Plant Care and Gardening Tips

Gardening advice and plant care notes

July 11, 2009 · Garden Review / GARDENING BASICS / hanging baskets

Hanging Basket care

Hanging Basket care

In spring many of us buy beautiful, blooming hanging baskets. They look great for a few weeks and then slowly start to  fade; no longer looking like the ones we bought a month ago. Here are few hints to keep that hanging basket looking good all summer long.

hanging bskt super petunia

Fertilize
Keep in mind that growers fertilize the baskets every time they water. This helps maintain healthy, vigorous growth. A grower recommended fertilizing once a week with a formula with a ratio of 1:2:1 (10-20-10) with micro nutrients such as iron, copper, manganese to satisfy the heavy feeding requirements for hanging baskets. There are some specially formulated fertilizers available for container growing on the market. It is the moderate steady supply of fertilizer that will sustain and maintain the plant in a vigorous growing state. A research study in Michigan State compared 3 flowering baskets: one with soluble fertilizer, one with a time-release fertilizer incorporated into the soil and the one with both soluble and time-release fertilizer. The third basket with both soluble and time-release fertilizer preformed the best.

Watering
Many of us find that by the time we get home from work, our poor hanging basket is drooping from the heat of the day and lack of water. So we immediately get the watering can and pour lots of water on the plant to rehydrate it. This practice causes lots of stress to the plant. In addition, leaving soaking wet roots overnight (when its cooler) can invite root rot and other diseases.  Water just enough to revive the plant in the evening  and then water again in the morning using a wand or watering can and pouring directly onto the soil avoiding wet leaves. To make sure all the roots get wet, water until it runs out of the bottom of the container.  In hot weather, you may have to water twice a day. If  the soil has completely dried out, to the point where it separates from the side of the basket, then you may have to soak the basket in a tub of water to slowly re-hydrate the soil.  This may take a couple of hours.  Do not leave the soaking basket for a prolonged period of time or overnight, this can cause root rot.

When feeding your plants, water first with unfertilized water and drain; then re-water with a fertilizer solution. This will keep soluble salt accumulation to a minimum and avoid fertilizer burn to the roots.  A moisture retaining polymer can also be added to the soil to keep your plant hydrated longer.

Exposure
Check the label for sun exposure place your hanging basket in the right spot – too much sun can be as bad as not enough. If you basket shows signs of scorching, brown edges and faded or bleached leaves if may be getting too much sun, therefore move it to a shadier spot. Spindly, leggy plants with lack of flowers can indicate not enough sun. Plants facing west in the summer will require more water and need to tolerate hotter temperatures

For continual bloom deadhead hanging baskets with larger flowers such as geraniums, lantana, petunia and verbena.

Hopefully, some of these suggestions will reward with summer long blossoms.

From the reader archive

Useful reader questions

Re-using old potting soil Hello, me again! I’m getting ready to make this year’s hanging baskets. I kept last year’s through the winter (after cutting off the vegetation above the soil). Can I dump out the soil, remove the roots, and re-use…

Read Valerie discussion

I live in Portland, OR and have a fuchsia hanging basket (called First Love, semi-double trailing corolla) that I’ve just brought inside since it’s in the mid 30’s outside most of the time. The leaves have turned mostly yellow and dropped off.…

Read Jay Bessley discussion

Refurbish petunia baskets HI, I have some hanging baskets, petunias and milion bells,that as you said look great when I bought them. Now they are sparse, and the leaves under side seem to turn brown and dry up. I water every morning…

Read Robin discussion

i have a hanging basket of impatiens x hybrida. Its snowing here now and I’ve turned the basket into a house plant for the winter. We live at 5000′ and endure a 7 month winter. How can I keep it alive and…

Read Robyn discussion

41 Comments

  1. LARRY PEOPLES - June 7, 2005 at 5:29 am

    I HEARD DISH DETERGENT AND WATER MIXED WOULD HELP CONTROL INSECTS FROM EATING THE LEAVES,WILL IT?

    It can help with certain insects like aphids, spider mites and whitefly but not eliminate them. You’ll have to be diligent (once a week) about washing (spraying) your plants.

    Reply
  2. Laurie - July 1, 2005 at 6:24 am

    I have hanging baskets that were once beautiful, but are now looking horrible. I have watered faithfully and fertilized. It appears that the plants have stopped taking in water. What can I do?

