Line the basket with a material that will help the soil maintain moisture before adding dirt and the plants. Options consist of:
- Coco coir liners are thick, durable, and absorbent since they are made from natural coconut husks. In order to keep the soil moist, it will store water and gently release it. Additionally, they have a pH balance that helps to maintain healthy soil, and they are biodegradable, so they won’t harm the environment.
- Even though it’s not as environmentally friendly, a plastic bag can be used as a temporary hanging basket lining. To limit the amount of moisture that evaporates along the sides, put holes to the bottom and cut it up so that it fits easily and coverlessly in the bottom of the basket. If your plants prefer a dryer environment, only line the sides of the basket. As a result, water can readily drain to the bottom. Lining the interior of the entire hanging basket is a good idea for plants that want to stay damp.
How are plant baskets used?
to get you going
- Annuals: Old baskets with a focal point, often called a thriller, look amazing. Any tall, striking plant, such as upright geraniums or dracaena, will do. Put a fillera mounding plant, such as petunias or pansies, all around the thriller. Begonias or impatiens are fantastic fillers if your old basket is in a shaded location. Last but not least, plant a few spillers around the edges where they can flow over the sides of the container, such as ivy geranium, bacopa, or sweet potato vine.
- Succulents: Once they are established, succulents require very little maintenance. Almost any succulent plant, such as hen and chicks or other varieties of sedum, will do.
- Herbs: Put a few herbs in your old basket and set it by the kitchen entrance. Chives, mint, thyme, and basil are among the herbs that thrive in containers.
Will the plastic still be in my hanging basket?
- Mix some water-retention gel and controlled-release fertilizer granules with your multipurpose compost that doesn’t contain peat.
- A 35cm (14in) wire hanging basket should then have one of the hanging chains removed. To keep the basket steady, place it atop a pot.
- Put a lining made of coconut fiber inside the basket. A range of liner materials are available at garden centers. Sphagnum moss that has been collected in the wild should not be used because it is not a sustainable crop.
- Lay a plastic bin liner on top of the fiber and trim around the edges where it overhang the basket so that no black plastic is visible. This will stop too much water from escaping.
- Compost should be layered in the base of the basket by 2.5cm (1in). Make three incisions through the bin liner and the fiber at the basket’s sides, each measuring 2 cm (0.75 in) across at soil level.
- Choose plants for the basket’s sides, then carefully wrap each one in a paper tube to protect the roots and stems. Push the tube through one of the openings from the interior of the basket until the rootball is firmly affixed to the liner. When the paper is opened, add the other plants. Around the rootballs is solid earth.
- Add more plants on top of the soil-filled second third of the basket. Fill the basket up completely with compost, leaving a 3 cm (0.75 in) space between the lip of the basket and the top of the compost, and then plant the top. Water wisely.
Aftercare
- When there is no longer any chance of frost, hang outside. Drink water regularly, especially in the summer.
- To encourage your plants to generate a succession of blossoms, remove spent blooms from them two to three times every week.
Should drainage holes be present in hanging baskets?
Similar to other container plants, hanging basket plants and flowers require sufficient drainage. Your plants may suffer if your basket doesn’t have drainage holes on the bottom.
Should hanging baskets receive daily watering?
Nothing enhances the appearance of a front entrance or patio in the summer like stunning hanging baskets filled to the brim with vibrant flowers and leaves. You might believe that choosing which one to bring home is the hardest part because there are so many different colors and varieties to choose from! However, after it has been hung and is being enjoyed by you and your neighbors, you must begin considering how to take care of your new hanging basket, particularly when determining how much water they require.
Not to worry! Since I’ve been raising hanging baskets for more than 20 years, I can provide you with all the advice you need to keep it flourishing all summer long.
How Much Water Does My Hanging Basket Need?
Now let’s be honest. Your hanging basket needs a lot of water to survive those sweltering summer days because he is a thirsty little fellow. An established 12″ or 14″ hanging basket will typically require 1 gallon of water per watering. (Better get those arm muscles developing!) You might not need to water your hanging basket every day if the weather is colder in the spring or fall. You might need to water your plants twice a day when the temperature rises to the 25–40°C range, in addition to every day.
