Each spring we make and sell hundreds of beautiful moss hanging baskets.
There is always a stunning array of new basket stuffers to include in the baskets which is half the fun.
Our ladies in the greenhouse can assist you in choosing the perfect mix for your basket. I’ve provided here an assortment that works well.
Most of the plants are somewhat interchangeable so your basket can be unique and as original as you are. I always like to consider how colours will play off each others; such as placing golden foliage near purples and blues or hot pink.
Materials
• 14 inch wire basket frame
• A wire hanger
• Sunshine Mix or My Soil potting soil
• 1/2 bag or moss
• 2 tbsp 14-14-14 Osmocote slow release fertilizer
• 2 tbsp fish meal
Plants for a Sunny basket
1 Geranium (Zonal) for the top
3 trailers for the top
3 fillers for the top
24 plants (trailers & fillers)
for the sides
(We can show you what we use)
Method
Set aside your plants for the top.
There are twenty four plants for the sides. Divide up your plants into four groups of six each that will be the four layers of your basket. In each group you will have 3 trailers, like supertunias, trailing verbenas and bacopa and 3 fillers like fibrous begonias, lobelia and gazanias.
I like the plants mixed throughout the basket so I would mix them for each layer and also vary placement around the basket.
Let’s get started...
• Line the bottom of the basket with moss.
• Fill the basket about 1/4 of the way full with potting soil.
• Sprinkle ½ tbsp of fish meal.
• Now begin to plant the bottom layer by passing the roots through the wire and laying the roots onto the potting soil. Do all six plants this way.
• Add moss to the edges going up the sides about 2 inches.
• Add more potting soil for the second layer, sprinkle ½ tbsp of fish meal and repeat the planting.
• Add more potting soil for the third layer, sprinkle ½ tbsp of fish meal and repeat the planting.
• Add more potting soil for the fourth layer sprinkle ½ tbsp of fish meal and do the last layer of the sides.
• When the sides are all planted you can add enough moss to make a nice crown or top edge for your basket. Then fill with potting soil and put the remainder of the organic fertilizer and the Osmocote in the soil and gently mix.
• Now you can plant the top. The Geranium or Tuberous Begonia sits in the middle with the three trailers evenly spaced around.
• Take the three filler plants and plant them off set between the trailers and the geranium or begonia.
• Water the basket with a liquid transplanter fertilizer (or ½ strength 20-20-20 or liquid kelp).
Caring For Your Basket
The secret to a beautiful basket is good quality plants, planted carefully with regular watering and fertilizing. Do not let your basket dry out even once.
Feed your basket weekly with a liquid such as Plant Prod 15-30-15 or liquid kelp as the label recommends.
Drop by we’re always happy to show you our favourite fertilizers for more flowers!
Remember not to put your plants out to early; in our area we usually hang our baskets out around Mother’s Day.
Enjoy! – Shauna Lambeth, Campbell River Garden Centre