    Laurie,
    It’s hard to determine what could be happening. Perhaps too much of a good thing -too much water w/o letting the plant dry can lead to root rot causing the plant to stop growing. When the roots are damaged, they cannot utililze any fertilizer or water.

    Reply
  3. susan micek - July 8, 2005 at 2:01 pm

    Straw Flowers in a hanging basket, how do I water it ? and do I keep it in full sun? please help

    Helichrysum bracteanum like at least 6 hrs of direct sun (full sun) and well-drained soil. Keep the plant slightly moist and don’t let it dry out too much between watering- tend to produce less flowers. Don’t allow it to wilt and be careful not to over water. Deadheading flowers will keep it blooming all summer long. If you want to save the flowers for dried arrangement pinch off mature flowers(just before the centers show) and dry. You can add a wire stem when the flower is still fresh to use in bouquets.

    Reply
  4. telegirl2001 - May 10, 2006 at 2:30 pm

    I would like to know what type of plants etc are the best ones to grow in hanging baskets, need lotsa ideas, first time planter here. thanks

    There are many plants that grow successfully in a hanging basket. Some favorites are geranium, petunia, reiger begonia, impatients, verbena and the list goes on. When you pick out your basket you need to be aware of where you are going to hang it- sun or shade and what its requirements are. A shade basket placed in the sun will scorch and discolor conversely a sun loving plant will not produce many flowers in the shade.

    Reply
  5. MJ - January 25, 2007 at 9:57 am

    I accidentally froze my hanging plant overnight in the car! Don’t know what kind it is. What do I do now? Thanks.

    OOPS!! There is probably nothing you can do. If it is a tropical houseplant, chances are most of the top growth will turn transparent and mushy. The optimist in me says cut away all dead material and see if anything sprouts from the roots. If you don’t see anything in a month give up and start over.

    Reply
  6. Tammi - May 10, 2007 at 5:21 pm

    I bought a big, wonderful Fuchsia to hang on my porch which gets shade all day. It was doing fine till the last couple days when the weather got to the 80’s. It is going to get hotter, what can I do , the plant is never in the sun?

    Fuchsias like cool days and cool nights. They are more suited to weather in the Pacific Northwest or highlands of Hawaii. They cannot tolerate hot weather which will cause them to wilt and drop their flowers. Keep it in the shade and out of the wind until it cools down a bit. If it stops blooming, cut the plant back to a node and it should give off new growth within a month and rebloom on new growth. When in bloom, feed it every two weeks with a 1/2 dose of a balanced fertilizer.

    Reply
  7. Julie - May 28, 2007 at 6:33 pm

    How do I keep the birds from building nests in my hanging baskets?

    You can put some obstacles in their way such as strips of mylar, shiny plastic (pinwheels) or foil in the area where the are building nests. Rubber snakes or shiny globes with eyes painted on them can also work. Netting on the basket can also be effective but then what’s the point of having a decorative hanging basket?

    Reply
  8. Mary - May 31, 2007 at 1:56 pm

    Yellowing leaves

    Barring insect infestation, yellowing older leaves can be a response to stress, such as overwatering, lack of fertilizer(nitrogen) or the plant is just shedding some of its old leaves. Yellowing new leaves can indicate chlorosis (yellowing between the veins) a lack of iron. When hanging baskets are grown in the green house they are fed on a regular schedule and once it goes to market that feeding stops. Your basket might need a dose of a balanced fertilizer to replace the nutrients that get washed away with regular watering.

    Reply
  9. Christine - July 1, 2007 at 11:59 am

    I have made over forty baskets and containers and have a couple of baskets and my moss baskets seemed to have gone hydrophobic, what is the best method to help this

    I would fill a bucket with water and soak the basket until it has absorbed the water and is rehydrated(may take a few hours) then hang it to drain out the water. Once the moss dries out it takes longer to rehydrate it. A rewetting agent (Soax-not sure if its available for cosumer) would work or mix water retaining polymers into the soil to keep it moist longer. The moss baskets will do better if hanging in a North or East location so they don’t dry out as quickly in the summer and you won’t have to water them as often.

    Reply
  10. Mary - July 12, 2007 at 8:12 am

    I have a hanging baskets of trailing lobelia. How do I deadhead all those tiny flowers? I still have many new blossoms, but also many dried and dead blossoms that make the baskets look dull and dried out. Should I cut the entire plant back?

