Don’t just “hang” on!

It’s early May. You walk through the doors of our greenhouse, and you see rows upon rows of beautifully blooming, unbelievably full (and almost perfectly) round hanging baskets perched above you. It is almost impossible to pick just one or two out of the vast selection. Why is it, as gardeners, we feel this is the only time the hanging basket will ever truly look its best? So many of us try to just “hang” on to it for as long as we can, until it looks too sad and overworked, then we throw it out. It doesn’t have to be that tragic! We can help you maintain your hanging basket all summer long, keeping it blooming, full of color and life, looking just as good as the day you brought it home!

Water!

No surprise, I know! A living plant has to actually be watered, but it is very easy to forget about your hanging baskets. Especially when we have those weeks where it rains every other day, so our container gardens and flower beds don’t need watered, but those hanging baskets that may be sheltered from the rain, they still need watered, and we forget! It happens to all of us! On the other hand, you don’t want to over water though either (I know, I know, make up our minds! But it is not as simple as saying, just water it!). You want the soil to be moist, but not soggy wet, so our advice to you is to water from the top until you have a steady stream flowing out of the bottom of your basket. That allows you to know that the water has reached from the top of the basket, to the bottom, and is soaking in all the water it needs, allowing any excess water to drain off. The size of your hanging basket and where it is hanging will determine how often you need to water it. You may be okay watering it every 2-3 days, or, in the heat of the summer, you may have to water it daily.

FOOD!

Plants are just like humans. Think how you feel if you miss your lunch break, and the work day runs late, by the end of the day, you are running out of energy. Plants get their nutrients from the soil just like we get nutrients from the food and drinks we consume. If the plant is constantly eating from the same soil, it eventually uses up all of the nutrients and start to suffer. That is why it is extremely important to fertilize your hanging basket. If you are using a water-soluble fertilizer (a powder form, usually blue in color, that you mix with water in your watering can), then you should feed your hanging basket about every 2-4 weeks for the most color and healthy, lush foliage. If you like to do things the easy way, then we suggest the “set it and forget it” slow release fertilizer. Add your slow release fertilizer to your hanging basket at the beginning of the season (how much you add will depend on the size of your hanging basket. The packaging always tells you how much for each size hanging basket.). What’s the next step you ask? Watch your basket grow and bloom beautifully through September! Yes, that simple!

Haircuts Too!

You didn’t know we had so much in common with hanging baskets, did you?! Trimming the ends of trailing plants, such as verbena, bacopa, and petunias, will encourage new growth and new blooms! Just a trim will do, and you will know when it is time. The ends will begin to look “sad” and your basket will seem as though it has stopped growing. Sometimes, just a simple trim is all your basket needs to get it going again!

SING!

No, it is not a proven fact that singing to your plants will benefit them at all- we just wanted to throw it in there for fun!  

Hanging baskets are perfect for adding quick color, height, and shape to your porch or patio! We have a variety of colors, plants, shapes and sizes to choose from at Good Harvest Supply. The only limit is your imagination (Okay, and maybe your husband saying “No, enough plants already!”).

Creating a Gorgeous Container Garden!

Do you want to create a beautiful, inspiring container garden? Just follow TFS! TFS? Yes!

THRILLERS … FILLERS … SPILLERS!

Before we get ahead of ourselves though, let’s start with the basics!

Container Selection

We are creating a container garden, which means we need to start with a container, right?! Be sure the container you choose has drainage! Most containers today have predrilled drainage holes, plugs that can be removed to create drainage holes, or allow you the ability to drill your own drainage holes, but there are still some containers out there for water gardens and water features that do not have drainage holes. This is important because the last thing you want is for your plants to have wet feet! If the container you absolutely love and have your heart set on does not have drainage holes, don’t worry! You can fill the bottom with stone, empty plastic water bottles or packing peanuts (just make sure they are not the biodegradable ones, or your planter will start to sink throughout the season!).

Potting Mix

Choosing a potting mix with good moisture retention, but that is also well-draining, and one that includes slow release fertilizer will ensure proper feeding throughout the season!

