By Gerry Hernandez, UC Master Gardener
Are you interested in adding pollinator plants to your garden but are afraid to start? The UC Davis Arboretum has a program called “Potted Plants for Pollinators” and it can help you make decisions on a small scale.
First, why do we want pollinator plants in the garden? Without pollinators the world we live in would be very different. Most of our crops and plants need pollinators to survive. Some pollinators include native bees, hummingbirds, bats, lizards, moths, and butterflies. A potted pollinator pot is great for apartments and that funky corner in the garden.
First, chose a container at least 15 inches in diameter. Chose a container that fits your needs. Then chose your soil mix. Most of us will use a bagged container mix. Next is the fun but often confusing part, picking the plants.
When choosing plants think about the “thriller, fillers, and spiller” method. The thriller will be the upright plant that is the focus. The filler is the small plant to fill the empty space. The spiller is a low growing plant that spills out of the container. Remember, if it’s a sunny area use plants that prefer sun and shade plants in the shade. The combinations are endless. The UC Davis Arboretum website has several examples of plants to help you get started.
Watering depends on the plants and the container location. Typically, you would water the soil thoroughly then when it dries out water the soil thoroughly again. It is important to monitor the plants. If the plant is droopy, it needs water. Unfortunately, overwatering and underwatering have the same symptoms. So, get your hands dirty and check the soil.
Source: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Visit: cecolusa.ucanr.edu arboretum.ucdavis.edu