Frequent watering is key for healthy container gardens. For optimal growth and yield, water when the top few inches of soil start to feel dry. Test soil moisture with your finger or a moisture meter.
Light pots will need more frequent checking and watering than larger, heavier ones. Hot, dry climates can also require more frequent watering as compared to cooler, humid ones.
Avoid flooding plants; too much water will drown the roots and cause them to rot. To help roots breathe better, give plants a thorough drink, then let the soil drain before rewatering.
From spring through summer, liquid fertilizer works well in containers. Feed every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer maintaining at half strength the amounts recommended on the label to avoid over-fertilizing.
In fall and winter, temperatures drop along with plant activity, so reduce feeding or discontinue altogether unless planted in tropical climates where temperatures rarely change much year-round.
For container gardens that are kept indoors year round, you may need to adjust feeding by switching to slow-release fertilizers during cooler months due to lower natural light levels resulting in slower growth rates for many plants.