Don't fill a pot brimful with soil. Leave at least one inch at the top so water can pool and soak in slowly.
Container gardens need lots of fertilizing since nutrients get washed out with rain and frequent watering. Make fertilizing easier by adding a slow-release 9-month fertilizer to the soil at planting time.
Keep soil evenly moist. In warm weather that means watering plants every day. In very hot dry weather, you may have to water twice a day.
Live in a hot, dry climate and have a number of pots? Consider rigging up a drip-emitter system with a timer. It's a no-hassle way to make sure your plants get plenty of water-even if you are gone on vacation.
Consider using potting soil that contains the new polymer crystal products, which dramatically reduce water use. When wet, the crystals swell into clear globules and act like sponges to help keep soil moist longer.
Keep spent blooms trimmed. The more you pinch or cut off spent blooms, the more most plants will flower.
