Wire Hanging Basket Making ~ Create a moss-filled wire hanging Basket: 1. 10" or 18" to 20" round wire basket. 2. Bag of good quality potting soil. 3. Bag of dry sphagnum moss, according to basket size. 4. Slow release houseplant fertilizer. 5. Water retaining polymer crystals, to keep soil moist. 6. A plastic flower pot saucer. 7. Potted plants, according to your zone. Preparing the 10" wire basket ~ 1. Wet the square piece of sphagnum moss before you're ready to place it in the basket, in another container. For a 10" basket, add 5 cups (more for a 18" to 20" basket) of water to the moss. In about 2 to 4 minutes, the moss will absorb the water and can be used as a liner for the basket. 2. Take the moss and squeeze out any excess water. Then fill inside of the wire basket, with a layer of the sphagnum moss, evenly on bottom and sides. 3. Place the flower pot saucer in the bottom of the basket, pressing it down firmly. Doing this helps keep water from running through the moss onto your deck or patio below. 4. Soak the polymer crystals in water until they expand before mixing them with the potting soil. This will keep the soil moist during hot weather. 5. Mix the fertilizer granuels and the soaked polymers thoroughly in a container, with a small spade. 6. Add the fertilizer/polymer mixture to your potting soil, mix thoroughly. 7. Add about 1/2 to 2/3 of this planting mixture into basket, keeping 1 (one) cup of soil to cover the seeds once planted. For an 18" to 20" basket, reserve 2 (two) cups of soil. Adding a bit of water to the potting soil tends to make soil adhere to the moss better if it's moist. 8. It's seed planting time! 9. Do not sow more than 40-50 seeds per variety. For best results, sow the seeds in clusters per varity. 10. Cover the seeds with the remainder of the soil and mist with water from a spray bottle. 11. Hang the basket in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist. *** Germination requires consistant moisture. Do not allow the soil to become soggy or the seeds will rot. Germination will take place during the first 10-15 days. Once the plants are 3" tall, add standard plant food to grow healthy and strong plants. Suggested seeds for a 10" wire basket ~ Petinia Lobelia Antirrhinum Majus Alyssum Suggested plants for a 18" to 20" wire basket ~ Ivy Geranium Fuchsia Trailing Lobelia Pink Sand Verbena Lotus * Water plants at least once daily, more if needed. * Fertilize plants (over 3" high) once weekly with a good fertilizer. * Pinch off faded or dying blossoms regularly. * Hang planter where it has the proper amount of sun/shade. Sit back and enjoy your handiwork!
Thank you for this idea. I have an old egg basket that would be ideal for this project. Great project! Gardengater
Gardengater, what a neat idea you have. Using an egg basket would be quite unique. When you do this, please post a photo. I will probably start mine indoors soon but I don't have an appropriate camera at this time for photos. Enjoy! Betty
I will, Betty. I'll probably use is as a porch display as we have a long growing season here. My camera too needs batteries, so I'll work on it. Gardengater
Patriotic & Valentine Wedding Hanging Baskets Patriotic & Valentine Wedding Hanging Baskets ~ Valentine Wedding Diagram- A B CC B A A. Lobelia Fountain White Qty: 2 cascading bright white blooms B. Petunia Avalanch White Hybrid Qty: 2 C. Petunia Red easy Wave Hybrid Qty: 2 Adjust size and quantity of plants to your size basket to create the simple elegance of Valentine Wedding. Omit red petunias for a White Wedding Basket. Seeds found at Park Seed Co. Note: This basket is important to me, as my husband and I were married on Valentines Day. Two Patriotic Baskets ~ Red, white and blue are always beautiful and meaningful. #1 Diagram- A C B A. Lobelia Fountain Blue Lobelia erinus Qty: 1 B. Sutera Bacopa Cordata Snowtopia Qty: 1 C. Red Wave Petunia Qty: 1 Adjust size and quantity of plants to size of your basket. Seeds found at Park Seed Co. #2 Diagram- C B A D B C A. Ornamental Millet Jester Pennisetum Qty: 1 B. Red Wave Petunia Park's Whopper Hybrid Qty: 2 C. Bellflower "Summertime Blues" campanula Qty: 2 D. Bacopa Snowtopia Sutera Cordata Snowtopia Qty: 1 Pennisetum in center gives the feeling of fireworks. Adjust the size and quantity of plants to your basket size. Seeds found at Park Seed Co. Enjoy!
This is a wonderful idea I can't wait to try this with a Gypsy geranium. I think I will hang outside my bedroom window so I can see every morning when wake up. Thank you for wonderful idea. Can't wait to see your pictures.
Thank you for this idea. I used an old egg basket and put the moss and ivy and red Vinca in it. I'll post a photo when I can. Gardengater
