Begonias, petunias, geraniums, and steptocarpellas are among the most popular plants for hanging baskets in Texas. These plants like partial sun and light soil, and they can be pruned by pinching leggy stems and blooms. They can survive with little water and partial sun, so they are a great option for Texans with dry soil.
Begonias
Begonias are excellent plant choices for hanging baskets. They are hardy, tolerate cold winters and are not particularly sensitive to heat. The tuberous varieties will bloom from May through June, and can tolerate moderate to full sun, but they do not tolerate excessive heat. Begonias should be planted directly into the ground after the last frost, or you can start them indoors as tubers. The tubers are the enlarged portions of the stem that stores food. Begonias are best started indoors in February, March, or April for June or July bloom. You should plant the tubers with the hollow top facing upwards.
Begonias are easy to grow and require little maintenance. They grow well in a hanging basket and can be grown outdoors in summer. You can also choose creeping begonias for a more indoor garden. Begonias are one of the easiest and most adaptable tender plants. Some people take the word “shade” too literally and end up with a plant that doesn’t bloom in the shade. Begonias do best in partial shade, but they don’t do well in high temperatures and are not recommended for cold climates.
Petunias
If you’re planning on using hanging baskets for your flower arrangement, you might consider adding some of the following plants to the mix. Petunias are among the easiest plants to grow and are great for sunny areas. But, in case your climate is a little cooler, you might consider planting a hybrid petunia. These flowers share some of the best traits of both types and do not require deadheading. They also tolerate part-sun and require little or no watering.
While petunias are generally heat-tolerant, they do need regular watering. A good general rule is to water the plant thoroughly once every two weeks. It’s also important to avoid watering your petunias too deeply, as shallow watering can cause shallow roots. Moreover, petunias need a monthly or biweekly fertilizer, so be sure to use a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
If you’re looking for a new plant, you can always choose from the wide selection available in Texas. In general, you’ll find a petunia in every color imaginable. However, if you’re looking for something a little more exotic, you can also choose one that is hardy and tolerant of heat and drought. Then, you can decide what kind of petunias to choose based on your climate and what you have in mind for your hanging basket.
Geraniums
Geraniums for hanging baskets in the Texas climate require a different growing method than geraniums in cooler regions. Geraniums in Central Texas are usually available during cooler months, and they prefer morning sun. However, they can tolerate dappled or semi-shade as long as the weather is not excessively hot. In Texas, the most common growing season for geraniums is May through September.
Growing geraniums in hanging baskets requires a bit more care than planting them in pots or gardens. Geraniums are delicate plants and do not require deep roots. In addition, geraniums do not thrive in soil that is compacted. Watering is essential during warm weather, but be sure to check the soil for moisture daily. Water the plants when the top inch of soil is dry. However, they do well in dry soil. If you are planting them in containers, you should use a water-soluble fertilizer to keep the soil moist.
Depending on the type of container or hanging basket, you can use geraniums in Texas. They’re a classic plant with their fragrant flowers and low maintenance. They make beautiful fillers and thrillers for hanging baskets. The velvety red blooms of geraniums look stunning when combined with blue lobelia, white bacopa, or patriotic flowers. The plants can also be used in perennial borders.
Steptocarpellas
If you want a delicate, orchid-like plant, Streptocarpellas are a good choice. This plant does best in a full-sun location, but you can also grow it in partial shade. Its flowers are lavender-blue and are attractive to hummingbirds. The plant can be wintered indoors. Because it is not hardy in Texas, you should plant it in the fall.
The Streptocarpella species grow well in part-shade conditions, and you can choose one with an average soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. If you use a balanced fertilizer, be sure to add a bit of lime to the mix to help it retain water. However, don’t overfeed the plant. Adding too much fertilizer can result in stretch and salt buildup. A few sprigs a month will be enough to keep your plants healthy.
Streptocarpellas are ideal for hanging baskets in Texas because they don’t require plant growth regulators to thrive. They can be pruned by pinching the leggy stems or blooms. Another plant to consider is the lavender-blue streptocarpella, a relative of African violet. This plant blooms nonstop and makes a good companion to anything orange.
Sweet alyssum
Its flowering season lasts from winter to early spring, and the variety ‘Snow Princess’ features a cluster of white flowers. ‘Snow Cloth’ is shorter, with smaller white blooms. ‘Easter Basket’ is more compact, with rounded heads and a fragrant scent. Plant sweet alyssum seeds indoors several weeks before the last average frost date. Once the soil has warmed up, transplant the sweet alyssum plants outdoors as soon as the danger of frost has passed.
A perennial flower, sweet alyssum grows well in hanging baskets and potted containers. The sweet alyssum plant can also fill a bare spot in the landscape. Its honey-scented flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. And the plant can thrive in drought-prone conditions. In Texas, sweet alyssum thrives in soils containing high amounts of humus.
While sweet alyssum grows well in most garden zones, it is best planted in mostly sunny locations where the plant gets ample sunlight. If it receives too little light, it will grow leggy and produce few blooms. Additionally, Texas summers can be hot and dry, so sweet alyssum will stop blooming in July. But watering it regularly will help it recover, and you will see blooms again in late summer or early fall.
Spider plants
If you live in Texas, you might want to consider growing Spider plants in hanging baskets for your patio or porch. This plant grows to about 24 inches tall with foliage that reaches the ground. Spider plants do not need facer plants in front of them. The Spider Plant grows moderately fast and can live up to 10 years in ideal conditions. This plant is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows back to its crown each winter. It also tolerates low light and partial shade.
During the summer, spider plants require only moderate watering. Exposure to rainwater is very beneficial to their growth, as it contains no chlorine or fluoride. Place them in well-draining areas and keep them slightly moist during periods of dryness. In late fall, spider plants will require less water. They will grow best in cooler weather. But, they still need a little water to survive.
Because spider plants don’t attract pollinators, you can plant them in hanging baskets. Spider plants are best paired with butterfly-luring plants such as lupines. However, this plant is not hardy in Texas and should be grown as an annual. Whether you choose indoor plants or outdoor plants, you’ll have a wonderful display of hanging baskets in your yard. But remember, spider plants don’t like hot, direct sunlight. If you don’t want them to die, plant them in containers with indirect light. If you want to grow a few plants, you can root the stems and transfer them to potting soil. Baby’s tears also love humidity, so you might want to keep them in a hanging basket for your patio or porch.
Geranium ‘Million Bells Mix’
One of the most common hanging basket plants, geraniums are easy to grow, come in a wide range of colours and provide multi-seasonal blooms. They are also drought tolerant and are tough to kill, and they will flower again next year if protected from frost. Whether you grow them as shrubs or trees, they are popular year-round.
A good choice for a hanging basket is a miniature variety of petunia, or calibrachoa. These flowers are small and bloom in clusters. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 9-11, and can be pruned or mulched to maintain its form. The flowers are stunning and attractive in both hanging baskets and landscapes. They require only a little maintenance and bloom profusely, and will reward you with flowers and foliage in a few weeks.
Geranium ‘Million Bells’ is an annual plant, and grows in full sun to part shade. It prefers rich, moist soil and abundant moisture. Aside from Million Bells, other great container plants are Suntory Lobelia Trailing White and Beedance Painted Red. Suntory Lobelia Trailing White and Surfinia Deep Red are also great choices. For full-sun conditions, you can plant Clear Orange Sunpatiens or Snow Princess.
