Spring is here! We're all excited to make that first visit to our local nursery where we'll be tempted to buy one or more of those lush and inviting hanging baskets. As we hang them up, we have dreams of their blooms being long-lasting and lovely all spring and summer long. But, will they? As our magic-8ball used to tell us when asked an earth-shaking question, “The outlook is doubtful!”
To make that dream of forever blooming, beautiful hanging baskets a reality, here are four easy things to do.
- Choose the right place for your plants to thrive.
It's simple! just as you select the proper place in your garden for plantings, choose a shady spot for shade loving plants like impatiens, begonias and fuchsias. And, choose a sunny place for baskets with plants that love the sun such as petunias, geraniums and marigolds.
- Water your baskets consistently.
Remember, that unlike plants in the ground or in a pot, a hanging basket's soil is very exposed and therefore dries out more quickly. Water at a specific time each day. That way the plants will be less likely to dry out and the sun will be less likely to burn the foliage. Check your plants daily and remember that wind is also a big factor in drying out plants in a basket.
On the other hand, be sure to have good drainage to prevent your plants from becoming waterlogged. If there is just one drainage hole in the pot, create two or three holes so that if one gets blocked, there will be others to do the work of draining.
- Power your plants with fertilizer.
Because plants in a hanging basket are in an exposed, limited amount of soil from which to get nutrients, it's important to fertilize. Fertilize with a low, slow, steady stream of nutrients so they don't expand their foliage and roots to quickly and outgrow their pot. Use a light dose of fertilizer every 10-14 days. Liquid fertilizer is best so it will be absorbed by the leave and roots alike. Compost tea or worm casting teas are wonderful.. You can use a commercial liquid fertilizer, but be sure to mix it at half the recommended rate.
- Remove spent blooms quickly.
The longer spent blooms stay on your plants, the longer it will take for new blooms to form and unfurl. Old blooms are not only an eyesore, but they use up the plant's energy.
So, now we can all dream of lush, long-lasting hanging basket blooms that will turn into a beautiful reality. What a perfect way to celebrate spring and beyond. Happy blooming!