Hanging baskets are a smart way to add some bright blooms and foliage around your home. You can choose a combination of flowers or fragrant plants, or flowers that bloom during different seasons. But, you need to take good care of your hanging baskets to ensure that your plants stay healthy throughout the year. Perhaps you’ll need some tips to water your hanging baskets.
You need to create a schedule for watering your plants, ensure they have adequate food (fertilizer), and keep the soil in good condition. This article will give you essential tips for watering hanging baskets and how to ensure the soil has the right amount of moisture. Most tips are easy to follow, and you will see your basket blooms flourish under the new watering regime.
1. How Often Should Plants In Hanging Baskets Be Watered?
One of the best tips for watering hanging baskets is the appropriate time to water them. The frequency of watering depends on many factors. For example, the outdoor temperature, type and number of plants in the basket, and even the plants’ maturity level matter.
How Often To Water Perennials?
If you are growing perennials or other high water consumption plants, it means that you might need to water the baskets pretty often. As an example, daily during the hot season and every other day when the temperatures are lower. Hanging baskets that are crowded also need watering every day during the hot seasons. Sometimes you might even need to water them twice a day when summer is in its full swing.
How Often To Water Succulents And Other Hardy Plants?
Succulents and hardy plants aren’t demanding, and too much water might even cause their roots to rot. You can water these types of plants every other day when summer is at its peak and once or twice a week during the chilly seasons.
How Often To Water Seedlings And Young Plants?
Younger plants need half the quantity of water when they are growing in hanging baskets to develop strong roots. A little water scarcity will encourage roots to spread out in search of water. It would be best to start watering the plants normally again when you notice that the plant roots start peaking at the bottom of the basket.
2. What Time Of Day Should I Water My Hanging Baskets?
The ideal time to water your hanging basket plants is in the morning, between 5 am and 9 am. Watering them early in the morning gives the plants enough time to hydrate before the heat reduces the moisture in the soil. The cool morning temperatures also allow the soil to soak up the water before letting the excess drain through the bottom.
Also, don't water your plants at night because plants don't like having wet roots in the evening. If you have to water your plants in the evening, do it between 4 pm and 5 pm, but no later than that. The basket will have enough time to let out any excess water before nightfall when you do this.
3. What Is The Easiest Way To Water Hanging Baskets?
The easiest way to water your hanging baskets is by using a watering can. But when you’re watering them, only try to water the soil because excess water on top of the flowers or foliage can help bacteria get inside the plant.
When you perform this task with a watering can remember that it's heavy when it's full of water, so if you can't lift it from the ground, don't put that much water in it. Or you can also ask for someone stronger to do the job for you.
As you may notice when you’re working with watering cans, it’s an excellent exercise for your arms, but you can also buy a hose for simple irrigation. If you choose to connect a hose to a tap, ensure the water is coming out slowly. Pouring water slowly into a hanging basket allows the moisture to soak into the soil and drain the excess water out from the bottom.
4. How Do You Keep Hanging Baskets From Drying Out?
Ideally, it’s best to water a hanging basket of 12″ (about 30 cm) or 14″ (about 36 cm) with a gallon (about 3,8 liters) of water to ensure the soil is moist enough for the plants. Anything less than that will leave your baskets a little dry, and you will begin to notice that the plants are wilting. But, immature plants will need only half a gallon (about 1,9 liters) to allow the roots to develop during warm seasons.
Turn watering into a habit and add the activity into your daily routine so you don’t forget to do it. For example, water the baskets twice a day during hot days so that they don’t dry out. Also, find someone to look after your hanging baskets when you are out of town for more than one day.
To know whether the soil contains enough water or not, press your finger to the bottom of the basket. A dry basket will be light, and the ground will move up as a lump. When the soil is wet, it's easier to press your finger through it, and you will see how much moisture there is. Try to do this test at least once a month to ensure your plants are getting water.
5. Can You Overwater Hanging Baskets?
Yes. It is possible to overwater your hanging baskets, so keep a close eye on the amount of watering, especially during the cooler seasons.
First, it’s helpful to know some watering tips for hanging baskets when deciding to add them to your home. That’s why you should ask the person you are buying the baskets from to give you watering instructions.
Second, learn about the plants that you have in your hanging baskets. It’s pretty easy to overwater a hanging basket full of plants or underwater plants that need a lot of water. But remember that overwatering plants is as bad as under-watering them. So, take time and learn your plants’ requirements so that you can take care of them.
6. How To Rehydrate Hanging Baskets?
It’s easy to forget the watering when you have a busy schedule, and by the time you remember, the soil is parched. The task gets even more complicated because it’s challenging to water extra dry soil. This is because the water will only roll off the hard surface and drain at the bottom of the hanging basket.
The easiest way to rehydrate completely dry hanging baskets is to place them in a basin of water for 30 minutes. Fill that basin with water about half the height of your basket for the best results. Take the baskets down, place them in the basin and then wait for the soil to absorb the moisture.
After 30 minutes, lift the basket and let the excess water drain. The soil should be darker, and the water in the basin should have traces of the soil’s color. You can touch the earth in the upper part to confirm that there is enough moisture.
As a reminder, avoid adding fertilizers to the basket after you have rehydrated the dry baskets. This is because the salts in those fertilizers can negatively affect the weak plant roots. The better option is to wait until the plants are healthy before you add any fertilizers. And don't forget to regularly water the baskets so that they won't dry again.
7. Where Should You Place Your Hanging Baskets?
Location is a crucial element when it comes to the placement of hanging baskets. But before you choose a spot for them, remember that the excess water will drain from the bottom of the basket when you water them.
Thus, place the baskets somewhere where you don’t need to clean the floor after watering. For example, you can use hooks to keep the hanging baskets above your yard where excess water will drain into the grass. Best of all, your grass won’t mind the extra love.
Or, place the baskets from trees around your home. This is an excellent option if you live in an old house and the area around it drains poorly. A tree also reduces the odds of someone hitting their head on the baskets or destroying them some other way.
If you are still unsure what the best place for your baskets is, consult a gardener and get an expert opinion about the baskets’ ideal location. Remember that the site should have enough space for you to move around when you’re watering the plants. And the most crucial thing about placement is that you ensure placing the baskets somewhere visible so everyone can enjoy the beauty of your plants.
Final Words
Now you know the best tips for watering hanging baskets so you can keep your flowers or plants in good condition. The most important thing to remember is that the plants get enough water to thrive, whether it’s the cold or hot season. Turn the watering process into a routine to minimize the chance that you might forget it. A schedule like this will ensure your plants will thrive.
But before you give your flowers any water, do the touch test to find out whether the baskets are moist enough. Also, remember to fertilize the plants periodically to promote growth and flowering.
If you are still thinking about whether growing in hanging baskets is your thing, keep in mind that hanging baskets are even easier to maintain than flower beds. They also add beauty and sometimes a sweet fragrance to your home. So, go ahead and buy a suitable watering can or hose from your nearest gardening store if you don’t already have one, and I wish you the best of luck with your hanging baskets.
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