    Pick off the dull dried out parts which will take some time or you can cut the plant back. If you haven’t fertilized feed it with some Miracle grow or a balanced fertilizer to give it a fresh boost. It should regrow and bloom within a few weeks. To maintain a healthy looking basket, pick off the dead flowers as they turn brown.

    Reply
  11. Jay Bessley - January 12, 2008 at 5:25 am

    I live in Portland, OR and have a fuchsia hanging basket (called First Love, semi-double trailing corolla) that I’ve just brought inside since it’s in the mid 30’s outside most of the time. The leaves have turned mostly yellow and dropped off. I’ve placed it near a window and watered it once
    a week. Should I prune the branches now or later in the spring? The temp. inside the room is about 62 degrees or so. Or could I bring it in the garage where there is
    less light and the temp. about 40 degrees?
    Thank you for any advice you can give me.

    Hi Jay
    Fuchsia will yellow and drop their leaves in lower light and colder temperatures. You can prune the branches now down to 3 to 6″ stubs. Store the plant in the garage at 45-50F degrees for the winter. Water the container sparingly, just enough to keep the soil from drying out completely. It will remain dormant until the weather warms up. In the spring, place the plant in bright filtered light and start watering, when you see signs of new growth, repot the plant in fresh soil in the same container or a slightly larger one.

    Reply
  12. Tom Brown - March 9, 2008 at 7:07 am

    I have a 15″ hanging basket and would like to plant Impatiens Summer Waterfall how many plants should I plant in it to create a full show?

    I would plant 8-10 plants depending on how large your plants are. If you are using 4.5″ pot plants then half the amount would suffice.

    Reply
  13. Kerry G - April 29, 2008 at 5:18 am

    Help. I live in Michigan and have an area for hanging baskets on the north side of my home. It is windy and does not get a lot of sun. I would like a lot of color. Any suggestions?

    The north exposure will require plants that tolerate part shade to shade. There are more colorful sun loving plants but here are a few suggestions for shade color to try: Impatients, Fuchsia, New Guinea impatients (PS) Torenia, tuberous begonia(my fav), wax begonia and coleus. Your garden centers will usually indicate which plants or combination of plants are a good choice for the shade.

    Reply
  14. Linda - June 8, 2008 at 8:55 am

    Hanging Basket care
    I need to know how to get my sweet williams to bloom all summer. If I cut of the previous bloom like pods will it bloom again each time?

    Yes, you should deadhead the flowers to keep it blooming . When blooming stops in midsummer, cut the plant back up to 1/2 to get a new flush of growth and bloom.

    Reply
  15. Valerie - July 23, 2008 at 11:13 am

    I live in the Chicago area, and right about this time (mid-July), my hanging baskets of petunias and verbena tend to get thin on top and too long over the sides. Should I be regularly cutting them back to keep the shape full? Do you have any hints for the best way to maintain hanging plants, other than fertilizing/watering/deadheading, to help with this problem of simply overgrowing? Thank you very much!

    Hi Valerie
    Deadheading and trimming will help to keep the plant in better shape. What happens to many annual baskets is that they are fed heavy doses of fertilizer to force the plant to bloom prolifically and after a few months they “burn out” and quit blooming to rest. Once they do that, cut the leggy growth back to encourage a flush of new growth.

    Reply
  17. Robyn - November 13, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    i have a hanging basket of impatiens x hybrida. Its snowing here now and I’ve turned the basket into a house plant for the winter. We live at 5000′ and endure a 7 month winter. How can I keep it alive and well? Cut it back? I continue to water in several times a week. Our house is heated with wood and varies from 50-80s. Help.

    HI Robyn
    It might be a challenge to keep your Impatiensbasket growing thru winter. One way is to cut the plant down to 4-6 inches and keep it on the dry side letting it go “dormant” for the winter. In late winter /early spring put it back in sunlight and resume watering. Root the cuttings and make new plants. Another option is to keep it growing in the sunniest part of the house . The growth will be spindly and weak and should be cut back in the spring for new healthier growth. The whole idea is to keep the plant and roots alive thru the winter.

    Reply
  18. Linda - November 15, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    I need winter care for six hanging baskets of prolific geraniums. They were huge, with abundant blossoms all season and $25 each, so I’d love to save and renew their magnificence in spring. Thanks for your help.

