Some gardeners shy away from growing plants in containers because of endless "failure" stories buzzing in their heads. Container plantings are not difficult, but you do need to keep these few things in mind: selection of the pot, type of planting mix, and watering needs. These are the three main variables differentiating growing plants in the ground from growing them in containers.

Plants in containers can often suffer from dehydration, especially in the summer months of the year. Water them frequently, especially if your container plant is a water-thirsty fellow. A drip system can save time, plus save all the water that's wasted when you go from plant to plant with a hose. In very hot weather, containers seem to dry out almost as soon as they're watered. It's not only the heat; dry air literally pulls moisture out of the soil, right through the sides of porous pots.

So we need to be mindful of the types of containers that we love to have in our gardens and adjust our watering according to their needs. For example, terracotta pots are probably the most porous of the clay pots. This porosity allows the soil to dry out more quickly.

Glazed pots are next in line. The glaze on the outside of the pot actually helps to keep moisture in, at least more than a non-glazed clay pot would. Large and/or thick cement containers probably fall in line together with the glazed pots.

Finally, there are plastic and some of the new composite material containers. These materials do not 'breathe' at all, except at the top exposed-soil surface area. This container will hold the moisture far longer than terracotta.

Now, this watering rule must also take into consideration the type of potting soil that you have used and water needs of the plant in your container. Drought-tolerant plants will like a pot that dries out quickly. But perhaps a water-needy plant would not be so happy.

The soil mix itself should breathe. It should be light and airy, which can be accomplished by adding perlite or sponge rock. We want our potting soil to have this capability of "breathing"; however, this will also cause us to be more vigilant about watering.

If you let your potting soil dry out too much, the next time you water, even though you see water coming out of the container at the bottom, the water has really only taken the path of least resistance...along the outer margins of the soil, along the inside edge of the pot. You think that you have watered, but you have only "shown the water" to your poor dried-out plant.

If this happens, you will need to leave the water dripping into your container for a long enough time to "rehydrate" the potting soil. If the container is small enough, dunk it into a big bucket of water and let it sit there until you hear happy sounds from your plant—or at least until you can see your plant has perked up! Then remove it and let it drain as normal—you don't want to risk root-rot either.

Container gardening is a wonderful way to add splashes of plants and color in all areas of your outdoor rooms, and for those with only small patios, container gardening is the only way to go. Just be mindful of the water needs -- pay attention to the container type, the soil type, and especially the needs of your plants.