need for more frequent watering. Remember to
soak the moss in water for a while, prior to forming it in the basket.
If your planting a conventional plastic or paper mache pot start by planting the outer
edge first. Then work your way into the center. Plants along the outside should be angled
over the edge of the pot to provide a cascading effect. Be sure to use flowers with low
spreading forms to help cover the outside of the pot as they grow. Flowers with a more
upright form can be used in the center.
Small baskets should be planted with only one or two types of flowers. Sometimes using
only one variety of flower of one color has the most impact. Larger baskets lend
themselves to a combination of flower types and colors. If you want your basket to fill in
fast, don't skimp on plants. By purchasing flowers in small 2 or 4 inch pots you can pack
as many as possible into your basket.
A quality soil mix is very important to the success of hanging baskets. The mix should be
heavy enough to hold moisture, but light enough to drain well. Although not the only
determining factor, quality potting soils are more expensive than low quality ones. You
can make your own select soil by mixing equal parts of peat, perlite, and vermiculite
together. These ingredients can be purchased separately, in small bags, at local garden
centers and home supply stores. Peat moss can be difficult to wet initially. Moisten it
separately before adding it to the mixture.
To conserve moisture you can also add a water-absorbing polymer to the soil mix. Polymers
such as soil moist and aquasorb hold up to 200 times their weight in water. Use the amount
recommended on the label for the size pot you are planting. These granules swell up 5 to
10 times their size. So it's important to add water to the granules prior to mixing them
into the soil. Otherwise, the expanding granules will push the plants right out of the
pot.
Fertilize hanging baskets as you would any other container. Water-soluble fertilizers like
Miracle Grow or Peters can be applied every two weeks. You may also select a slow-release
beaded fertilizer to mix into the soil at the time of planting. Each time you water, a
little of the slow release nutrients are dissolved and released into the soil for uptake
by the plants. Choose a fertilizer for flowering plants. These are high in
bloom-stimulating phosphate.
Finally, keep in mind that during hot weather, hanging baskets must be given water daily.
Simple battery-operated irrigation timers can be purchased at local hardware stores. By
adding poly tubing and drip emitters, you can create a simple and inexpensive system to
water your plants automatically and keep them looking good all summer long.
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