Get ready to have the most beautiful hanging baskets!
We’ve talked about hanging baskets before, and how could we not when they are so popular and they look so good?! They are probably the easiest solution to make your home and porch look like the ones you see in movies and magazines.
Hanging baskets are practical and simple to take care of. You can never compare them to the flowers you plant in the ground in your yard. That is something entirely different, and the way you take care of those plants is also another thing.
Maybe these baskets are considered a cheat code for a great garden, but they also have some rules you need to follow if you want to get the best possible results. This is why we are here. We want to make you aware of all the things that help you have the most beautiful hanging baskets.
It’s all about the lighting
Ok, this is a situation when light can make or break your success. Just because you have a spot on your porch that looks pretty, this doesn’t mean it is the best place to install your hanging baskets.
Every plant has its lighting preference, and if you want things to go in the right direction, you should try to meet those needs. Begonias, fuchsias, ivy, and even spider plants do well when they get a little shade in the afternoon. If they get too much direct light, their leaves might burn and lose their color. In fact, keeping them out of the light for a while can make their leaves look even more gorgeous.
I have made the mistake of putting a plant that likes shade in full sun and seeing it die within days. Now, before I hang up a plant, I regularly check to see how much light it requires. On the other hand, petunias, lantana, and moss rose need a lot of sun to blossom. Just remember that the soil will dry up faster if it gets more sun, so be ready to water it more.
What you also need to consider is the climate you live in. For example, full sun in a northern state isn’t the same as full sun in Florida or Arizona.
Fertilizer
Nobody wants to fertilize hanging baskets because, to be honest, this is not a walk in the park. Well, it is not that hard, but nobody wants to take down the baskets. This is the biggest problem.
But even if this is not the most fun activity, it’s completely worth it. These plants are in small containers, which means they don’t have access to the rich, expansive soil of a garden bed. Considering this, these plants burn through nutrients quickly. Even more, these plants need you to water them often, and this only speeds up the process we mentioned before.
But here’s the trick: you shouldn’t just drop a lot of fertilizer on the ground all at once. Too much might really be worse than not enough. It is best to fertilize more regularly, but with a smaller amount. Your plants will get the constant supply of nutrients they need to become robust and maintain flowering if you feed them this way.
If you are someone who forgets to use the fertilizer even if you bought it, been there, done that, you can try a slow-release formula. This works great, and just keep doing it until the flowers slow down, and then stop.
Water your plants
Watering is the most important thing you can do to keep hanging baskets happy. These little pots don’t retain much soil, so they dry up quickly, especially on hot, sunny days. Of all the care techniques I’ve learned over the years, the one that makes the biggest impact on how full and lively my baskets turn out is keeping up with watering.
As your plants develop, their roots fill up the pot, which makes it harder for soil and water to stay there. This always happens to hanging baskets. As a result, you’ll probably need to water every day, and maybe even twice a day when it’s hot. It sounds like a lot, but once you get used to it, it’s easy.
If you’re like me and not tall enough to comfortably reach your hanging baskets, you should get a telescopic hose or a watering can with a long nozzle. They are a real game changer, and you will rapidly see how easy they make everything.
Make sure to give it a lot of water. Don’t simply sprinkle the top; soak it well until the water runs out of the bottom. That means the roots are getting what they need. If water flows right through while the soil still feels dry, the pot may be draining too rapidly, or the soil may be too compact. Water the soil once to wet it, wait a few minutes, and then water it again to fully hydrate it.
Prune them from time to time
Pruning is not the most fun thing in the world, but if you want some rich and nice-looking hanging baskets, you will need to take care of them. So, try not to view this as an extra step since this is one of the most important things you can do to keep your plants happy and healthy.
Think about it like getting regular haircuts. You’re not cutting off growth for no reason; you’re helping everything grow back healthier, stronger, and fuller. Just a couple of snips here and there can keep your hanging baskets looking neat. Even more, trimming the ends of stems not only keeps the shape tidy, but it also encourages the plant to put out more side shoots, which means more leaves, more blooms, and a much fuller look overall.
If you have flowering varieties like petunias, calibrachoa, or angelonia, deadheading is a must. This procedure means you need to remove the dead flowers and, in this way, help the plants to redirect their energy where it is really needed. Once removed, the plant will try to produce more beautiful flowers instead of seeds.
Choose the right containers
This is probably the biggest problem people have with hanging baskets. Plants and flowers need space to grow, and in this case, to be honest, there is not so much space. I’ve learned this the hard way, especially during those hot summer weeks when I forget to water. The truth is, the size and type of pot you use are how you measure your plant’s success.
Smaller pots can look cute, but they dry out quickly, and the roots don’t have enough space to develop. If you’re hanging your basket in a sunny spot or somewhere exposed to wind, you’re going to want a larger container. More soil means better water retention, and it gives your plants a safety net if you happen to miss a watering day (which I definitely do now and then).
Another important thing is drainage. Make sure your pot has the right drainage holes if it’s sitting out in the open. You might not think that standing water damages roots, but this happens faster than you expect. I like containers that are about the right size, not too huge, but big enough to hold soil and moisture. They should also have a hole or two for drainage so that things don’t become too wet.
If you want the best drainage for your pots, you should definitely try this: Hanging Planters for Indoor Outdoor Plants, 2 Pack Self-Watering Hanging Pot with Drainage Holes
You should also read: 6 Stunning Plants That Thrive in Full Sun and Boost Your Curb Appeal