    Hi Linda
    Mine is still blooming so I keep it in a bright window. There are several ways to winterover geraniums to you can try.

    Reply
  19. Mary Carol Blauser - December 8, 2008 at 6:36 am

    Bud drop

    Each year when my Christmas Cactus enters the blossom phase, I lose over one half the unopened blossoms. They just drop. How can I prevent this?

    Hi Mary
    Don’t expose your Christmas cactus to direct heat, cold drafts, sudden changes in temperatures or move the plant around as that can cause the flower buds to drop. They will also drop bud if f they produce too many. In additon, keeping the plant in warm temperatures (above 90″F) will cause bud drop. Provide added humidity and keep the soil evenly moist (not wet) during bloom.

    Reply
  20. admin - February 9, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    Should I add iron sulphate to my hanging wave petunia. New leaves are small and very pale green.

    It’s best to feed your petunia with a well-balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) or slow release fertilizer. Chances are that a lot of nutrients have been depleted during the watering process and they can use additional nutrients besides iron sulphate. Plants growing in bright light need a constant supply of nutrients to keep blooming. If your plants are getting too long and leggy, late June and July is the time to pinch back unattractive growth by 1/2-1 inch or even up to 1/2 of the stem length up to a good set of leaves.. It will delay blooming for a few weeks but you will get a fuller burst of color later in the season.

    Reply
  21. Valerie - April 30, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Re-using old potting soil
    Hello, me again!
    I’m getting ready to make this year’s hanging baskets. I kept last year’s through the winter (after cutting off the vegetation above the soil). Can I dump out the soil, remove the roots, and re-use the soil for this year, or would that possibly result in diseases or other problems? If I do need to use new soil, do I also need to wash the plastic baskets before re-using them? I do wish to at least re-use the baskets, since they are the Gardener’s Supply baskets that require less frequent watering due to a water reservoir and wicking system inside the plastic basket.
    Thank you.

    Hi Valerie
    It’s a debate on re using potting soil. Most sources say: Potting soil is good for 1 year at best 2 and then it should not be re-used in containers. Soil is not just to hold up plants but also to feed them. When plants are grown in containers much of the nutrients are washed out from watering, so obviously old soil will provide less nutrition to the plant. It also depends on what kind of soil you used. Some of the soilless mixes have little nutritional value other than the fertilizer added. What I do is mix some of the old soil with new soil about 1/2 to 1/2 or 1/3 to 2/3, you can also add some compost to your mix to enrich the soil and a time release fertilizer. I do this for large containers, for smaller pots, I start with mostly fresh soil. You want the soil to be fluffy and loose for good drainage and root growth. If you don’t want to mess around, dump the old soil into your garden or flower bed and start with fresh soil. By the end of a growing season a hanging basket can be full of roots and little soil left to re-use.
    The old soil can retain some of the diseases & pests from last year but there’s no telling if yours has. Some people will try to sterilize(by heat) the soil to get rid of the pathogens.
    I wash the baskets with soapy water and re-use them. We’re all about recycling.
    I think we should make this a post(article) and see what other people are doing with their old soil.

    Reply
  22. Lisa Lee - May 21, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    I would love to put a hanging basket at the foot of my husbands grave. I have one of those iron stands with a round basket now with artifical flowers in it. I would love to put a live plant in the basket. The grave is in partial sun ( mainly morning and evening )but mostly lies shaded beneath a huge oak tree. What would be the best kind of plant to use. I would really like to find something blue to match the silk ones on his headstone. Thanks for your help.

    Try a lobelia basket or Torenia, they tolerate shaded conditions.

    Reply
  23. Jennifer - June 17, 2009 at 10:09 am

    When is the best time dead head a petunia? When the flower is wilted or when it turns brown? or does it matter? Thank you

    Hi Jennifer
    Doesn’t matter-when the flower is wilted will keep you ahead of the game. Some petunias(wave) don’t need to be deadheaded. The flowers just fall of by themselves. Best not to deadhead when the plant is wet as that can spread disease.

    Reply
  24. J.Roberg - June 21, 2009 at 6:44 pm

    Can i transplant my tired (already) hanging baskets to improve them

    What kind of a basket do you have? Do you fertilize? Sometimes trimming them back will also give them a new lease on life.

