Your first container.
Keep it simple.

1. Let water out.

Choose a pot with drainage holes. An attractive outer pot is fine: keep a draining nursery pot inside it and empty any collected water. Gravel at the bottom does not solve poor drainage.

2. Buy potting mix.

For a container, use a bag labeled “potting mix.” Garden soil and raised-bed soil are different products. The specific one-pot guide tells you the size and amount of space its plant needs.

3. Know what is already in the bag.

Many potting mixes contain fertilizer. Many of our container recipes name Miracle-Gro Organic Potting Mix, whose US product page states it feeds for up to 2 months. Check the individual guide: lavender uses a different mix, blueberries need acidic potting mix, and in-ground flower beds use garden soil. Where a mix already contains nutrients, wait before adding another feed. Some guides use organic granular fertilizer and others use conventional soluble products. Check the named recipe rather than assuming every plan follows the same feeding program.

4. Water the plant you have today.

Check outdoor pots daily at first. If the mix is still damp, wait. When watering is needed, wet the root zone and let excess drain. An indoor snake plant and outdoor basil do not need the same routine.

5. Match the project to the space.

A warm, sunny patio can suit herbs, tomatoes, and annual flowers. A bright indoor window suits a different set of plants. Raised beds and in-ground gardens have their own soil and watering needs; do not transfer container fertilizer amounts to a whole garden bed.

Sources: University of Maryland: container growing; University of Minnesota: choosing a mix; manufacturer’s US potting mix page.