Adaptations by Plants to Grow in Container

Adaptations by plants to grow in containers is more prevalent in the world than you would think. It is the way they have adapted in order to make their lives easier. They will do what is needed without question or concern for whether the environment they live in is conducive or not to their needs.

Changes in Behavior of Plants

They do this through changes in their chemistry and in their physiology, through changes in their soil structure and in their community of life in the container. This involves changes in temperature, water availability, and nutrient availability, in addition to alteration in the species composition of the plants themselves. In a way, plants are following a natural course of events that are trying to find the best way to survive under the conditions they find themselves in. Of course, they also realize that what their natural predators and prey are doing is also trying to find a way to survive as well.

Ways of Adaptation by Plants

The solution to this problem is adaptation. Adaptation can take place in two ways. First, as in the case of plants for instance. The root system of a plant is capable of adapting to its environment in the form of deeper embedding or root canal. Second, the roots can grow and spread out to find water or nutrients where they are lacking.

Handling the Container Environment

There are several ways for plants to handle their container environment. Plants can root deeply. They can also develop spurs or prickles on the undersides of their leaves to divert the nutrients or water away from their roots. Finally, they can develop tubers or grains on the undersides of their leaves to help them absorb the water or nutrients that they need. All of these things help the plants survive.

Traits Development by Plants

It is likely that your plant has developed some or all of these traits. However, it is also likely that at least part of those traits are not working well in your container garden. If so, one of the ways that plants can adapt is through horizontal growth. You can make adaptation by plants to grow in containers by providing plenty of good soil for them to root in and plenty of light and moisture to facilitate that horizontal growth.

Providing Good Soil to Plants Can Help them Flourish

Many container gardens don’t provide very good soil. Soil that is too dry can do nothing but encourage weeds to grow. Too much water can wash nutrients away and make the soil too dry. Plants that don’t get a lot of sunlight can’t utilize the sunlight for food either. Providing good soil and lots of nutrients for your plants will help them to survive and flourish in your container garden.

Soil with Neutral pH Level Required by Plants

Plants also can benefit from adaptation if they are planted in a soil that is already dead or if there is poor soil structure. Plants don’t want to be growing in an extremely acidic or alkaline soil environment. They will establish roots in an acidic soil environment and then spread on alkalizing soil. However, plants do better if they start out in soils that provide a neutral pH level and that are well-rooted. Plants can establish roots easily in an improper soil structure.

Suitable Conditions Needed by Plant for Better Growth

It is important to establish the needs of your plants and to provide suitable soil for them to establish their roots and grow. Containers allow you to do this but as plants develop they may need to be weeded. Plants that have been adapted to grow in containers can do fine with minimal weeding if they have a strong root system.

Need for Suitable Amount of Fertilizer

Soil type and proper pH level are important factors in how plants will respond to the containers. If you provide suitable soil they will do fine. If you add too much or too little plant food or fertilizer and the soil is too acidic or alkaline the plants won’t establish a root system. Too much plant food and fertilizer in the soil will also kill the roots and the plant will die. The plant won’t have adequate quantities of nutrients to survive and will need more or less water to survive.

Adaptation of Roots of Plants

Plants that have been established in containers can be weeded by removing the young plants that are weak and causing the plant to spread its roots. You can even pull some of the young leaves on the plants that are not weeding as the roots will find water in the soil and they will push the weaker plants out. However, some plants will try to root in the containers and you might need to keep some of these to provide additional food source or they may die. Soil with good nutrients but not too rich will also encourage the plants to adapt.

Precautions for Planting Trees and Shrubs

Planting trees and shrubs is usually easier in containers than it is in natural soil. Plants don’t like to be planted so close together as they normally would in the natural environment. They will also need more water and fertilizer to help them establish root systems. When planting the container variety, choose the ones with similar root structure so the plants won’t compete for the same nutrients. Also, ensure that the containers provide good drainage as well as air circulation.