Many plant lovers have limited outdoor space in which to let their green fingers run riot and, judging from the readers’ letters on the subject, creating miniature landscapes in pots is an increasingly popular way of utilising small areas to their full capacity.

As one reader so beautiful describes it, “Arranging small plants to give the illusion that they are large trees and shrubs in a landscape of my own personal design, is to create a tiny world in which my imagination knows no bounds, and all of this in a single, albeit a large shallow one, clay pot.”

Landscaping a miniature garden in a pot comes complete with its own set of problems, of course, and I hope that the following information will assist readers to overcome at least some of the issues they appear to share.

The most suitable pots/planters to use for this art form are medium to large-sized shallow ones, if you are going to design a landscape primarily using cacti and succulents, which are perfect for this style of planting as they grow slowly. You can, of course, select other small plants too but, if you want your landscape to exist for any length of time before it becomes an overgrown jungle, be sure to choose only very slow-growing ones with shallow root systems.

You can, of course, opt to design using larger, deeper-rooted plants, but the size, depth and weight of pots/planters suitable to put them in will take up much more space, and may not, for example, fit in a balcony space.

Miniature gardens, a refreshing take on container gardening, are the perfect way to continue your love of gardening through winter

Clay pots/planters are far more suited to purpose than plastic ones in our climate, as clay pots hold in moisture, and keep plant roots cool, whilst plastic pots heat up rapidly in the sunshine, causing soil moisture to evaporate.

It is essential that, whatever type of pot/planter you decide to use, the pot has a suitable drainage hole in its base so that, after watering, any excess water can easily drain away. If the drainage hole becomes blocked, soil stays wet and plant roots may very well rot away to nothing. Keep drainage holes clear by laying shards of clay pot, at different angles, over them before putting any soil/compost in the pot.

To keep drainage at maximum, you may also like to cover the inside base of the pot/planter, all around the pot shards angled over the drainage hole, with a layer of rough gravel or small stones, this being especially recommended for cacti- landscaped pot gardens.

A well-draining mix of river sand (not salty sea sand) and regular garden soil, say 25 percent river sand and 75 percent garden soil with any lumps removed, is an ideal growing medium for the vast majority of succulents, although you may want to mix in a little fine gravel if planting cacti. Do not add any manure or chemical fertiliser at all, as neither succulents or cacti like it, and it can kill them.

Other suggested materials, aside from your own personal choice of suitable plants, include the following: seashells, interesting stones, broken pieces of tile, driftwood, figurines, ornamental birds, animals, insects, bits of mirror for ponds, interesting bits of metal and just about anything else that catches your fancy!

Putting your miniature landscape together is the real fun bit and, if anything like the writer, you will get completely lost in the creative process.

Start collecting useable bits and pieces and imagining landscapes in your mind’s eye and, when you are ready, give it a go. But be warned, it’s addictive!

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer does not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened

Published in Dawn, EOS, January 30th, 2022