Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were no doubt a sight to behold. Today, people try to recreate a microscopic version of that by using hanging baskets to enhance their patio areas and add color to their favorite outdoor areas. It was also a part of Victorian culture as well and came with the colonists across the Atlantic as they settled America. Their love of flowers coupled with their diverse cultures created various methods of displaying hanging baskets of flowers.
The use of beautifully colored baskets and plants are an attractive way to decorate porches and verandas. The position that the baskets are in (side of the house that they are hung) will usually determine the types of plants that you put in them. There are three types of sun that plants can be exposed to: light or none, partial (part of the day), or full sun. There are plants available for all types of exposure to the sun.
You don’t have to hang baskets strictly on a patio or porch. You can hang baskets of flowers or plants adjacent to patio or porch steps, frame your entrances with baskets, or build an arbor and hang baskets on it. Once you decide to plant, you’ll want to figure out the type of planter that you want. Most come in sizes from 6” to 12”, but you will want to choose a size that is conducive to the area that it is going to hang in.
The first thing you’ll need to do is to line the basket with moss. Most people use Sphagnum moss due to its moisture retentive qualities and the fact that it actually helps plants grow better. Once the moss has been moistened and fitted to the contour of the hanging basket, then you will want to add the potting soil and any nutrients that you want the plant roots exposed to right away. You may want to add some polymers because potting soil normally will not hold any nutrients. So polymers should be added to the potting soil periodically.
