Hanging Baskets
Cacti and succulents:
Burro tail, carrion flower, ice plant, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter cactus and wax plant.
Foliage:
Asparagus fern, coleus, English and other types of ivy, ferns, kangaroo vine, vining Philodendron, Pothos, Smilax, spider plant, Rhipsalis, Tradescantia and Zebrina pendula, Vinca major and common mint.
Note:
This list does not include all the possibilities of plants for growing in hanging baskets. When you plant a hanging basket, don’t stop when you find common Philodendron, grape ivies or Begonias. Look for other possibilities from lists of vines and trailing plants in catalogs or at local nurseries and garden centers.
From the LSU AgCenter
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Some plants are the kind of things that grow not only in baskets but also in their gardeners’ hearts. Hanging baskets are highly visible, they require a little extra TLC and the options are as wide as a grower’s imagination.
The most obvious and unique feature of hanging baskets is that they allow cascading plants to fall gracefully, creating visual interest.
The biggest trend this year, says Clegg’s Nursery Owner Scott Ricca, is mixed baskets, where more than one variety of plants creates a work of art.
“Multiple varieties can give a blending of colors, forms and textures that are really beautiful,” Ricca said.
When choosing plants, Ricca recommends differing heights so that each plant will be visible.
The biggest trick to creating a successful mixed basket is choosing plants that require the same things, he said.
“You would pick things that need the same conditions of sunlight, moisture and water,” Ricca said. “You want to consider whether they are going to be complimentary or fighting each other for the same space.”
The varieties are endless, but Ricca has his favorites:
- Wave Petunias: “One of the traits of that group is that they’re very vigorous. They have high capacity for spreading. They have beautiful, large flowers, and they form in high heat.”
- Perennial Verbenas: “These usually will form better than the annual Verbenas. They have heavy water usage. A lot of people let them get dry.”
- Fuchsias: “That’s more of a dazzling flower, but they suffer in extreme temperature, so they’re better here in early season.”
- Million bells: “It’s fairly new in the trade. It looks like a miniature Petunia. Those are really pretty. They come in about eight different colors.”
For those who are new to hanging baskets, there are some basics recommended by the LSU AgCenter.
Growers should start in early spring.
- Basket types: Those made of galvanized wire are most popular, the AgCenter says. Plastic baskets can be colorful and decorative but are not as sturdy. Wood baskets work well with orchids and bromeliads. Ceramic or terra cotta pots work best with cacti or succulents.
- Lining: The lining is important especially when using wire or mesh baskets. Those should be lined with up to 2 inches of coarse sphagnum moss, according to the AgCenter. When using plastic film or aluminum foil, holes must be punched to allow for drainage.
- Filling and planting: Fill the bottom of the basket with soil, then add the plant, adjusting the soil as necessary to give the plant the proper height. Leave 2 inches from the top of the basket for watering.
- Watering: The AgCenter recommends frequent, thorough watering because a properly aerated basket can become dry.
- Feeding: Feeding should not occur until two to four weeks, when the plant puts on new growth, the AgCenter says. Subsequent fertilizations should be given with every third watering.
- General care: As with any other plant, prune dead flowers, seed pods or leaves. With vining plants, prune shoots to encourage branching.
