Wire Hanging Baskets

By: Pamela Nobles

7/31/08

Hanging baskets have come a long way since the plastic potted geraniums which were traditionally sold outside supermarkets. Many of the exclusive garden centers now display wrought-iron or light and elegant moss-filled wire baskets filled with foliage plants that are absolutely breathtaking. Surely you have said to yourself, " I wish I could do that". Well, you can. Choosing your style of hanging garden will depend on your location and desired effect. They can often be used effectively even in a very small space. For some people their choice is plastic, however, nothing compares with the natural beauty of baskets filled with moss or, more commonly coir-fiber. Environmentally, they are made from recycled coco fibers, rather than sphagnum moss, which are sometimes mined from sensitive bog areas. Fiber and moss liners look great, but they do dry out quickly. There is a new option, though, that is called capillary matting. This material is sold by the roll and can be easily cut to fit inside your containers. These highly absorbent mats can store and release water to root systems for days. Manufacturers suggest that they might even reduce watering requirements by up to 80 percent. Your planting mix should be customized for these types of hanging baskets, being both lightweight and porous to provide good drainage and aeration, while retaining moisture. Some container mixes are actually soil-less, and blend together peat moss or sphagnum moss, sand, vermiculite and/or perlite, and often include slow-release fertilizers. To one of these mixes you might consider adding one of the water-absorbent gels produced from polymerized potassium. These crystals are touted to act as reservoirs for water, holding up to 200 times their weight in water.

Will continue next week on this topic. ‘Til next time! Be blessed, Pamela.