I'm brand new to gardening and bought a bunch of outdoor container plants, what should I know?

Question

Here's what I've got and done so far...

A lobelia Hybrid "Luguna compact with blue eye" and a "sunbeam kordana rose" both planted in 8 in terra cotta pots(with drain), on the ground in semi-shade.

A Calibrachoa hybrid "superbells tickled pink" planted in a hanging tin 6 in planter(with drain) hung in direct sun

A mini-spider plant and tiny-fern both in 3 in ceramic pots (no drain) in shade

I planted all 5 plants in Miracle Grow potting soil.

So here's my questions...
1. would the spider or fern do better indoors? and do they need draining or larger pots?

2. How often should i water each of them? Do any of them need plant food?

3. It's already fall so will they still be alive this winter? (I'm in SoCal)

4. If they die for the winter (1st 3 say annuals) When will they come back, do i have to do anything to them to make them come back?

5. Please! anything else I should know, I'm really new to this and don't understand alot of garden-lingo yet,

Thanks!

And did I get good plants for a beginner?

(sorry for all the questions, but I went to Home Depot, it's like pulling teeth trying to get customer service in that place LOL)

oh and do I have to worry about pests?

Answer 1

The lobelia and the Calibrachoa are both annuals, so they will only live for the season. If you want plants to come back for you next season, you should buy perennial plants - these usually are bigger and not as showy (colourful) as the annuals.
As for the spider plant and the fern, those are indoor plants. You should move them back into the house.

You should water your outdoor plants daily to promote root growth in a new environment. It is quite late in the season for planting outdoors I must say, but and again you are in south california, so I can't really comment on that.

Your indoor plants should be watered approximately once a week. Do not put your indoor plants under direct sun. The fern can do with more shade, and soil needs to be kept moist at all times. I hope this helps!

Next year, you should really get your plants from a nursery. The staff there will be able to help you choose the right plants. Home depot is not the right place unless you know what kind of plants to buy(ie, a seasoned pro).

Answer 2

There is no mention of actual size of the raised bed. So, it is hard to respond to. Flowers are mentioned ... so I will start from there. Two types of plants... Perennial and Annual. Perennial plants do not have to be replanted each year. They come back year after year. Annuals do not come back. See the sites below for more information and selections...that you like the descriptions of. Remember to soil test and treat with crushed lime, if possible, before planting. Some plants do better with a specific pH. Hydrangeas change color according to the soil pH. If you have a local Farmer's Co-op, they often have the kits and may offer free service in exchange for agreement to purchase the treatment (lime) from them. Perennials: Achillea Asters Bleeding Heart Campanula Collections Coneflower Daisies Delphinium Eupatorium Foxglove Geraniums Helenium Hibiscus Hosta Kniphofia Lavender Linum Lupine Other Perennials Plants Rudbeckia Scabiosa Verbascum Viola Agastache Baby's Breath Butterfly Bush Chrysanthemum Columbines Coreopsis Daylilies Dianthus Ferns Gaillardia Grass Heuchera Hollyhocks Hydrangea Lady's Mantle Lilies Lobelia Monarda Phlox Poppies Salvia Sedum Verbena Annuals: Abutilon Ageratum Alyssum Asarina Asters Balsam Bells of Ireland Calendula Celosia Cleome Collections Cornflower Dahlias Dolichos Flower Fairies Collection Gardens Geraniums Heirloom Annuals Ice Plant Ipomopsis Kale Lavatera Lobelia Moonflower Nasturtium Other Annuals Pentas Phlox Poppy Rudbeckia Scabiosa Spilanthes Stock Sunflowers Tithonia Verbena Zinnias Agastache Alternanthera Amaranthus Asclepias Baby's Breath Begonias Browalia Cardinal Climber Clarkia/Godetia Coleus Convolvulus/Dwarf Cosmos Daisies Dusty Miller Four O Clocks Gazania Gomphrena Heliotrope Impatiens Iresine Laurentia Lisianthus Marigolds Morning Glory Nicotiana Pansies Petunias Plants Portulaca Salvia Snapdragons Statice Strawflower Sweet Peas Torenia Vinca

Answer 3

try looking up the individual plants. Annuals don't come back, they die. Perennials come back. In your climate, you can make them last a long time though. There is so much to tell you, I can't do it all here. all will need some type of plant food since they are in small pots.

Answer 4

You can go to the Homedepot website and type the name of plant or the sku number and it will give you information on the care of the plants. Also I have many many container plants depending on your weather you maybe have to water once or twice daily.

www.homedepot.com