How to Care for a Hanging Basket

Now you have made your hanging basket, here is a list of how to care for a hanging basket.

Watering

After planting hanging baskets you should water them thoroughly, this will settle the compost around the roots of the plants used. Then place your creation on a large plant pot or small bucket for a week or two to establish. This should be in a sheltered place, preferably a heated glasshouse with a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Centigrade. To encourage root growth, give no further water until the plants start to show signs of wilting. When this is observed, water well and then carry on watering on a routine basis.

Depending on the position where you hang your basket (i.e. full sun , shade ) you should expect to water it every day. On extra hot midsummer days this may need to be increased to two or more times per day

Climate

The climate in the UK prevents the hanging outdoors of baskets, made up with tender plants, until late May in the south to early to mid June in the far north, as overnight frost can devastate your creation. To extend your display season you will need the use of a glasshouse with a heating system to, at least, maintain frost-free temperatures. Make the basket up in late March to mid April and by the time the frosts have passed your basket should be very well developed and make an instant visual impact on it’s new surroundings.

When (or before) the frosts have done their damage, many tender perennials such as Geraniums, Surfinia petunia’s, Fuchsia’s etc. can be taken out, re-potted and overwintered (free of frost) for use next year. Whilst doing this, further savings can be made by taking cuttings and propagating them to increase your stock. A hanging basket made up with trailing Begonias can be kept intact (subject to the lining material being suitable) and re-used the following year. All foliage should be cut back level with the outer rim of the basket, all dead leaves and debris should be removed from the surface of the compost and the basket should be stored in a frost free glasshouse. Watering should be kept to a minimum through the winter and in the Spring when new growth starts to appear, bore a few holes into the compost with a 1″ diameter stick (broom handle) then pour fresh slow release fertiliser into the cavities made.  Top up the compost to the brim of the basket and then continue as if it was newly made.

Fertiliser

If you have used slow release fertiliser in your basket, it may be beneficial, especially later in the season, to give the plants in it an extra feed with a soluble fertiliser which is taken up through both leaves and roots. With certain plants such as the Surfinia range of petunias and Pansies an acidic soluble fertiliser should be used. With the surfinia’s, around mid season, it does no harm whatsoever to cut back up to one half of the growth . This encourages new shoots to grow and within a week or two your basket will have a fresh new look to it. Such is the vigour of this fabulous range of plants.

Care should be taken with certain plants, such as Impatiens, not to overfeed as these plants have a low tolerance to salts..

Baskets made up in March ( northern hemisphere) using slow release fertiliser should be monitored from August onward to ensure that they are receiving sufficient nutrients. Dullness and yellowing of leaves is usually a good sign of this deficiency. If this is observed, commence liquid feeding at three day intervals to keep your baskets performing until the frosts bring the season to a close.

Hope this helps you care for your hanging baskets.  Please get in contact if you would like some more information.