Homemade Hanging Basket for Mom

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and what better gift than a homemade mixed hanging basket put together by her little ones? (This gift is also great for grandmothers!) It’s as easy as 1-2-3 and mom is sure to appreciate it! When selecting plants, it is important to choose either plants for sun or shade, so the basket is well suited for one type of environment. Doing so will help ensure your plants will thrive. Further, it is great to choose one type of plant for some height and another that is trailing. This way, the basket looks full all around and the edges of the container are softened by the trailing plant. Some good examples follow.

Full Sun
Geranium
Petunia
Vinca Vine
Portulaca
Sweet Potato Vine
Million Bells

Morning Sun/Afternoon Shade
Torenia
Lobelia
Bacopa
Asparagus Fern
Ivy Geranium

Materials Needed
- Hanging Basket with Drainage
- Potting Soil
- Plants
- Presoaked Sphagnum Moss
- Osmocote Fertilizer
- Soil Moist
- Newspaper

What to Do
Once you have selected your plants and hanging basket, choose a location for the project. If needed, lay down newspaper on your work surface; doing so will make clean up a snap! Start by filling your hanging basket about 2/3 full with potting soil (This will depend on the size of your plants. The goal is to put enough soil in the basket so that you have room to place your plants on top of the soil and incorporate soil around them, leaving about 1-1/2” head space.) Once you have your soil in the hanging basket, sprinkle some Osmocote fertilizer into the soil and mix well.

Next, apply a layer of Soil Moist on top of the soil soil surface (before you add the plants). Soil Moist is great in containers, especially during our hot North Carolina summers. It helps to keep your “soil moist”, thus reducing the water schedule; a definite must-have for containers. Tease the roots of your plants and place taller plants in the center and trailing plants around the edges. Incorporate soil around plants and water thoroughly. Finally, add your presoaked moss on top and viola! A great gift for mom or grandma!

Have Fun!
Heather W.
Fairview Greenhouses & Garden Center