ONE of the easiest ways to grow alpines is in an old sink or trough - if you are lucky enough to find one. The container should be placed on bricks, to allow the water to drain away and to discourage slugs and snails. Move it to where you want it before you fill it up.
Make sure there is at least one sizeable drainage hole in the base. If not, drill one or more. Cover the holes with a fine mesh netting and spread a good layer of drainage material: broken brick, crocks or stones on it. Fill the container with a free draining compost (one part leaf mould, peat or good garden compost, one part John Innes compost, one part horticultural grit).
Create a miniature landscape by embedding one or more attractive rocks in the compost. Plant up the container and cover the surface with grit or fine stone chippings. Water regularly.
Easy rock plants for containers - include sedums, creeping thymes, saxifrages, soldanella, gentians - and helianthemums.