Pots of plants on the front porch, by the driveway or placed in a resting spot in the shade, add an inviting touch to the appearance of your home or business.

Whether you are using last year's containers or purchasing new ones, keep in mind that you are creating an environment for living plants and their roots. The size of the pot, the quality of the soil environment, fertilizer and water are the elements to consider even before plants are selected.

CONTAINERS

Clay pots allow the soil to dry more quickly and plastic pots are easier to move but their tendency to hold moisture can lead to root problems. Wood containers such as half-barrels and crates make great growing conditions for plants. Cement is difficult to move and retains heat but can be perfect for plants like bamboo. Glazed pots are non-porous and plant roots cannot breathe in them so many gardeners put clay pots inside them.

Drainage holes have to be present in growing containers unless you want to create a water garden with water plants. Many of the new Styrofoam pots work well but you have to put your own drainage holes in them.

Use containers large enough to hold the plants roots at their mature size. Gigantic containers hold a lot of water and should have enough plants in them so the soil dries between watering.

SOIL

Purchase fresh soil for this year's plants. To re-use, dump it out of the pots and remove all remains of old plants; check for insect infestations. Add slow release fertilizer and perlite or vermiculite - about one-third as much as soil. Consider adding moisture retention crystals to the bottom soil.

WATER

Most potted plants require daily watering. Water pots late afternoon so plant roots can absorb moisture overnight. Avoid getting the leaves wet. If your watering method always soaks plants' leaves, water in the morning to give the leaves the entire day to dry off. Wet leaves attract insects and diseases.

PLANT SELECTION