Hanging Baskets for Home Gardens
Hanging Baskets for Home Gardens
A purple heart plant hanging from a coco basket or flower baskets is a striking feature in any patio garden. Type of hanging plants vary. Most beautiful trailing plants for hanging baskets are petunia hanging plants. Portulaca hanging baskets are very common to see. Best plants for hanging baskets in shade are evergreen outdoor hanging plants. Full sun outdoor hanging plants include hanging begonias.
Hanging baskets are containers designed for suspending garden plants, creating a colourful and decorative display. These hanging baskets are commonly used in gardens, on porches, or indoors. Here are some common features of hanging baskets:
Hanging baskets come in various shapes, designs, materials, and sizes. Common materials to make hanging baskets include plastic, wire, wicker, or metal. Coco coir or moss liners are commonly used to hold the soil and other rooting media and retain moisture and nutrients.
Hanging baskets can be used in both outdoor and indoor spaces. They are used especially for houseplants with trailing growth habits. A coco basket is a type of hanging basket made from coconut coir, known for its natural look and ability to retain moisture, and ideal for growing different plants.
Home gardeners can enjoy creating their own hanging baskets, selecting plants and arranging them to suit their gardens, tastes and the overall design of their space.
Contents
Trailing Plants for Hanging Baskets or Type of Hanging Plants
Plants for baskets are many small plants that are suitable for hanging baskets, such as cascading or trailing plants that spill over the edges of the baskets. Some of the most common examples of plants for flower baskets are petunias, geraniums, portulacas, fuchsias, lobelia, ivy, and various types of ferns. Some of them are mentioned below:
1. The purple heart plant (Tradescantia pallida) is known for its rich purple foliage. It is a stunning choice for hanging baskets in patio gardens.
2. Petunias offer a cascade of vibrant colors, enhancing your outdoor space. Petunia hanging basket is a must to have feature in any home garden.
3. Portulacas (moss roses) are an excellent choice for portulaca hanging baskets with a profusion of vibrant flowers in variable colors. They are full sun outdoor hanging plants.
4. Hanging begonias display cascading growth habit and colorful blooms to offer beauty to hanging baskets or containers.
4. Ivy (Hedera spp.) is a classic trailing plant with variegated or solid green leaves for hanging baskets. It is the best hanging plants for shade. 5. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is a succulent plant that has bead-like leaves resembling pearls. 6. Trailing Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) are evergreen outdoor hanging plants that are low-maintenance trailing plants with heart-shaped leaves. available in green, yellow, or white shades. It is one of the best plants for hanging baskets in shade.
7. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) has bright green, rounded leaves with a vigorous trailing habit. 8. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) has arching, very long leaves, making them a great choice for hanging baskets. 9. Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) blooms various flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, or white. 10. Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) has colorful, heart-shaped leaves, trailing elegantly from hanging baskets.
Here is a list of plants for hanging baskets as per their light requirements:
The above-trailing plants not only add beauty and look to your hanging baskets but also create a vibrant, cascading display.
Tips for Hanging Baskets
1. Placement of Hanging Baskets:
Hanging baskets are hung from hooks, brackets, or other support structures. They are commonly placed in locations where they can be easily seen, such as on balconies, porches, or in different garden spaces.
2. Watering and Care for Hanging Baskets:
3. Seasonal Changes wrt Hanging Baskets:
Regular feeding with balanced plant nutrients is important for the health and vigour of plants in hanging baskets.
5. Sun and Shade Considerations for Hanging Baskets:
Different kinds of plants have different light requirements. Home gardeners should consider the amount of sunlight their hanging basket will receive when selecting plants.
6. Weather Considerations for Hanging Baskets:
Extreme weather conditions like strong winds or heavy rains can impact hanging baskets. Home gardeners can secure hanging baskets properly and provide protection during severe weather.
Steps to Install Hanging Baskets
Adding coir or coconut fibre to the bowl of the hanging baskets helps retain moisture and nutrients, provides good aeration, and creates a suitable environment for growing plants. Here's a step-by-step procedure on how to put coir in hanging baskets:
1. Select the Coir Liner :
Choose a coconut coir liner that fits the size and shape of your hanging basket. Coir liners are generally available as pre-formed baskets or as sheets that can be cut to desirable size.
