[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[pmhann at cybertrails.com]

Patricia Hann
85201
pmhann at cybertrails.com

I would like to grow some "container plants" on my back porch, (10x20). The porch is west facing but covered-- the 20 ft is along the W. side.  It gets sun on a 2 foot strip on the south edge during the day and full sun in late afternoon until the sun drops behind the trees about 50 feet west of the porch. My question has to do with container size(s). What is a good rule of thumb to follow in getting the right size for the final size of the plant? Example (really 2 questions): I want to grow a pittosporum Wheeler's dwarf(if this is not a good idea tell me NOW). The height is right for the porch (~3ft) but I know it can get wide.  By growing  it in a pot will I be able to keep it about ~2 ft wide? And how big of a pot (depth and diam.) should I [finally] have it in? Thank you