Environment

Now to think… Where will your container garden sit? Will it be getting full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) or maybe full shade (less than 4 hours of direct sunlight)? How much do I want to be watering my planter? The amount of watering will change seasonally with the change in weather, but the pot size also dictates how often you water! The smaller the pot, the more often you will have to water because there will be less soil to hold in the moisture. Also consider just how high maintenance you would, or would not, like your container garden to be! Do you enjoy deadheading (believe it or not, some people do! It is like a therapy to us!) or trimming your plants? Once you have taken all of this into consideration, and you feel you are ready…it is time to dive into…

THRILLERS … FILLERS … SPILLERS!

What is a THRILLER?

A thriller plant is the drama queen, the attention getter! This is the plant that adds height and color to the container! Thriller plants can include grasses, salvia, angelonia, and argyranthemum.

What is a FILLER?

A filler plant does exactly what its name says! It fills in the space in-between the thriller and spiller plants! The filler plant will give you shape and lots of color and texture! Try using euphorbia, calibrachoa, or petunias as your filler plant.

What is a SPILLER?

A spiller plant SPILLS out over the container! It is a trailing plant that will add interest to your container garden, and over the edge of your container garden! You can use plants such as sweet potato vines or vinca vines to add texture, or try using bacopa or lobularia to add color.

What about…

There are a few other things to consider. As a good rule of thumb, it is said that the mature plant height should be no more than one and a half times the height of your container. You also have to consider where your container garden will be setting to make sure your container and plants are not too tall or too wide. Will your container garden sit flush against a wall, or will it be seen from all sides? If it is flush against a wall or structure, you can create a “backside” to your planter, where your thriller will start, and working your way front with the fillers and spillers. If the container garden can be seen from all sides, then it is best to put the thriller plant in the middle, and work evenly around the container with the filler and spiller plants. Be sure to pack on lots of colors and textures, and not just in flowers! There are a lot of great plants out there that are considered foliage, but can provide an array of colors and textures! Try sweet potato vines, rex begonias, coleus, and helichrysum (Licorice plant).

Finally? The fun part! Plant! Get those hands dirty, play in the soil! And when you are finished, water your container, step back, and take it in! It is your masterpiece! Sit back and enjoy it all summer long!

Forgetful Gardener? Get a Succulent!

Succulents are taking off in popularity and it is easy to understand why! So many times, people begin to talk about that great plant that they used to have years ago, and they wish they knew what it was so they could get another one, describing how it seemed almost indestructible and if they ever forgot to water it, no big deal because it seemed to survive just fine. That is the nature of a succulent! With their low maintenance requirements, and their unique varieties of plant forms and stunning colors, succulents are becoming the plant of today’s gardener– the one that might be a little forgetful, or may just simply run out of time for gardening in their day, but want to enjoy the beauty and benefits of plants!

What is a succulent?

Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves, stems, and roots. Think about the succulents you have seen; many of them have thick leaves, a waxy appearance, because these leaves act as water storage tanks. Due to this, succulents can tolerate dry conditions. While succulents are native all over the world, most are typically found in semi-deserts, areas that are dry in climate but receive slightly more rain than a true desert. Think about one of the best known succulent plants, the cactus! Cacti store water in their stems and are found in hot, dry locations.

How to care for a succulent?

Most varieties of succulents need at least half a day to a full day of sunlight. And surprisingly enough, succulents can tolerate colder temperatures than most people think; succulents can thrive in temperatures down to 40 degrees. When you are planting your succulent in the garden (Yes, succulents can be planted in your flower beds! They are NOT just an indoor plant!), be sure to plant it in a well-drained area. Succulents need good draining soil and do not like to be planted in an area that is a low spot and will stay wet. If you are planting your succulent in a container garden or a decorative pot for indoor gardening, make sure the container you plant it in has a drainage hole or place crushed rock in the bottom for proper drainage. You can even incorporate sand in your potting mix for better drainage. After you plant your succulent, water it in well and then be sure to allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings after that. In the summer, you will find that you have to water your succulent more generously than in the winter, when you really only want to water about once a month, sometimes less. Most succulents do not require much fertilizing, so watering with a fertilizer once a month will be sufficient enough.

How to use succulents?

Succulents are great rock garden plants! Combining different colors, shapes, and textures of succulents in troughs, window boxes, and container gardens make beautiful plantings as well! The possibilities are endless! Check out our Pinterest for more ideas on how to use succulents!