Sorry you haven't had a response, yet. I don't know if insulation is as important as making sure you have drainage holes. Good luck.

Martha

Why do you need insulation if you are planting annuals? People use all kinds of metal to plant in from metal urns to old watering cans without insulation. Just place your plants in a few inches from the edge. If your wash tub doesn't have holes in the bottom then it's not a good choice for planting. The excess water would have no place to go and your plants would drown.

large metal wash bin

==>> how about a pic.. this doesnt mean much of anything ... to me .. ive seen them all sizes ...

as with any pot.. drainage is a primary issue ... and the biggest variable in that regard is the media you put in it ...

is it galvanized ... if it is.. you will ruing it by drilling holes in the bottom of it ...

ken

Thank you for the responses. I'm not sure if the bin was galvanized, but the inside is quite rusty now. The soil I have them in is about 50% perlite and I also mixed in the well draining mix the plants came in. There are a few drainage holes on the bottom, and I have the whole thing resting in top of some bricks just to increase airflow around the holes.

I ended up just planting it, and lined the outside with some newspaper. I was concerned with insulation because the container will be in full sun for almost the entire day and I know Gazanias like a lot of heat and sun, I just didn't know if their roots did.

Not sure If I planted them too close together, but here it is

Thanks again for the response, glad to know I'm doing something right lmao. I'll make sure to post pics of the flowers once they come.

I think you're doing great and the way I see it, you'll end up being a "master gardener!"

A simple solution to keep the decking/porch dry is to buy or make a large saucer to put under the pot to catch the draining water. As was said above, move the pot every few days or so to protect the wood.

I think the flowers will be gorgeous planted that close together. You can always thin them as they grow if there's over crowding.

At the end of the summer, make sure to empty the pot completely.

Oakley, he'd still be best off moving the tub and bricks every so often -- saucer or no saucer. Moisture can still wind up under the bricks from rains, heavy dews/fogs, sprinkles, et cetera. Personally, I'd recommend he purchase a plant caddy -- something along the lines of the one I linked to. Being on casters would make it easier to move.