost free areas. You can grow it in containers, it looks beautiful and gives a tropical feel. This grass like beautiful foliage plant comes in colors of green, copper, red and gold.

8. Sedge

Sedge looks like grass but it is different. Grown in containers, its leaves glow in the sun and looks wonderful while the blades rustles in the slightest breeze. Sedge grows well in warm sunny conditions.

9. Miscanthus

One of the most popular ornamental grasses, it grows well in container. Available in many varieties, it looks picturesque in the morning sun.

10. Blue Oat Grass

Grow this cool blue – gray grass in pot with bright flowers to create aesthetic look on your patio, terrace or balcony garden. Blue oat grass is low maintenance and grows well in partial shade.

11. Feather Reed Grass

Feather reed grass can be grown in sun and in partial shade both.

13 Common Flowers that are Poisonous

13 Common Flowers that are Poisonous | Toxic Flowers

Mild to Intense, every gardener should know about these toxic flowers.

Flowers spread the color and joy and compliment the garden. However, there are some flowers that are common and loved by gardeners are toxic.

No one is saying you should remove them or avoid them altogether, but if you have small children and animals, you should know what flowers are poisonous so that you can keep an extra eye and become aware of what the consequences might be, if they ingest something from the following flowers and plants.

1. Hydrangea

Be extra careful when growing hydrangeas, don’t keep them indoors if you have cats and dogs, if in case they might nibble it. Hydrangeas contain small amount of cyanide and can be lethal if ingested heavily. Although they are not dangerous for human, but ingestion of specific amount of leaves or flowers can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy in pets.

2. Clematis

Rather mild but toxic, clematis is poisonous. When touched or consumed, the toxin called anemonin (irritant glycoside) affects the pets and humans both. It can cause dermatitis in some people after contact and mild burning sensation and ulcer in mouth, if eaten. It affects the pets like dogs, cats and horses more and causes nausea and drooling. Fortunately the symptoms subside soon, pets themselves don’t touch clematis because of its bitter taste. *While pruning clematis, care to wear gloves.

3. Calotropis

Calotropis is one of the most common weed grows all across the South Asia, its latex ooze out from the flowers and leaves that contains calotropin, which if contacted to eyes can cause blindness.

4. Oleander

Oleanders are charming, fragrant and loved by home owners, they bloom in white, pink, yellow or red. But be careful if you have children, eating only a meager amount of this toxic flower can be dangerous. All parts of oleander are extremely poisonous if ingested, even the smoke burn from its wood is toxic. Symptoms of poisoning include dehydration, fever, slow heartbeat, tremors and death is also possible.

5. Azalea

Both azaleas and rhododendrons are poisonous for pets. These colorful flower are beautiful to look at and adds color in a garden. Flowers, leaf or stem can lead to nausea, abdominal pain and difficulty in breathing, if eaten.

6. Daffodil (Narcissus)

The bulbs are the toxic part of this popular and familiar flower, so you should probably take extra care when you plant it, if you have a dog that likes to dig in the flower beds. Too much ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, squeeze cases, tremors and heart rhythm disorders.

7. Lantana

Lantana is extremely common flower in tropics and be treated as weed in many countries. Its flowers come in shades of white, yellow, pink, red, violet or orange. This flower is known for its intense fragrance and it also attracts butterflies. All parts of the plant contain liver toxin. Symptoms like depression, vomiting, fatigue and liver failure are possible after ingestion.

8. Foxglove

Foxgloves are used to prepare medicines, still all parts of the plant are mildly poisonous, contains digitalis glycoside, digitoxin and deslanocide and used in heart medicine. However, if you ingest a particular amount of foxgloves it can cause headache, stomach pain and fainting.

9. Lily of the Valley

The lily of the valley is very toxic, flowers, leaves and stem should not be eaten. The plant contains cardiac glycosides, which acts directly on the heart and causes vomiting, illusion, blurriness, slow heart rates and can be fatal in some cases. Fortunately, the poison is slowly absorbed into the body, so that the medical intervention on time after consuming can save from much harm to occur.

10. Morning Glory

Not all species of morning glory are poisonous but there are few, whose seeds are poisonous, if swallowed. Morning glory contain the toxic called lysergic alkaloids, which causes medical signs like diarrhea, in-coordination and liver failure, if large amount of seeds ingested.

 11. Wisteria

The tempting beauty of wisteria is alluring but do you know that it is a mildly poisonous plant, mainly for cats and dogs. Every part of it is poisonous, especially seeds. If only few seeds are ingested they can cause mild abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and depression of the central nervous system.

 12. Periwinkle (Catharanthus rosea, *formely Vinca rosea)

Madagascar Periwinkle is one of the most easy to grow flowers and can be an excellent ground covers in warm climates, but it is mildly poisonous and contains a group of alkaloids. It is used in Ayurveda and Chinese herbal medicines to cure high blood pressure. Its excess consumption causes drop in blood pressure and hypotension. Do not confuse Madagascar periwinkle with Vinca major (greater periwinkle), which is not poisonous.

 13. Calla Lily

Calla lily can be an excellent cut flower and looks beautiful, its leaves are edible after cooking. According to North Carolina state university all parts of calla lily are poisonous and contains calcium oxalate crystals and because of this, eating any part of the plant raw can causes swelling of lips, tongue and throat. Similar symptoms occur to the animals, if they eat it.

