I recently got one of those pots that looks like it is half buried (but actually is flat on one of its sides) and planted it with Sedum, spilling out of the opening. It doesn't seem to be doing very well. Now I scored another pot just like it at a yard sale this morning and would like to do better... any suggestions? Note I try not to plant annuals, it will have to be something that will live year round here in zone 10a.
Thanks for any help!

Hetty, can you post a photo of it, with the sedum. How large is the container? Is it in sun or shade?
No annuals for me either. : )

Here it is. Filtered sun most of the day.

How long has it been since you potted it up? Might be the wrong sedum for your growing conditions. Do you know the name of it?
One of the S. spurium might work better. http://garden.org/plants/searc...

You might have to put a little more soil in the pot?

Waiting to hear what your sedum is. There are many out there that are pretty tough and should do well for you.

I have a couple of those pots (from a resale shop) and am wondering if the drain hole is big enough and in the right place.

I was thinking of making the hole larger to be sure it has good drainage.

Could that be the problem?

It is draining well, I am actually worried that the plant isn't getting enough water due to the edge kind of overhanging.
The Sedum (not sure of the name) is one that is supposed to do well here.
I now have a second (larger) pot like this and I would like to get it right this time around! Any suggestions for what to plant?

I do sedum in mine and for a little extra color in the summer I put a cutting of Coleus.

You are right they do not get enough water. Especially if it is terra-cotta. I do not have time to water my summer pots every day so I always put a pamper in the pot to hold moisture. I buy the cheapo 2.99 for 24 at Big lots and all my summer pots are lined with a diaper.

This pot stays out all winter the coleus die but succulent survive all winter. But these pots will even kill sucs because they do not get enough moisture.

-Diaper soaked
-Open so you can see the moisture crystals.
-Spread your soil on top of the moisture crystal
-outside plastic part of diaper against the inside of the pot to help with moisture and the soil inside the pot not drying out so fast.

An interesting system! Thanks for the tip (you should publish it as a 'tip' maybe?)

Great idea Cinta.
Sedum do need a lot more moisture than some other succulent plants. The water crystals are an excellent idea, along with line the interior with plastic, which will help retain moistures. Just be sure the plastic is pierced with hold at the bottom so excess water can drain.

There are a number of outstanding spurium type sedum that would do very well in those pots. They will give a lot more visual interest than the one you are using now.
Some of the newer ones have outstanding colors.
Like:
Raspberry Red Two-Row Stonecrop (Phedimus spurius 'Raspberry Red')
Red Carpet Two-Row Stonecrop (Phedimus spurius 'Elizabeth')
Fireglow Sedum (Phedimus spurius 'Fuldaglut')
Ruby Mantle Two-Row Stonecrop (Phedimus spurius 'Ruby Mantle')
Tri-color Sedum (Phedimus spurius 'Tricolor')

Thanks Lynn, you've given me some ideas.
I don't have those sedums but I haveother tropical trailing plants that would probably do well.

I can send you some starts?
But you probably already have something really amazing to put in those pots.

Lynn the reason you do not need the holes in the plastic is because these ;pots lay on their side. When it rains they do not get any water. If you set them up and water as soon as you lay it back down the water runs out so it dries up.

I killed Sedum and Semps until I realized what was happening. Added to the fact that this one was terracotta it was a killer pot.

The key with these is keeping moisture in the pot.

If you punch hole in your plastic you defeat your purpose because it is going to run out and dry up if you are having a hot summer your plants are dead. Your drainage is the big planting hole in the front of the pot and all your water is going out of that hole as soon as you lay it down.

They are cute pots but you have to throw out the normal thought of drainage of a pot sitting up and getting watered.

My brain is trying to wrap itself around that concept Cinta. I see the front part of the pot as having some depth, that was the part I was worried about water pooling in that area if there wasn't some tiny holes in that part of the plastic.

Yeah I don't think for me it works quite the way Cinta says. The pot has a shallow opening to the sky (the lip that is slightly offset). I could not possibly put the pot up to water it once it is full, it is very heavy. It will have to remain lying down.

There is a drain hole in the bottom (in what in a normal pot would be the side) so drainage is not my problem.

Lynn thank you for the offer of starts. I think those Sedums might find it a bit too hot here but you talking about them, and me looking at the listings to which you so thoughtfully provided links, reminded me that I have some plants that will work (I think).

I can't wait to see what you put in the pots Hetty. Knowing you, it will be awesome.

I know what you are saying but if you can envision how much height is above. What was happening with me I would water the pot. Of course to water it sufficient I have to sit it up. Remember you will not get any rain water or any moisture only what you give the pot by sitting it up.

Once you lay it down because the top is so high all the moisture will go to the bottom. The top dries out real quick. So that part of the soil sucks up any small amount of excess you might get around the lip.

Okay, get a cup fill it with water and lay it on its side. What is left in the cup.

As I said these pots are cute but they take some thinking out of the norm to keep anything alive in them.

Hetty when you said it was not getting enough moisture I thought you were having the same problem I was having. Maybe my process will not work for you. My pot did not get enough rain water when it rained. I had to put the hose up to the pot or sit it up to give it a good soaking. It was heavy but I am really strong for my size and since I had the diaper and using sucs I did not have to do it often.