    Reply
  25. Candice Ford - June 22, 2009 at 9:19 am

    Can you recommend a name brand of fertilizer to use for petunia hanging baskets? is just regular old miracle grow okay? I need to know exactly what kind to buy. I see other people have hanging baskets of petunias that are so full and perfectly rounded! i want that! thank you.

    Hi Candice
    A well balanced 10-10-10 should work. For continued bloom try a bloom boost fertilizer (one with a higher middle #).

    Reply
  26. admin - July 22, 2009 at 6:32 am

    Hi, I bought 12 hanging baskets with geraniums, blue moon, and verbena. They were brought up to my sons future wife’s grandmothers house in West Virginia to take care of them until July 25th the day of the wedding. There are flying bugs all over them, what can I tell her to do? I am in a panic.

    HI Bill
    Are the flying buds white? Do they “swarm” when disturbed? If so, you could have white fly on your plants. Click here for white fly info. If the small flies are grayish, then you may have fungus gnats .

    Reply
  27. Robin - July 26, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    Refurbish petunia baskets
    HI,
    I have some hanging baskets, petunias and milion bells,that as you said look great when I bought them. Now they are sparse, and the leaves under side seem to turn brown and dry up. I water every morning and only a little at night if needed. They are in direct sunlight almost all day. I am in Zone 5, Northern In. I admit I have only been feeding them every few weeks. Would it be better to feed more often And if I cut them back will they regrow, with so much dead stems underneath?

    Hi Robin
    Petunias seem to look pretty sad this time in the season. They are such vigorous growers and can fill up a container full of roots in no time which will require them to be watered more often. They are also heavy feeders and need to be fed more often when vigorously growing. My local nursery feeds them 2-3 times a week with an all purpose fertilizer (10-10-10 or 20-20-20) or every other day. You can also trim back the plant to a node. It should respond with new growth within a week.

    Reply
  28. Sharon - December 4, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    Hi There!
    I just acquired Huge hanging baskets from work, each basket contains Fuchsia “Dark Eyes”, Abunda Giant White Bacopa, Variegata, and Summer Wave. It is getting cold outside, (frosting) and I have them stored in my garage…will that be ‘warm enough’ for them? (Garage is unheated). I don’t really have any place I can store them inside the house, the baskets weight at least 50 lbs. each.

    Any information you can possibly give me would be greatly appreciated, on keeping them alive through the Winter and the Spring, do I need to fertilize, shall I cut them back, if so how far?
    Please help me save these guys, they were SO beautiful over the summer.
    Thank You SO Much!
    Sharon

    Reply
  29. Chris and his Petunias - March 10, 2010 at 4:58 am

    Soil for hanging basket
    If I want to grow my Petunia as a hanging basket plant, should I use ordinary garden soil or the stuff that looks like hay?

    Hi Chris
    I think you are referring to a coco mat basket as the stuff that looks like hay? It’s best to plant petunia in good well-drained potting soil mix for container plants. Do not use garden soil, it will compact during the growing season and your petunia will not grow well. I find that the coco baskets dry out faster and require watering more often, that’s why I would prefer to use a plastic basket.

    Reply
  30. noel - April 7, 2010 at 7:28 am

    Photoperiodic response
    Can photoperiodism be performed on longday plants like petunias to keep them blooming inside during the winter months? I have kids at school and they love planting.

    Hi Noel
    It’s possible to maintain bloom, if the amount of light provided is strong enough indoors during the winter. Flowering will be less than during the summer.
    For a photoperiodic response try getting a poinsettia or Christmas cactus to bloom-both need long nights and short days to bloom.

    Reply
  31. MaryD - May 27, 2010 at 5:16 am

    Last night we had heavy rain that soaked my white Superbells,(Calibrochoa Hydrid).
    Is there anything I can do to save this beautiful hanging plant?
    Thank You
    Hugs
    MaryD

    Hi Mary
    It should recover. They are pretty tough plants. Just keep it out of the rain and let it dry out for a few days.

    Reply
  32. linda - May 27, 2010 at 10:00 am

    Winterover fuchsia
    ok i have a question i just started a fuchsia plant from a cutting yesterday. if the cutting roots should i water the plant thought the winter? i plan to keep it in the house hanging in the window.

