You can create beautiful floral displays at eye level by hanging flowers in baskets. Depending on the type of flower you choose, the display can last from spring to fall. You can either have one type of flower to create a mass of color, or you can combine different colored flowers. Hanging baskets are a great way to add color to your front door, porch, deck, or arbor.
Some of the best flowers to put in a hanging basket are petunias, begonias, pansies, lobelia, and black-eyed Susan vines. The amount of sun you get will affect what other kinds of plants will do well in a hanging basket. Some other plants that do well in baskets and need lots of sunlight are impatiens, geraniums, clematis, and lantana.
The Best Flowers for Hanging Baskets
There are a few different types of flowers that work well in hanging baskets. Some of the best include impatiens, fuchsias, and petunias. You can experiment with other varieties to see what works best in your space.
Begonias
Begonias are excellent flowers to grow in hanging baskets since they bloom in spring, summer, and fall, don’t require much sunlight, and are very easy to take care of. Tubular begonias in particular have long, pendulous stems with eye-catching red, yellow, orange, and pink blooms that cascade down over the sides of the baskets.
Plant begonias in shady areas for bountiful blooms from spring to fall. Large, green, fleshy leaves provide a beautiful contrast to the showy double flowers that hang gracefully from the pot. Some begonias resemble fuchsias, but are much easier to take care of.
To grow begonias in hanging baskets, use moist, well-draining soil and protect from direct sunlight and strong winds. Tuberous begonias are tender perennials, so you’ll need to take the containers indoors during winter.
Fuchsias
No matter where you choose to grow your fuchsias, they require similar care. Fuchsias make great hanging plants for your door, balcony, or porch. They have clusters of beautiful red, deep purple, brilliant white, or pink blossoms. Fuchsias can fill a hanging basket with foliage and flowers because they have a bushy and cascading nature. No matter where you choose to grow your fuchsias, they require similar care.
Fuchsias make great hanging basket plants for fall with flowers that look like dangling bells. They provide beautiful colors from spring through the first frost. Usually, these flowers are in various color combinations such as pink and white, red and lavender, or multiple shades of purple.
The flowers in this hanging basket thrive when they are in partial or full shade. During warm weather, the basket will need to be watered twice a day to keep the soil moist. These plants can endure cold temperatures as low as -10°F (-23°C) if the hanging basket is heavily mulched during winter.
Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
One of the few types of flowering vines that does well in hanging baskets is the Black eye Susan vine. These vines are known for their lush green foliage and their beautiful yellow or orange flowers, which have a black center – hence the name. These annual plants will bloom in your baskets from summer until fall, and the long vines that trail down look amazing in a suspended container.
Black-eyed Susans will climb up your hanging basket chains. You can hang the baskets high because the vines can reach between 3 and 6 ft. in length. Black-eyed Susans come in yellow and black, but also in orange, pale yellow, cream, and pink colors.
Place your plant in an area where it will get lots of sunlight and water it frequently and deeply during the warm months when it is actively growing. The potting soil should be rich and have good drainage; fertilize it regularly.
Trailing Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
If you’re looking for a plant to hang in a basket that will produce a lot of small blue flowers, trailing lobelia is a great choice. It blooms in late spring or early summer, and in cooler summers the blooms may last until early fall. The plant has beautiful foliage that hangs down over the edges of baskets, containers, or window boxes.
Hang lobelia plants in a sunny location that gets some partial shade. Lobelia, like most other hanging basket flowers, will need regular watering to keep the soil moist without waterlogging it. Once the flowers have finished blooming in early summer, you can replace them with summer and fall flowers such as lantana or million bells.
Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis)
The plant is native to the tropics Lantana is a sprawling shrubby plant that has dangling stems when growing at height. The sun-loving plant produces dainty flower heads made up of a cluster of pastel-colored flowers. These hardy flowers blossom from spring through fall and even into winter. The plant is native to the tropics.
The lantana plant is also known as the weeping lantana because of its trailing flowers. These flowers give off a strong, pleasant scent, making them a great addition to patios, balconies, and decks. They can also be hung at the front door to make a visual impact.
Hang lantana baskets in full sun for best results. The dangling stems can reach 3-5 feet in length. As long as it gets plenty of sunlight, lantana plants will flower throughout the season. Lantana is an easy-to-care-for hanging basket plant because it grows well in medium moisture, so you don’t have to water it as often as other plants.
Cascading Geraniums (Pelargonium) – Ivy Geraniums
Ivy geraniums trail and have brightly colored flowers that look great hanging from pots. They bloom from April to October, making them perfect for fall hanging baskets. Their lush, cascading foliage is accented by single flowers with gracefully tumbling stems, giving the impression of a waterfall of summer flowers.
Geraniums thrive in hanging baskets and are thus a popular choice for a hanging plant. They can survive in soil with average moisture but can also go for long periods without water if you forget to water them occasionally. The containers should be hung in full sun or light shade. Once the plants are established, they are quite tolerant of drought. However, they are not cold-resistant and will only survive outdoors as annuals in cooler areas or as perennials in hot climates.
Remove the dead flowers to encourage more blooming and a fuller appearance, and to prevent the plant from becoming too leggy.
Petunias
Petunias are one of the best hanging basket plants due to their dense flowering foliage that spills over container sides. They are famous for their colorful trumpet-shaped flowers, and they flower all season freely from late spring until fall. They are also fast-growing spreading plants, so they quickly fill hanging baskets with beautiful flowers.
