But space constraint hasn’t restricted my enthusiasm for variety, as I utilise the concept of container gardening to achieve that. At the same time you can still indulge in it even if you have a huge garden space, since it has a number of benefits you would not believe.

Container gardening gives you flexibility, as it can allow you to enjoy plants in areas where a traditional garden might not be possible. Plants thrive on rooftops, decks, balconies and stairs – any corner of your house you can imagine. And if you have a nice outside garden, you can use it to introduce a new dimension and style to it by experimenting with plants and optimising growing conditions. Containers also allow you to offer special attention to your favourite marigold or that lovely rosemary.

Since containers can be moved easily, shifting your pots of gardenias from your front porch to your backdoor or transporting them to a new home would be handy and highly non-cumbersome. It’s a great way of decorating your garden or a corner of your deck, or make a tired area of your house look lively. With some imagination and creativity, you can make the most austere entrance or sparsely decorated balcony or deck feel warm and inviting.

Controlling some types of pests can be easy with container gardening. You can arrange containers so that plants can attract and repel insects or flies according to your needs, and treat any concerned containers with appropriate sprays without disturbing other plants.

One of the best parts of such gardening is you can be choosy and creative in selecting your containers. And if you can employ your aesthetic sense a bit, you can do magic with these little containers. Each container you choose should complement the plant aesthetically and functionally. For example, if you decide to grow strawberries, consider purchasing a terra-cotta planter that comes with special holes through which you can cultivate your fruit or herbs.

Besides the size, take care that the material and shape of the container should be conducive to your plant’s health as well as to your surroundings. You can experiment with your holders – try using terra cotta or plastic pots, or go for blue glazed pots to suit your taste, budget and surroundings.

With wooden troughs or baskets, try to ensure that your wood is of a high quality and also finished with a plant-proof preserver. Wood containers fare well in colder weather and also provide good insulation. Terra cotta pots can also hold warmth well and plants like them as their roots need to breathe. Glazed clay pots aren’t as porous as terra cotta, though they give you an option to choose glazed colours to match your home or garden decor.  There is also more availability of a range of plastic pots these days that often resemble terra cotta containers and can be moved or cleaned more easily than terra cotta. But the biggest disadvantage with plastic is that it doesn’t allow your plants to breathe easily.

Other types of containers include stone containers that provide a natural effect, and wire baskets – you just have to be open to the various options, and either go for one type or mix and match to create the effect you desire.

Above all, you need to take care of the bottom of any container by having suitable saucers to capture any loose soil and dripping water that escapes from the bottom, and there is a whole world of saucers to explore as well.