The way I understand it, a "pot ghetto" is an area set aside for roses (or, I suppose, other plants) being grown in pots "temporarily". This would mean new bands which will eventually be planted in the garden when they increase in size, or perhaps impulse-buys with no permanent planting area available yet. Some "pot ghettos" will remain that way, the roses never going into the ground. The roses may be kept for utilitarian purposes -- such as for breeding, or perhaps simply as a collection.

But I think the main difference between "pot ghetto" and "pot garden" is that the ghetto is more about function than form -- simple pots, no mixed planters. Pot gardens, on the other hand, are more about form than function, and will encompass plants chosen to work together, pots which are more decorative, and (probably) mixed planters (think "Thriller-Filler-Spiller"). If you want to keep roses in decorative pots for the purpose of beautifying an area, and you perhaps throw in some annuals for added color, that's not what I'd call a pot ghetto anymore -- that's a pot garden.

At least, that's MY understanding.

:-)

~Christopher

Christopher's definitions are mine. DH is simply quicker to write than "my husband", and, since married life has its share of stresses, it's a helpful way to remind oneself that basically he's a good guy. DH is making my breakfast as I type.
Melissa

DH I thought could be either "dear" husband or "darn" (or worse) husband, depending on circumstances--or on the husband? ;^)

My understanding: roses in a pot ghetto are waiting for a home; roses in a pot garden have found their home. (I have both, with the roses permanently in pots being loved varieties that seemed to not like my soil but are amenable to pots, for the time being at least.)

The term ghetto just means an area where a group that is similar resides. It has become a derogatory term over time evoking an image of someplace that looks deteriorated and slum like. In rose talk I think it just represents the area where all the plants you don't know what to do with end up until you can figure it out.

I have a beautiful pot garden of roses on my patio in the summer. These are roses that will spend their lives in nice decorative pots. I have no intention of planting them anywhere. But I also have a pot ghetto. This is the spot were I have roses that I'm maturing in nursery cans, either bands or my rooted cuttings, and isn't the neatest place. I also have a large area that is my seedling nursery where I keep all my babies. I do call my winter storage for all the pots a pot ghetto because it's pretty unsightly. Usually a pot ghetto is messy and unorderly, more like the classic impression of a "ghetto", and a garden is cleaner and neater or more decorative.

I probably use the term ghetto for my patio pots sometimes too though. People understand it and it just comes out. It's easy. I try not to now because they really are a garden unto themselves. They have their own particular set of needs and challenges like each of my beds do.

Besides being the short hand of the times I think another component if using the DH, DW, etc. is for privacy and internet anonymity. Some people don't want to put their names out there or advertise their status.

Thank you all for the clarification.

Lynn