There are a number of plants that are excellent for hanging baskets. Some of the most popular are lilac or purple-colored snapdragons. You can use either an upright plant or a trailing variety. Monkey-face flowers are a good choice for a hanging basket because they grow to be 3 feet tall and spread up to a foot wide. You can also grow a variety of colorful and fragrant perennials in your hanging basket, such as zinnias.
Lobelia ‘Monsoon’
There are two types of lobelia to choose from when filling your outdoor hanging basket. Lobelia ‘Monsoon’ features cascading blue flowers in mid-summer. Lobelia ‘White Lady’ produces pretty white flowers. Both varieties are excellent choices for borders, containers, and hanging baskets. These plants need average care and water. Both species need well-drained soil and regular fertilization.
For a more delicate look, you can try the trailing lobelia ‘Monsoon’. This plant has beautiful trailing habit and is heat-tolerant. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. If you’re looking for a perennial variety for your outdoor hanging basket, Lobelia ‘Monsoon’ is a good choice.
The trailing lobelia comes in a variety of colours, including white, pink, purple, and blue. It’s small, eye-catching flowers will be a great addition to your outdoor hanging basket. And, unlike most other plants, lobelia seedlings don’t need much care and can survive in partial shade and full sun. But if you’re not in the mood for deadheading, there are also a number of other plants you can try.
If you’re unsure about which type of lobelia to choose, you can try starting them indoors. However, if you’re not in the western U.S., you can try them outdoors in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. Just remember to plant them before the last frost. And don’t forget to water them as often as possible to keep them looking beautiful.
Calibrachoa
You can choose calebrachoa plants for outdoor hanging baskets for a variety of reasons. This hardy plant has a colorful bloom, which is similar to the appearance of tiny petunias. Calibrachoas can tolerate a wide range of light conditions, including sun, shade and low light conditions. They do not require watering or deadheading, so they are an excellent choice for low maintenance hanging baskets. This plant can be combined with other plants to create a dynamic look. It requires at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive, but is also drought-tolerant.
You can plant calibrachoa plants in late spring or early summer, depending on the type and size of your outdoor hanging basket. Calibrachoas do not prefer to remain wet, and should be watered every day or two during warm weather. In cooler weather, watering can be reduced to a daily basis. If you plant calibrachoas in containers, make sure that you place drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
Despite being a common plant in hanging baskets, it can also get gangly and flat on top. Pinching back Million Bell plants regularly can help them stay healthy and strong. You can use your fingers or household scissors to pinch the plant. Pinching its stems at the leaf nodes encourages new branching. Million bells are an excellent choice for hanging baskets, as they are easy to care for and add zest to any sunny location.
A miniature petunia, Calibrachoa is also known as the million bells. These flowers are lush, scented, and hardy for USDA zones 9-11. They can even survive mulching and cutting back. In fact, they thrive in many types of containers, from indoor hanging baskets to outdoor hanging baskets. So whether you’re looking for a flowering plant to brighten your outdoor hanging basket, there’s a Calibrachoa for you.
Impatiens
Although they are a small plant, impatiens make a perfect outdoor hanging basket plant. Their colorful flowers and small leaves provide subtle texture in the landscape. Many houseplants thrive in a similar location, and impatiens are especially popular for hanging baskets because of their easy maintenance and blooming ability throughout the summer and fall. If you have a shady location and are worried about watering, you can always bring in a potted version.
If you are preparing to use impatiens in your outdoor hanging basket, be sure to plant them in moist soil with indirect light. Keep in mind that the plants thrive in temperatures ranging from 68 degrees to 85 degrees. Temperatures over that range will slow their flower production and produce smaller blooms. Impatiens are easy to grow from cuttings or seed. They require a consistent moisture level, so feed them once or twice a week with water soluble fertilizer. Watering impatiens once or twice a week will make them look lush and healthy.
Impatiens are easy to grow and require little maintenance. You can purchase seedlings or larger young plants for hanging baskets. Seedlings are best planted loosely side-by-side or in sets of three to four. Young plants, like New Guinea impatiens, should be pruned to encourage new blooms. The foliage of impatiens is attractive.
If you have a sunny or shady location, you can try fuchsia or tuberous begonia. Both produce fragrant, pink flowers and are great for shade areas. A few of the other shade-tolerant plants include Nasturtium, which translates to “nose-tweaker.”
Nasturtiums
There are several types of nasturtiums that will look beautiful in hanging baskets. Some of these varieties are trailing, and some are bushy. Trailing nasturtiums are great for hanging baskets and ground covers. They are edible, too, so you can grow them in containers with a fence. Nasturtiums are easy to grow and maintenance-free.
They grow in full sun or partial shade, and tolerate poor soil. Nasturtiums are hardy in zones 9-11 and are excellent for outdoor hanging baskets. They are also commonly known as trailing petunias and Million Bells. They are great for hanging baskets because they tolerate partial sun. If you are in a temperate climate, they grow as annuals.
Nasturtiums are hardy stalwarts. Their blooms attract bees and attract white butterflies away from winter brassicas. Nasturtiums are also useful companion plants, attracting beneficial pollinators and deterring pests. The plants are also edible and look beautiful in hanging baskets and pots. And if you’re in a pinch for space, you can grow them indoors.
Because Nasturtiums require minimal maintenance, they are excellent for indoor gardening. Plants can be grown from seed or from starter plants. Starters can be soaked in water for 24 hours before planting. These plants require little maintenance and are easy to care for. They grow well in sunny, warm spots. In addition to that, they tolerate partial shade, too. If you’re a green thumb, Nasturtiums are the perfect plant for indoor or outdoor hanging baskets.
To grow nasturtiums in a hanging basket, you can start them indoors in February. Start planting the seeds in a larger pot. They need to be weed-free and at least six weeks before the last frost. Once the seeds have sprouted, they’ll flower for about two weeks. Then, protect the pot from wind and rain.
String of pearls
String of pearls are one of the best plants for outdoor hanging baskets, and they can grow in either bright indirect light or partial shade. However, they do require a certain amount of light. They require at least six hours of sun per day to grow to full maturity, so you should make sure they have a spot with indirect light and a window facing the south or west. If you do not have a window in your home, consider placing your hanging basket near a wall for indirect lighting.
The best time to plant string of pearls in your outdoor hanging baskets is when the temperatures are consistently above 70 degrees. If you’re worried about the cold, you can keep them indoors until the temperatures get as high as 70 degrees at night. Once that time comes, they’ll be fine. As long as the nights are not too cold, you can keep them outside all winter, and they won’t mind the cold.
Because the root is shallow, string of pearls are easy to propagate. You can use cuttings from existing plants. Cut a healthy stem approximately three to four inches long, press it down, and the root will grow out. You can also propagate them from seeds. Just make sure you sterilize the tools before cutting. You can then transplant your newly-grown string of pearls into the pot.
Despite their beauty, string of pearls are susceptible to several problems. Overwatering will stunt their growth, and their leaves will turn yellow. To avoid overwatering, use an organic soil or cacti and succulent potting mix designed to drain well. If you do have to repotte the plant frequently, use sharp gardening shears to prune the roots. If you overwater them, the leaves will turn yellow and shrivel.