The petunia’s mound-forming and spreading habits help to add both height and depth to hanging baskets. The flowers come in a variety of colors, such as purple, burgundy, pink, white, yellow, and coral red. Some petunia flowers have petals that are multiple colors, with the colors being contrasting. You can also plant different types of petunias in one hanging basket to create an eye-catching display of various colors.
It is best to hang petunia flowers in an area where they will get full sun to partial shade. With enough watering, petunias will flower throughout the season. Some types of petunias, such as Grandiflora and Multiflora, require deadheading to stay healthy. The smaller Milliflora varieties, which are perfect for easy-care hanging baskets, do not need deadheading.
Dianthus
Dianthus flowers, also known as carnations or pinks, grow well in hanging baskets. The long stems of these flowers provide outdoor hanging baskets with height and spread as other flowers dangle down toward the ground.
Hang your baskets of dianthus outdoors in full sun and they will bloom in spring and summer. Dianthus flowers come in many colors, including multiple shades of pink, red, and white. Some of the most spectacular dianthus flowers have ruffled multicolored petals. These flowering plants require minimal care and low watering needs in full sunlight.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WATER A HANGING BASKET?
You need to water hanging baskets more often than in-ground gardens because there is less root space for the plants to compete for and more drainage happens because the basket is hanging in the air.
The amount you need to water your hanging basket depends on the location. If it is in a sunny spot, then you will need to water it at least once a day, and sometimes even twice on very hot days. However, if it is in a shadier location, you might be able to get away with watering it every few days.
WHAT IS THE BEST FERTILIZER FOR HANGING BASKETS?
I love using a homemade fertilizer mix for hanging baskets that I found in Garden Alchemy!
This soil mix prevents your hanging basket flowers from drying out and provides them with essential nutrients. For best results, use it every two weeks.
This post contains a recipe for a fertilizer mix.
HOW DO YOU REVIVE A HANGING FLOWER BASKET?
If your hanging baskets are looking overgrown, brown, and straggly, there is an easy fix.
Use scissors to remove any plant material that’s dead, diseased, damaged, or dying. Even if this means cutting off half of the planter, you’re removing plant material from that’s taking away energy from reproducing healthy plant material, and it will perk back up in no time.
After not watering your plants for awhile, it’s best to give them a deep drink by submerging the basket in water for an hour or two.
Fill the basket with a handful of high-quality compost, and add more hanging basket fertilizer mix.
How to Properly Care for Hanging Basket Plants All Summer
There are 6 elements you need to remember in order to have beautiful hanging basket plants: 1. Hanging baskets need to be treated differently than in-ground plants. 2. water regularly (daily or even twice a day during hot weather) 3. use a moisture-retaining potting mix 4. fertilize regularly 5. protect from extremes of heat and cold 6. provide adequate ventilation
CHOOSE THE RIGHT HANGING BASKETS
Since watering problems are the most common way that people kill hanging plants, start with your hanging basket planter. You want to make sure that it:
- Has good drainage holes so water doesn’t stay trapped and drown the roots of your planter flowers.
- Is large enough to accommodate the plants you want to include.
Choose a hanging basket that is deep to hold a lot of soil and water for your plants.
This post will tell you how to design your own hanging baskets!
CHOOSE THE RIGHT HANGING BASKET PLANTS
Choose plants for your hanging basket based on where you plan to put it. If it will be in a sunny spot, pick plants that like hot weather. If it will be in a shady area, choose plants that grow well in the shade.
Choose plants that will thrive in the light and temperature conditions of the area where you want to hang your basket.
What kind of plants will look best in a hanging planter? Think about plants that spill over the edge and trail down for a beautiful look.
A good rule of thumb when choosing plants for a basket is to choose a combination of thrillers, spillers, and fillers as mentioned in this post.
PROPERLY WATERING FLOWERS FOR HANGING BASKETS
Hanging baskets generally lose water quickly. In addition, when multiple plants are crammed into a single small container, they compete strongly with each other for water below the surface.
These combined issues mean that it is easy for hanging basket flowers to dry out much faster than if those same plants were growing elsewhere. Here are some techniques to keep your hanging flowers moist, happy, and blooming:
- Water regularly!
- Use a plastic liner inside the hanging basket to keep moisture in.
- Try using a self-watering system like a bottle or bulb. These tools add water to the soil as it dries out. Another option is to invest in self-watering planters.
- If plants are still dropping, start giving your hanging baskets a soak once a week. Simply take the basket down from its hanger and soak it in a tub of water for a couple of hours, then hang it back up.
MAINTAIN NUTRITIOUS SOIL FOR OUTDOOR HANGING PLANTS
Because hanging baskets are not on the ground, the soil does not get exposed to the same amount of microbes, bacteria, and insects that help improve soil in gardens. Also, because they need to be watered more often, this flushes out essential nutrients that plants need.
Fertilize hanging baskets regularly or add some slow-release feeding spikes to make up for this.
DEADHEAD AND PRUNE HANGING BASKET FLOWERS
Look over your hanging basket at least once a week to see if any of the plants are dead, withered, or have brown leaves. Also, cut away any dead, brown, or damaged parts of the plant to help it grow anew, produce more flowers, and look healthy overall.
If you want to grow hanging basket flowers that are enviable and splendiferous this year, make a few changes to the way you take care of your outdoor hanging plants. With these easy tips, your hanging flowers will have everything they need to reach their full, attention-grabbing potential.