Make sure to thoroughly saturate the soil each time you water. To ensure that the water has permeated the soil completely, at least 10% of the water should drain out of the pot’s bottom. Your plants will receive sufficient moisture as a result to withstand the heat of the day. (You wouldn’t put off drinking water until you got home from the beach, would you?) If you don’t want the area around your front doorway to get wet, take your basket off its hook before watering it.
Pro tip Less water will be required for newly planted hanging baskets since young plants need time to establish roots. Instead of flooding the soil, you should only use roughly half the volume of the pot (2 liters for a 12–14” pot) while watering fresh baskets. Why? The roots have to look for water in order to grow. The tops will develop and you will notice the growth of foliage and flowers after the roots have gotten big enough to touch the edge of the pot.
What Time of Day Should I Water My Hanging Basket?
Morning is the optimum time of day to water your hanging basket, ideally between 5 and 9 am. This makes sure that your plants have access to enough water and can remain hydrated even during the warmest parts of the day. Watering in the evening is absolutely not preferred because plants detest having damp roots when they go to sleep. One cannot blame them!
If you need to give your hanging baskets a second watering on a very hot day, try to do it between 4 and 5 o’clock, but not later.
Less water will be required for newly planted hanging baskets since young plants need time to establish roots. Instead of flooding the soil, you should only use around half the volume of the pot (2 litres for a 12–14” pot). Why? The roots have to look for water in order to grow. The tops will develop and you will notice the growth of foliage and flowers after the roots have gotten big enough to touch the edge of the pot.
How Can I Tell When My Hanging Basket Needs Water?
Put your hand on the pot’s bottom and lift it up a little to determine whether or not your hanging baskets need water. If the soil is dry or still damp, you may tell by the weight of the pot. In order to ensure that your plants have appropriate moisture, if it lifts easily, you probably need to add additional water.
Before watering, make careful to take the rain spout off the watering can’s tip, if it has one. This enables you to thoroughly water the soil and get the tip within the plants. To prevent getting the leaves overly moist, avoid watering from above the basket. Otherwise, the flowers and foliage in your hanging basket will develop dark blotches.
Should I Fertilize My Hanging Baskets?
Absolutely! Your hanging baskets require fertilizers in order to grow and thrive, just like all of your potted plants. They require a constant supply of food because they can consume all the nutrients in their soil in a matter of weeks. Because it is simple to use and guarantees that the roots can receive the nutrients, I advise using water soluble fertilizer.
For my hanging baskets, I always use a 15-30-15 with micronutrients. You can either use it every other watering at full power or, in my opinion, every other watering at half strength.
Pro Tip! Don’t fertilize again until the soil has absorbed enough fresh water to become soft and the plants have perked up if you have neglected to water your baskets to the point where they are bone dry and the plants are wilting. After that, you can carry on with your regular fertilization routine.
The most crucial component of caring for a hanging basket is water. A consistent watering regimen along with fertilizer will guarantee a lovely flowering and flourishing basket all season long. Enjoy your hanging baskets this summer and we hope these ideas and tricks were helpful to your plants!
Can a genuine plant be placed in a basket?
You can actually fit even the largest plants inside woven baskets; whether they are tall trees or giant plants, you can find the ideal basket to fit their design and size.
Even when using attractive baskets, it is imperative to prepare for practicality because larger and taller plants are heavier and much harder to move about.
Any size plant requires good drainage and recurrent watering. This implies that in order to prevent water spills of any kind, you must ensure that the pot you put inside the basket has sufficient drainage and that a saucer to catch any extra water has been placed inside the basket.
I still have my Birds of Paradise tree in its original planter. Only a saucer has been placed to the bottom of this basket to catch any extra water left over after the weekly watering procedure.
I selected a spherical basket on purpose for this large, tall cactus. I wanted to give a thorny plant a softer appearance!
This Monstera Deliciosa is growing in a sizable terracotta pot that has all the drainage the plant need. Although I find terracotta pots to be beautiful, I found this basket to be even more so!
Does lining apply to all hanging baskets?
It needs a liner if you intend to plant directly into the hanging basket. This aids in keeping the moisture and dirt in the basket.
