The Secrets to Gorgeous Hanging Baskets
Here are some easy tips designed to give you the most gorgeous blooms! Caring for baskets and planters is a little bit of work but it can be quite therapeutic. By using these simple tips to care for your baskets and planters, you will keep them full and thriving all season.
Hang your sun baskets in a sunny location. Sun baskets need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight during the day. The more sun, the brighter and more abundant the plants will flower. Hang your shade baskets in the shade provided by a tree or overhang.
Watering is key. On cool days, your hanging baskets may not need water every day. However, on hot summer days, they will need water once or twice a day. Smaller, younger plants will need less water, and larger, mature plants, will need water.
To determine if it needs water, lift it up the basket from underneath with one hand. If it feels lighter, then it likely needs water, try feeling the weight just before and again after you water it to get an idea about weight. One can also feel the soil to see if it is wet or dry. 13” baskets need about 3 to 4 litres of water each time. Use a water wand, or even better an automatic drip system.
If kept from wilting, spent flowers will fall off naturally. Keep in mind that a little bit of wilting will not harm petunias, and they will come back if you forget to water them. If a basket completely dries out, plants may wilt, and spent flowers will stick onto the plants. If this occurs, the growing media is dry and hydrophobic. When watered the water will likely pour out of the bottom of the basket. The solution is watering a little, then wait 10 minutes and water again. This will slowly saturate the growing media allowing it absorb moisture again.
We use slow-release fertilizer in the growing media for our flower baskets. However, at some point the leaves will start to turn slightly yellow, and this is your cue to start fertilizing your plants. It is best to start fertilizing in early June. Plants, especially petunias, need food to stay healthy, produce lots of flowers and good growth. There are many kinds of fertilizer products including water-soluble and slow-release products (organic and synthetic). Follow label instructions for using fertilizers. Use liquid fertilizers at least twice a week.
Our baskets are small to start with which ensures they will still be nice into August, and September with little maintenance on your part. If they do become leggy in August, prune back plants. A light pruning will help them to grow bushier, spread out, rejuvenate, and flower more.
We do not spray with harmful pesticides, so aphids may become a concern on our plants. Use a horticultural soap to manage aphids. Follow label instructions for application directions. You will have to treat more than once. Soap needs to contact the aphids to kill them, and one application only kills 50% of the aphids. This means applying the product to all plant surfaces, applying to drip, and reapplying often.
Our herb bowls can be place them outside when temperatures reach 10 to 15⁰C, and all danger of frost is past. Keep bowls on the porch or deck to allow for easy use. Fertilize once per week. Water thoroughly when top of the soil is dry to the touch. Snip off the leaves and/or stems to use in your favourite dishes. Snipping off stems will also promote more growth. Our herb bowls contain six different herbs, basil, thyme, oregano, sage, chives, and parsley. Oregano, sage, and thyme are perennials and will come back next season if you plant them in your garden in the fall.
For more questions send us an email or check out our website.
Visit us at the Lumby and Cherryville Famer’s Markets in May and June.
Our flower baskets are pre-ordered in February and March.
Happy gardening,
Sonja Peters
Greenbush Greenhouses and Farm
greenbushgreenhouses@gmail.com
www.greenbushgreenhouses.ca
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