If you’ve ever wondered why your hanging basket doesn’t look like the basket hanging from the city lamppost, you’re not alone. While most baskets can survive on super basic care, there are a few simple techniques to help your basket THRIVE. Follow these five tips to get the most out of your basket:
Water
Location
As they say in real estate, “Location, location!” Before purchasing a hanging basket, decide where it’s going to live; sun? shade? Do you have the proper hardware to hang a basket in this location? Choose a site with good visibility and high traffic so you can enjoy it (but also remember to water). Once the position is determined, identify the amount of sun or shade the basket will receive. If there’s over 6+ hours of sun, calibrachoa, petunia, or mixed basket will thrive. If less than six hours, look for a begonia or fuchsia basket.
Fertilizer
Hanging baskets are watered frequently and tend to leech out their soil’s nutrients. To get the most out of your blooms, provide your hanging basket with some nutrition. A slow-release fertilizer will provide long-term nourishment, while a water soluble will be more instantaneous. We recommend organic fertilizers since your basket will be frequently visited by pollinators and hummingbirds.
Shop our available fertilizers here: https://www.molbaks.com/product-category/garden/soils-amendments/
Deadhead
Some plants, like petunias, may benefit from deadheading. Pluck off spent blooms with your fingers by pinching the foliage directly behind the bloom. Deadheading will encourage new blooms and keep your basket in color all summer.
Drainage
While hanging baskets love a good drink, they do not like to sit in standing water. Most hanging baskets available for purchase have a drainage hole in the bottom of their container- but always double check before hanging it up. If you place your basket on the ground to water, be sure to hang it back up after watering.
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