Hello,
I cannot afford to grow them in 5-gallon pots as I grow them at home and I am limited in space, so for me it's just 3 gallons. But I believe the principles are the same.
First, I'd think that the white color of the pots isn't quite enough to keep the temps of the soil reasonably low, especially if the buckets are exposed to direct sunlight. Additional insulation around the pots is advisable. I use white polystyrene.
Second, as the buckets are 5-gallon, I would prefer a layer of gravel or small stones on the bottom and the drainage holes on the sides, say, half or a bit more of an inch above the bottom. The reason is that there will remain some water for the roots to reach on the bottom and the plant will be safer if you forget to water it. And some tissue under the stones wouldn't be a bad idea. I use bowls under my pots with holes in the bottom, but they lose water through evaporation, which isn't a problem here b'c the climate is not as hot as yours.
Milan HP
|