Jul 1, 20192 min read

3 Container Garden Survival Strategies for the Blazing Days of Summer

#1 Keep your plants watered during your vacay (or your staycay).

I hope you will definitely take some time to get away this summer. Hopefully deep into nature where you can fully disconnect. But if not, it's okay. Plan a visit to a local garden. Spend time soaking in the stress reducing hues and health boosting microbes there. Jump over to this post from last October for tools to help you find free public gardens worldwide.

To ensure your plants stay hydrated while you’re away, watch the video below. In this short, three minute video, I demonstrate how to use the wick watering method,;a low-tech, low-cost automatic watering system.

#2 Start heat-loving plants from seed now.

Do you thrive during midsummer? Loving the long days? Cheerfully enduring the heat and humidity poolside while sipping icy frozen lemonades? There are plants who thrive in the high heat of summer too. Start watermelon, muskemelon (cantaloupe), cucumber and squash seeds by mid-July. Check out the melon varieties in the Hortiki Plants shop for inspiration. These varieties work well in small spaces and containers.

# 3 Create a cool down corner

There are so many ways we can care for ourselves using plants. I love the idea of a “cool down corner” that I can harvest from whenever I am feeling overheated. Great plants to try include mint, chamomile, lemon balm and aloe vera. Mint has many culinary uses. Add mint to your summer drinks, salads, and as herbal seasonings for main courses. Mint can also be a decorative and fresh accent to top your desserts. Use mint, lemon balm, and chamomile to make iced tea or for application to the skin. Lemon balm has both antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Applying to the skin can help calm overheated or blistered areas. Chamomile also has anti-inflammatory properties along with antioxidants proven to help with sleep and relaxation. Finally aloe vera is a great and easy plant that can be used as a salve for sunburn, blisters, or overheated skin. Plant this one outside to soak up the sun if you can.

Grab this FREE Download with tips on making fresh herbal teas. Learn the best ways to make refreshing summer drinks and remedies to heal summer blazed skin.