How to Plant Pouches

Make a nutritious, moisture-retentive plant medium by mixing equal parts of compost and potting soil. The key to growing in pouches is providing adequate water and food to the plants that are confined in the pouch.

Fill the plant pouches with the soil mix a few inches at a time and water at each level. Continue to alternate watering and filling until all the soil is damp and the pouch is filled. Sprinkle on 1/8 cup of granulated, time-release fertilizer and mix it into the top 4 to 6 inches.

Remove each plant in turn from its nursery pot. Plant pouches vary in that they may have numerous slits up the side or just a pocket at the top. Whichever type you have you just push the roots into the hole. Cover over with soil.

Place any trailing specimens along the outside edge and lower pockets of the planting pouch so they can grow down the outside in a weeping fashion. Avoid planting species that will get overly tall. The rule of thumb is two times taller than the planting bag depth. Trees and shrubs can be planted in planting bags but should be installed alone in single pocket bags and should be small specimens.

Lay the pouch out flat and water it again until surface soil is wet. Leave the pouch lying flat for a week or two so they plants can establish. Hang the pouch off a trellis, railing, ceiling or wherever it can get sunlight and a vertical position. Watering should be done individually or the top will be too dry and the bottom too wet. Assess each plant and use a mister to provide extra moisture to the dryer plants on the top levels.