Plants growing in hanging containers suspended from buildings, pergolas or larger plants add an extra dimension to the garden. They fill up space that would otherwise be void and empty. Most plants grown for this purpose have a cascading growth habit that droops downwards. This is not always the norm as most mixed hanging baskets contain a variety of flowering and foliage plants that combine well to create a full display. Whilst other hanging containers work just as effectively with a single plant type. The opportunities for using hanging plants outside in the garden as well as indoors are boundless.

MIXED HANGING BASKET – SIMPLE RECIPES

Hanging baskets filled with a frothy mix of flowers and foliage are to be found adorning urban landscapes around the globe. Locally, winter is the best season to create these floral spectacles. They are best in metal or wire baskets with a diameter of 35 cm or larger. These are lined with coir on the outside, with and inner layer of plastic with drainage holes punctured in the base.

Make a mixture of potting medium (soil) using palm peat, peat moss and regular potting soil. Add bone meal, 5:1:5 fertiliser and a super absorbent polymer like Stockasorb to the mixture at the recommended rates. A good growing medium is vital for successful mixed baskets. Fill the “soil” into the basket and start planting from the centre or middle outwards towards the edge. Commence with “tall” plants, then fill around with “medium” plants, finally finishing off with “low” growers around the perimeter. Select from this list of suggestions – all available in seedling trays for ease of fitting them in.

Tall plants – Antirrhinum Snapshot, Dianthus Chiba, Salvia farinacea,
Medium plants – Bellis Perennis Bellissima, Pansy Matrix, Petunia Limbo, Verbena Quartz
Low plants – Alyssum Snow Crystals, Lobelia Riviera, Viola Sorbet