I use containers for several reasons: I love tropicals, but can't grow them as perennials in a subtropical climate. The tropicals and other plants come in with for the winter for year round gardening...as long as my husband retains the youth and willingness to carry large containers. As the tree canopy changes light patterns, it allows me to chase the sun. I can locate plants away from the path of deer, groundhogs, and other "dinner guests". I love watering containers. It's a peaceful time and a chance to really get to know every nook and cranny of a plant. It is a great way to experiement with different plants. And I love what one poster said... "As I get older and knees creakier I plan to sit in center of my pots on a swivel chair and water my pots...(not kidding here!) for now I'm still able to stroll around each dawn and thoroughly enjoy it. josh" What a declicious idea..especially for those of us who already have many creaky parts.

token, Tulips are basically annuals here. Don't even think of them returning the following year unless they are very old plants, not the newer hybrids. I got leaves last year, but no blooms. Same here but . . .I learned a trick over on the bulbs forum. Only certain kinds of tulips will return, bloom and multiply, and the specs usually don't say because most people do grow them as annuals, some come back, but some peter out by third year. I guess you are supposed to look for "tulips for naturalizing". Never saw that phrase in all of the many I looked at. Here was my experience, but I don't know how it will be long term. I ordered some yellow and pink from Bluestone. One yellow came back, didn't bloom. A lot of the pink ones did come back and bloom, second year, don't know what they will do next spring. They did not multiply, may have lost a couple. But I ordered an assortment 2 yrs ago called "Purple Rain" from American Meadows. I planted all my tulips and covered w/chicken wire and nailed it down w/landscape pins (squirrels). Now I can take most of that up and didn't nail the latest down. The tulips will come up thru it but I had to cut some holes for some that got stuck. As soon as they are done blooming, cut back the stems way down so they won't use energy trying to make seed, leave all the foliage to die back naturally as that's how they feed the bulbs for the following year. That takes awhile and can be unsightly. At the time you cut back the stems, sprinkle the ground with Scott's Bloom Booster, shows on the container how densely. Repeat in the fall. The result was that my Purple Rain mixture multiplied some and produced more blooms this past spring, and they are on the east side where the technique wasn't expected to work because it's only morning sun. One in the assortment came back and bloomed, the purple w/white border, rest didn't. That one is shorter than the others. But the plain colors did pretty well. I just filled in a gap there and had planted a whole new row for me in front, will see how they do. I would buy other kinds but I know whatever ones are in that mixture work, except the one, and the colors work well for me. I'm still working on this spot and will overplant with something, and shouldn't have used fill flash on the photo. Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Rain Tulips

Melissia, It doesn't really matter how many holes you drill as long as the container drains well. With kitty litter buckets, we normally drill 6 to 9 holes, even spaced across the bottom of the container, and the holes are roughly the size of a dime to a nickle. I can't think of any vegetable that would benefit from having containers that drain less well than others. We drill the drainage holes the same in all our pots no matter what is being planted into them. Dawn

I just wrote a very lengthy post here and out of now where it was deleted and I'm left with this blank post to try to redo. I'll just quickly explain the plants I have that need to be reported but I am at a loss on what soil to use. 1. My dracea is starting to lose leaves because the growth of plant continues but am so confused what soil or mixtures to use. 2. My drawrf umbrella tree needs a larger pot but the previous transplant went well but I forgot what I had used for soil mix. 3. My spider plants I want to transplant into a hanger style container but again I didn't write what I had used for soil mix. 4. I have many vine type plants that need upgrading in pot size like pothos, ivy , philodendron. 5. I have a zebra plant and a few other succulents that I believe I have the proper mix for but could use just general advise me know if I can get the best way to go. 6. I have many bags i have purchased from miracle grow and general soil mix and succulent and Orchid blends. I have perlite and mini rocks but am so confused what soil or mixtures to use. If it wasn't for you gardeners and the advise I have gotten here I could not be a happy plant enthusiasts as I am now so any help will need greatlyappreciated. I have great windows and for all the different plants needs and I can obtain most products that may be necessary if you tell me what I need or am missing.