    Hi Linda
    You can winterover your fuchsia plant indoors in a sunny window. Because of lower light and cooler temperatures, you would water it less during the winter.For more fuchsia info see http://hortchat.com/info/fuchsia-care#comments

    Reply
  33. Angela Willis - June 6, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    My hanging basket of petunias is gorgeous and is blooming profusely, except one or two stems. The stems and leaves are droopy and I am not sure why. It has been raining a lot here, and the soil has kept moist, so no issues of drying out (although I do make sure that it doesn’t get too moist). Its in a natural container….Drainage issues, perhaps? If so, then why just two stems and not the whole plant? Insects…root problems?
    Thanks for you help.
    Angela

    Hi Angela
    It may be a drainage issue that can lead to root problems and have not affected the entire plant yet. The other possibility is the the two stems where injured or broken and are dying.

    Reply
  34. Julie - July 16, 2010 at 8:12 am

    I have what I think is a “spreading” petunia (smaller flower head than wave petunia). It is in a hanging basket and was full of flowers. Now the flowers are pretty good yet, but some leaves are spotted with yellow and parts of the plant have curled green leaves that look like they are dying. I have watered and fertilized it. What is wrong? Please help.
    Thank you,
    Julie

    Hi Julie
    Its hard to say what’s going on with your hanging basket. As the season progresses, the roots get potbound, the plant tends to dry out faster and die back from either overwatering or underwatering (yoyo watering).
    Spotted yellow leaves can be caused by a leaf spot disease. Also check the plant for insects.

    Reply
  35. Idy - October 9, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    I bought a hanging basket with Lantana, Superbena Dark Blue (Verbena Hybrid), Summer Wave Amethyst (Torenia hybrid).
    I noticed that some are for full sun and others for shade. Where do I hang this basket to keep all the flowers happy? Also, we had a huge thunder storm with strong rain and the top was smooshed down. How can I get it to get bushing on the top again?

    Hi Idy
    Most of the plants tolerate full sun, except for the Torenia which can stand 4-6 hours of sun. I would hang the basket in full sun to partial sun. It should make all the flowers happy. If the basket dries out and wilts too fast, then move it to more shade.

    Reply
  36. sandy - May 15, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    Hi, I had just purchased a couple of bleeding heart hanging baskets and they are huge! I was wondering if I can separate them into other baskets? I called around to try and get answers and i’ve heard a few different ones. One was I can’t because the roots are to sensitive and another was yes I can but I have to be gentle. So now im not sure if I can or not! So my question is can I separate them without killing them???
    thank you!!!!
    Sandy

    Hi Sandy
    Are you sure they are bleeding heart (dicentra sp.) or a bleeding heart vine? Look at the picture in the above article. Is it the same plant? You may be referring to a Clerodendrum thompsoniae commonly referred to as Glory Bower or Bleeding Hearts vine. This twining evergreen vine blooms in spring-summer and not the perennial plant.

    Reply
  38. Sharon Bull - June 16, 2014 at 11:47 am

    I bought 3 beautiful hanging basket to hang in front of my house in central Illinois. They are called double delight. They have Verbena, Lobelia and Calibrachoa in them. The part that had grown down looks terrible. A lot of dead. The nursery I bought them at told me to trim them back. Does that mean cut all the flowers that are hanging down?

    Hi Sharon
    Unfortunately, the dead stuff is mixed in with some blooming flowers. Bite the bullet and trim it so that you get some new leaf growth which will produce more flowers. After you cut be the plant give it a dose of fertilizer or add time release plant food (Osmocote) to stimulate new growth.

    Reply
  39. Anupam - November 28, 2014 at 7:36 am

    It will be very helpful if anyone can tell me..i have pinch off the petunia plant it is 1inch long..will there be any problem for the plant.

    HI
    No pinching is not a problem. In fact, it will encourage new growth and flowers.

    Reply
  40. jill klinger - May 14, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    my daughter watered my hanging baskets filled with petunias shortly after they looked all wilted and then I discovered she had used water from the line that is supplied from the water softener is there anything I can do to counter act the effects of the salt

    Hi Jill
    If it was a one time occurrence you probably won’t have to worry. It’s the accumulation of salts that will harm your plants. You can flush out the salts by pouring water into the soil until it drains out and then repeat the process once more.

    Reply
  41. stephanie - May 18, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    Hi, I recently bought a hanging begonia plant. One side is more full and heavy so it tilts when hanging. I was wondering if I could separate them into another pot and have more than one hanging basket?

    Reply

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