2. Soak the Coir Liner:
Soak it in water for a few hours or according to the manufacturer's instructions. This will make the coir sheet more pliable and easier to work with.
3. Prepare the Hanging Basket:
Ensure that the wireframe of the hanging basket is securely assembled. Plastic or metal lining in another kind of hanging basket holds the coir in place.
4. Trim the Coir Liner:
Trim the sheet of coir to fit the inside of the hanging basket. Leave some extra coir around the edges to fold over the rim of the basket.
5. Place the Coir Liner:
Place the coir liner inside the hanging basket, ensuring it covers the entire interior. Press it against the sides and bottom of the hanging basket.
6. Fold Over the Edges:
The extra coir around the edges should be folded over the rim of the basket. This helps secure the coir in place and gives a neater appearance to the hanging basket.
7. Poke Holes for Drainage:
Make drainage holes in the bottom of the coir liner with the help of scissors or a sharp tool as adequate drainage is crucial for the health of the plants.
8. Add Potting Mix:
Fill the hanging basket bowl with a high-quality potting mix, leaving enough top space for the plants you'll be planting.
9. Plant Your Selection:
Place your selected plants into the potting mix. As per the growth habits of the plants, position them accordingly, with trailing or cascading varieties near the rim of the hanging basket.
10. Water the Plants:
After planting, water the hanging basket thoroughly with a rose can. Ensure that the coir liner and potting mix are evenly moist.
11. Hang the Basket:
Once the hanging basket is ready, hang it in your desired location, ensuring that the support structure is strong and secure.
Here is a list of different types of hanging baskets given below:
Conclusion
Hanging baskets are versatile and attractive elements to enhance both indoor and outdoor spaces, providing a burst of colour and greenery. They offer flexibility in design and size and can be adapted to various styles and preferences.
Don't forget to regularly water the hanging basket, especially during hot and dry periods, as the coir helps retain moisture. And also, fertilize the plants as needed based on the specific requirements of the chosen plant varieties.
Points to Remember
- Hanging baskets add charm and beauty both to indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Hanging baskets are versatile to fill with a variety of plants, flowers, or even herbs.
- Trailing evergreen plants like ivy or pothos create an elegant cascading effect.
- Colourful flowers like petunias, lobelia, and begonias add vibrant colours and fragrance to the garden.
- Hanging baskets are apt for small spaces or areas with limited space.
- Flower baskets can be hung from hooks, poles, or even tree branches to create a stunning feature.
- Coco baskets are the best choice for natural look and moisture-retaining properties.
- Regular watering and occasional fertilizing are required to maintain healthy plants in hanging baskets.
- Hanging baskets can be easily changed with the seasons and occasions, offering a fresh look for different purposes.
- They are a fun and creative way for home gardeners to showcase favorite flowers. They add a personal touch to any home garden.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
Ques: Which type of hanging basket is best?
Ans: Coir or moss-lined hanging baskets, black hanging baskets, bloom-around baskets, and wall baskets are the best among the available hanging baskets in the market.
Ques: What are the disadvantages of hanging baskets?
Ans: There are three issues with the hanging baskets. Compost dries out very quickly, water retention is very low, and the display of all blooming flowers cannot be enjoyed by the gardener.
Ques: Do you water hanging baskets every day?
Ans: Hanging baskets are watered once a day in summer, and infrequently in winter as per the moisture in the rooting medium. Whenever you apply water, be sure to find that water begins to flow out the bottom of the container.
Ques: What fertilizer for hanging baskets?
Ans: Apply soluble balanced fertilisers for hanging basket plants as they are readily available to plants with less rooting media.
Ques: How many plants do I need for hanging baskets and patio containers?
Ans: Hanging baskets of 9 inches in size can house the following number of plants
Fuchsias, Geraniums, Trailing petunias and Verbenas - 3
Primrose and Polyanthus - 4
Trailing Sweet Pea - 5
Fibrous Begonias, Carnations, Pansies, Violas - 6
Lobelia - 8