Hanging baskets add instant beauty to any home. With so many to choose from, how do you pick the right one for your needs?
Here are some tips to help you select the right hanging basket and how to care for it once you have it home.
- Some baskets prefer shade and some prefer sun. Select a variety that works well in the area that you are planning to hang the basket. Two favorites are Geraniums for sunny locations and Impatiens for shady locations.
- Know how often you’re willing to water the basket. In general, hanging baskets need water every day. Coco lined baskets are beautiful but do require more water because the container allows the water to evaporate more than plastic containers do. Larger baskets hold more water than smaller baskets so they require less frequent waterings. Watering from the side rather than from the top will reduce the splitting effect that can happen sometimes.
- If your basket is hanging in such a way that one side is getting more sun than the other, rotate it every few days so it stays looking good all the way around.
- Plan on fertilizing your hanging basket every 2-3 weeks. When the foliage starts turning light green, the plants are in need of fertilizer.
- If your basket starts looking “tired” or “leggy”, consider cutting it back and letting it come back again. You can give it just a trim at the end or cut it back hard if it really split in the center and you just want to start over. It will take a couple of weeks before it looks good again.
