Hanging baskets or flower pots are movable gardens floating in the air above the eye level, showing off the best plants by spilling the trailing branches in all directions.
Hanging baskets should appear pleasing to the eye from a short distance, from all angles.
You can add a new dimension in indoors or outdoors living decorations by arranging flowerpots containing beautiful plants at the ground level to enhance the visual appeal of the hanging baskets.
Plants supported from the ceilings, patio, trees or shrubs create a means of adding interest in undecorated areas. The hanging baskets should be viewed from all sides above at the level.
Hanging baskets on patios add a cheerful note to outdoor entertaining, while a burst of color at the front door provides a warm welcome.
The secret to great looking containers is to keep them well stocked, overflowing and abundant with flowers.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS SUITABLE FOR HANGING BASKETS
They should be trailing, creeping and have excess branching.
For example:
A. Maiden hair fern- epipremnum aureum
B. Money plant- Adianthum sp
C. Nerve plant- Fittonia sp.
D. English ivy- Hedera helix
E. Vine philodendrons- Philodendron sp
F. Pilea muscosa
G. Wax plant hoya cannosa
H. Mother of thousands-saxifrasa sp.
I. Sedum morgarianum
J. Swedish ivy-Plectanthus australis
PLANTING
It is advisable to use a thin layer of moss plants on the inside the flower pots. This layer of moss plants and plastic sheeting should be pierced so as to allow water to percolate to the soil.
Small tray or saucers should be kept at base of baskets as this prevents water from dripping from the pot to the surrounding walls or ground thus mud streak marks don’t appear on the walls.
There is no special purpose soil or compost for use in hanging baskets; any potted soil mixture is suitable with the exception of heavy clays.
METHOD OF PLANTING
Select plants to be grown in the baskets bearing in mind, the location of the basket; whether, in the shade or in the sun
Always use strong and healthy plants, free of pests and diseases. Aphids can spread very fast in the baskets.
Besides trailing ivies and perennial vines, some annuals and flowering plants can be grown effectively in baskets for example;
A. Verberna hybridus
B. Petunia hybridus
C. Phylox drammendi
D. Allysum maritinum
Plant large plants at the centre of the hanging baskets and place the smaller ones and trailing ones around the basket.
After putting the plants in position; firm the soil around the plants, adding more soil if necessary.
Level the surface to slope slightly inwards towards the centre of the pot to prevent water from overflowing.
After potting, soak the basket in a large bowl of water for about half an hour after which the basket is ready for hanging out.
LOCATING A HANGING BASKET
The location of a hanging basket is determined by the plants tolerance to shade or full sunlight.
For example, flowering plants and non shade tolerant plants will need to be placed near bright window in outdoor living areas e.g. verandas and patio.
Foliage plants which are shade tolerant may be placed in cooler areas of the house e.g. staircase or near the corners of house to soften the architectural lines.
Locate hanging baskets in areas where, they will not restrict traffic movement in the house or where the pots may be viewed to the greatest advantage i.e. at eye level and should be grouped according to light and temperature in a room.
Many house plants grow rapidly in a trailing manner. This means they don’t grow inwards or fill the centre of the pot.
It is therefore important, to have a mixture of climbing plants and upright flowering plants in the same hanging basket; upright plants placed at the centre create interest to the hanging baskets.
Soil media should be light in weight so that can be supported by hanging basket.
MAINTENANCE
Hanging baskets need frequent watering and even daily airing. They should be never put in a drought free area, they need lots of air!
Do not put hanging baskets in dark corners of a room; the plants will sulk, become dark and grow slowly.
To keep the plants in a good shape always, cut the dead ends and remove dead leaves. If they grow too long, trim and pinch the growing tips.
Fertilize the soil once in three weeks with bio liquid fertilizer to enable the plants grow better and healthy. Check regularly for any disease or pest attack; if any symptoms are observed, spray in timely manner.
Rotate the position of the basket every month to enable a uniform growth on all sides of the basket.
RECIPE FOR RED HOT HUES
These plants require morning sun to full sun
1. New Guinea fanfare, impatiens orange
2. Asparagus fern
3. Petunia million bells terracotta
4. Snapdragon Luninae
5. Yellow verberna
RECIPE FOR PASTEL SHADES
These plants require Semi-shade conditions or the morning sun
1. Plectranthus ‘muna lavender’
2. Alternathera ‘purple knight’
3. Verbarna ‘aztec white’
4. Pink nemesia
RECIPE FOR A TOUCH OF CLASS
These plants grow best in full shade
1. Impatiens fiesta ‘ole peppermint’
2. Impatiens super elfin ‘lipstick’
MORE PLANT IDEAS
Most plants prefer the morning sun and afternoon shade, but some will tolerate hot sunny conditions.
A fair number will grow in partial or filtered shade while only a few [select] will thrive in shady conditions.
Once you choose location for containers make sure you choose the right plant.
Plants that thrive in full sun: alussum, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, marigold, narsturtium, petunia, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, zinnia, rudbeckia, verberna, arctotis, coreopsis, Felicia, Gaura, Gazania, lavender, Pelargonium.
Those that thrive in the morning sun: abutilon, aquilegia, fuschcia, lobelia, nicotiana, schizanthus, torenia.
Those that thrive in Shade conditions: Begonia, Coleus, Impatiens.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Line hanging baskets with coir mats to conserve moisture.
2. Fill or top-up your pots with good quality potting soil. In hanging baskets, use indoor planting soil as it retains moisture well.
3. Add water retaining gel to the soil.
4. Take into account whether the container will be in sunny or shady positions and choose your plants accordingly.
5. Hanging baskets perform better when placed in partially shaded to shady positions.
6. For best effects limit the number of colours used to a maximum of three.
7. Choose shades that harmonise or contrast with each other.
8. Choose plants that suit the container. A low container will focus on the plants, while a decorative pot can be as much part of the display as the plants it holds.
9. While a decorative pot can be as much as much part of the display as the plants it holds. Trailing plants suit a large container and hanging baskets.
10. Plant taller plants in the centre of the container and lower growing ones around the edges.
11. Remove flowers that have finished blooming regularly in order to prolong the flowering season.
12. If you buy an already made up basket, it is best keep it in semi-shade because full sun will be too harsh.
13. Groom your baskets and containers regularly if the baskets starts to look a little ragged don’t be afraid to cut the plants or replace them.
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