How does caring for pot plants differ from a typical garden?
Because the soil is isolated in a pot plant, you need to use a quality potting mix that provides and retains plenty of renewable nutrients to the soil. Soil in pots will often retain excess water within the root system, so you want to avoid having the pot sit in water or you risk over-saturating your plant.
You will need to fertilize more in pots and eventually change the potting mix to renew the nutrients. Keep an eye out on moisture levels. In smaller pots you may need to water more often.