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Hanging Flower Baskets
Hanging baskets have become very popular, and a wide variety of
plants are available in hanging baskets. These include petunia, ivy
geranium, moss rose, nasturtium, verbena, wax and tuberous begonias,
browallia, lobelia, fuchia, German ivy, columnea, and lantana. Hanging
baskets are especially popular as an accent on patios and terraces and
at entranceways.
There are many kinds of containers you can use for hanging baskets,
including the traditional wire basket stuffed with sphagnum moss. But
you can also use ceramic, terra cotta clay, and plastic containers.
Whatever kind of container you use, there are several things you need to
know in order to have your hanging basket do well.
First and foremost is water. Hanging basket plants tend to dry out much
more quickly than plants growing in the ground, especially those grown
in sphagnum moss baskets or terra cotta clay. You need to water your
hanging basket often. During hot, dry weather, you may need to water as
often as twice a day, depending on the container and the container size.
Check your hanging basket for water often.
Because you'll probably water your hanging basket frequently, you should
also fertilize it often. Frequent watering leaches out soil nutrients
quickly, and you'll need to fertilize regularly. Use a complete
fertilizer, like Miracle Gro, Rapid Gro, or Peters, and fertilize every
two or three weeks.
Pick off the old flowers on your hanging basket plants as often as
possible. This encourages the plant to produce more flowers, instead of
setting seed. If the plants start getting leggy, pinch the stems back a
few inches to encourage side growth. Watch carefully for insect pests,
and deal with them before they build up.
Hanging baskets need more care than plants growing in the ground. But if
you know their basic needs, they'll do well for you all summer long.
For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of
Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.
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