Container gardens are hot sellers at local garden centers. Angelo Petitti sells thousands every month...and for good reason. Container plantings will brighten any spot in the home and folks love to get them as gifts. Its time to take the mystery out of this simple and inexpensive process.

First, choose a container that suits you...a basket, an old jewelry box, or an old shoe...anything will do depending on how formal you want your planter to look. Buy a plastic liner to set the soil and plants in. This will keep your outside, formal container dry.

Next, select the plants. The secret here is buying small plants in individual 2-4 inch pots. Get crazy. Select 6 to 12 plants (depending on the size of your container) with a wide variety of leaf form and color. Choose one or two taller plants such as Dracaena (Spike Plant) or Dieffenbachia. Pick out 3 to 4 medium height plants such as Peace Lily, Maranta (Prayer Plant) or Pathos. Lastly, choose one to 3 low growing plants such as English Ivy, Hoya, or Philodendron. All of these plants come in many different varieties from red to yellow to dark green or variegated. Remember: there is no right or wrong plant choice here. In fact, the more diverse your plants are, the better your container garden will look. If you want flowers, choose a small Begonia, African Violet or Cyclamen. Its up to you!

Now, its time to decide where you'll place your container. Gardens used as centerpieces look best with the tallest plant in the middle of the pot. Planters that will be displayed against a wall look best with the tallest plants set to the wall-side of the pot.

Grab your potting soil and begin by placing a layer of soil in the bottom of your liner. Now, put your largest plant in its proper position in the liner. Add the medium height plants by packing them closely next to your tallest plant. Lastly, add the low growing plants. By now, you should have worked your way to the outside of your liner. Add extra soil between the plants and firm it in. Finish by adding some moss around your plants and place your planted liner into its outside container.

Water gently and wait for the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. These container gardens thrive in bright indirect sunlight and if the plants outgrow the container, break them apart and repot each plant separately. You can then start over and build a new container garden!

For more information on container gardening, visit Petitti Garden Center's Oakwood location all this weekend. Free seminars and clinics will be offered on container gardening and growing tropical plants.

Happy gardening!

e-mail Mark Johnson with your gardening questions and comments: johnson@newsnet5.com