Container Gardening For Kids

Old boots with container plants inside hanging outdoors.

Container gardening with kids has endless creative possibilities.

Container gardening for kids. Kids love having things in pots. And to make it even more fun for them, let them create their own pots.

Containers don't have to be boring old terra-cotta pots. Plastic pots are safer around kids, and they don't need to be watered as often.

Let the kids pick out a collection of pots of various sizes and shapes. Maybe they could plant a strawberry pot with different little plants in each of the holes.

Or they could even make their own containers. These ideas for container gardening for kids will help get things growing.

Container Gardening for Kids Pot Possibilities

Old sneakers and boots make great whimsical pots. You could even have a shoe-in with all different types of shoes.

Anything can be a container when container gardening with kids. It just has to be able to hold soil and allow excess water to drain out the bottom.

We've used everything from old sneakers to work boots to plastic soda bottles cut in half and painted with flowers or butterflies or hearts in our container gardens— the more unusual, the more fun.

Just remember when container gardening for kids that these pots dry out faster than clay or plastic and will need frequent watering, especially if they receive full sun daily.

Watering is the prime drawback of container gardening for kids, as container plants dry out much quicker than the in-ground variety.

You might want to consider hooking up a little irrigation line running from pot to pot so you can go on vacation without suffering any casualties.

Here are a few more suggestions for container gardening with kids:

Decorative cinder blocks. Herbs especially like these containers. They want tight places for their roots and the lime embedded in the blocks. You can set a bunch of them out to make a pattern and create a shallow garden.

Old toys, such as plastic dump trucks, etc.

Pocketbooks and totes. These are terrific for taller, larger plants.

Baskets. What did you do with the Easter baskets?! Find them if you can, and fill 'em with soil and let the kids loose with the seeds or seedlings.

Shells. An excellent choice for cactus and succulents.

Tips for Helping Kids Grow Their Gardens

Now that you've chosen your containers, here's how to get growing:

Wash out the container. Put holes in the bottom for drainage.

Fill the container full of potting soil. Leave around an inch at the top if you're scratch with seeds; about two or three inches if you're planting seedlings.

Plant seeds and cover. Or, plant seedlings and gently cover their roots with soil.

Water gently so you don't wash all the soil out. (This is not the time to power spray.) Wait until all the water has settled; then water more. Repeat until water drains out the bottom holes.