You can avoid using a liner if you use a pot within the basket. The pot can hold the plant, the soil, and the moisture.
Whether you choose to utilize liners or put pots in your hanging baskets ultimately comes down to personal opinion.
It depends on the appearance you want to accomplish. Using a natural fiber hanging basket liner can give your home a more organic, Eden-like appearance.
You should use plastic pots, landscape fabric, or bin liners for a more industrial appearance.
Without a hose, how do you water a hanging basket?
Even though they may not be very beautiful, some self-watering systems are quite easy to construct. A 2-liter plastic bottle’s bottom should be cut off, and a small hole should be made in the top using a sharp tool. The upside-down bottle should only be pushed into the soil of the hanging basket as far as is necessary for it to stay stable. After that, add water to the bottle. You won’t need to water the basket because the soil will slowly absorb the water it requires.
According to the Garden Glove, another choice is to simply use an empty wine bottle or virtually any other bottle. No extra procedures or holes in the bottle are required. First, dig a small, deep hole in the dirt of your container. The bottle should then be filled with water, turned upside down, and swiftly pushed into the hole to ensure that it is secure and stays in place. This ought to provide water to your pot over a number of days, depending on the heat and environmental factors.
After the summer, what should you do with hanging baskets?
Are your hanging baskets and container plants looking for a means to be revived, renewed, and given new life?
Many hanging baskets and potted plants bought in the spring start to exhibit severe indications of wear and tear as late summer approaches. What was once a happy, flourishing plant has changed into a sad, struggling plant.
The foliage is losing its leaves, and the lovely blooms that previously covered it are now few. Additionally, irrigation is essentially impossible because it simply passes through the roots.
All of the aforementioned symptoms are typical of hanging basket and container plants that are old, root-bound, and out of control. And at this point, the plant will keep losing efficiency no matter what you do.
But hold on—all is not lost! There is a method to give those shabby planters and baskets a stunning second life before you throw them out on the curb. And it’s simpler than you might think!
A Simple Solution For Saving Worn Out Hanging Baskets & Container Plants
While you can always replant baskets and potted plants into bigger containers, there are occasions when that is just not an option or a practical solution.
Finding containers large enough to work with a plant that is already enormous might be challenging. Even if you do, filling with all that potting soil can be expensive and time-consuming.
And are you really going to exert that much work on plants when they only have a short time left before the first frost?
However, there is a straightforward, inexpensive approach to give your tattered hanging baskets and overgrown container plants more vitality. And we have been using it here on the farm for years to bring vibrant late-season color for nothing!
Replant those old baskets right into your flowerbeds and landscaping to give them new life rather than dumping them on the compost pile. The fresh area and soil will not only revitalize your drooping plants but also add a vibrant burst of color to perennial bed spaces for the remainder of the growing season.
You’ll be astounded by how big and lovely those potted plants can once more grow!
The Secret To Transplanting Success
Worn-out root-bound baskets and planters can find the room and nutrients they need to grow healthy once more by being replanted directly into the ground.
Start by excavating a hole that is around 50% bigger than the potted plant’s current root ball. Remove the plant from the original basket, being careful to gently separate the edges where the roots are intertwined.
This will make it easier for the plant’s roots to find their way into fresh soil and replenish nutrients. Give the roots a good bath in water before planting to rehydrate them.
Fill the bottom of the new hole with compost before replanting, then mix equal parts soil and compost around the perimeter. The worn-out hanging basket plants will have an easy time establishing new roots thanks to the loose, nutrient-rich soil.
Finish by giving the plant a hearty dose of liquid fertilizer. It will quickly absorb the nutrients to fast return back to life because it is established and developed. See also: 4 Effective Liquid Organic Fertilizers!
For the first week, until the roots have had a chance to become re-established, water regularly or even twice daily. Your old hanging basket will quickly come back to life in a stunning display of color.
Apply a light granular or liquid fertilizer once a week to keep the annuals blooming large until the end of the season. Your plants will give you thanks by blooming again! Organics granular fertilizer product link
Here’s to giving your old planters and hanging baskets a second chance this summer! Gardening success! Mary and Jim