Plants that Grow without Sunlight

Plants that Grow without Sunlight | 17 Best Plants to Grow Indoors

There are plants that grow without sunlight, they need indirect exposure, some even thrive in fluorescent light.

The obvious thing that everyone know is the fact that plants need sunlight to grow. They can’t grow or develop properly without the right amount of sunlight.

So what would you do if you have windows in your home or office that are small or directed north or if you want to grow plants in your living room, dining room or bathroom? Luckily there are plants that grow without sunlight and you can grow them indoors.

When you are looking for such plants choose ones that are known for their ability to grow in indirect sunlight. They are ideal shade-loving plants, naturally growing in the indirect sun. These plants adapt well to the smaller amount of light and thrives normally. 

1. Dracaena

Dracaena is a beautiful houseplant that you can grow at home. There are about 50 species of it. It’s really an easy to grow plant.

Occasional pruning and regular watering is important for dracaena. Keep the plant away from direct sun and avoid overwatering.

2. Bromeliads

Bromeliad is a perfect plant to grow indoors, most of the varieties of this plant thrive easily in a container in shade. Indeed, it is a tropical plant but you can grow it anywhere, indoors. It can even grow in luminescent light.

3. Maidenhair Fern

When it comes to ferns that are popular, maidenhair fern is one you should consider. Its dark and glossy leafstalk resembles human hair.

Be sure to water frequently and keep this houseplant in indirect sun.

4. Parlor Palm

Most popular indoor palm variety, it’s an excellent houseplant for almost any situation, it grows even in those dim corners where nothing else will grow. It requires only minimal care and moderate light. It produces clusters of tiny yellow flowers in spring, however, these will not form in low light conditions.

Water only when soil is dry otherwise you’ll kill your plant.

5. Umbrella papyrus

Umbrella palm is an evergreen ornamental plant, best grown indoors or in shady and a boggy spot in the garden. Many houseplant enthusiasts find this plant easy enough to grow and maintain.

It requires constantly moist substrate – pot should be submerged in water. You can place the umbrella palm pot over the tray filled with water.

6. Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Snake Plant)

Mother-in-law’s tongue is a low maintenance plant also called as snake plant. It’s a very durable and popular houseplant. Its ability to tolerate darkness is amazing.

7. Creeping Fig

It’s a slow growing creeper with small, leathery dark green foliage. Vigorous-growing, clinging, dense branches adhere to any surface and looks enchanting.

Be careful not to overwater creeping fig. Let the soil dry out before watering.

8. Philodendron

Philodendron easily adapt to lower-light conditions. They come in both vine and shrub varieties.

Soil must be constantly moist but not wet. It’s best if the soil dries out slightly between watering sessions.

9. Calathea (Peacock Plant)

One of the most beautiful foliage plants you should grow in your home. It grows well in light shade but the plant is demanding, it has specific minimum temperature 55 F (13 C) requirement that should be maintained.

It prefers frequent watering and moist soil.

10. Maranta Leuconeura (Prayer Plant)

Calantheas are tropical plant and difficult to grow in colder climates and so the prayer plant but it is one alternative you can go for, it is comparatively easy to grow plant than calanthea. It grows well in moderate light without direct access to the sun. If the plant is kept in too much light the leaves begin to curl and wither.

Watch out for pests especially spider mites.

11. Sword fern

Sword fern can become a beautiful evergreen houseplant. Like other houseplants don’t place this in direct sunlight.

It grows well in acidic soil. Keep the soil constantly moist but well draining. It loves humid surroundings, so do regular misting to maintain the humidity levels.

12. Peperomia

Peperomia is small striking adorable houseplant that grows up to only 6 inches tall. Due to its thick foliage, it is often considered as succulent, which is not true.

Peperomia likes slightly moist soil and humidity but watering should be reduced in winter. Spraying the plant’s leaves is helpful in maintaining the humidity level.

13. Devil’s Ivy (Golden Pothos/Money Plant)

Commonly known as money plant in South East Asia, it’s widely grown as a houseplant in Asian countries. It’s extremely low maintenance vine that thrives without direct sunlight.

Excellent climber, you can grow it even in bathroom, kitchen or living room. It is known for its ability to clean the Carbon Monoxide from the air.

14. Carex Morrowii (Japanese Sedge)

Japanese sedge is a shade-loving ornamental grass, it grows well indoors.

15. Spider plant

Its graceful green foliage striped with cream color looks beautiful in hanging baskets and pots, it can be kept on windowsills or near the entrance of home as it likes indirect sunlight.

Direct sunlight often causes burning of leaves.

16. Peace Lily

If you often forget to water your houseplants, acquire a peace lily, it is forgiving. Incredibly easy to grow, peace lily flourishes in shady locations. It also cleans up the air.

17. Silver Queen (Aglaonema)

Silver queen is a very beautiful plant. It’s one of the most durable houseplants that thrives in low light, it’s an ideal plant for beginners too. However, the plant is extremely cold sensitive.

Additional Tips

Most of the houseplants require regular watering and moist soil but ensure you don’t overwater them.

Avoid keeping the plant waterlogged all the time.

Fertilize your houseplants with all purpose liquid fertilizer twice a month during the growing season.

Prune your plants regularly to maintain their desired shape and size.

Look out for pests, especially spider mites can be a major problem.