Create Your Own Hanging Planter
Would you like to add a few hanging pots to your home but their beauty and the cost of what you see in garden centers, home improvement stores, and supermarkets intimidates you? Then Why Not Make Your Won Hanging Container! Making your own container can be fun and the greatest part is you can put the plants you want in the container!
Step one is to pick a container to work with. A wide variety of containers are available, including pots with their own built-in hangers or even self-watering containers. If you want to really get creative try recycling something like the dish from a flower arrangement or the metal container from an Edible Arrangements gift. Once you select your container the next step is to fill it with a soil mix made for indoor plants. Now you’re ready for planting!
You can plant the container with any plants that you like and there are a lot of plants to choose from. Commonly, plants for hanging containers have a habit of trailing and spilling over the sides of the pot. Traditional candidates include Philodendron, Ivy or Spider plants whose “offspring” seem to be suspended in mid-air. These plants are reliable and easy to work with but would you like to try something a little more daring? Try Burro’s Tail or other Succulents such as Sedum and even herbs like oregano and thyme look great in a hanging container.
The key to successfully growing indoor hanging containers is to make sure the plants are suitable for the location where the container will be hanging. For example, if your hanging location doesn’t receive a lot of light during the day you would want to go with plants that work best in the shade. Once you’ve finished planting the container just water the plants, hang the basket from a secure hook, and you are done! Well…not quite yet!
Planting the container is just the beginning. What you do moving forward is what will make your container the envy of your friends and neighbors. Indoor air conditions are normally very dry so your plants can dry out quickly. It is important to check them regularly to see if water is needed and they will probably appreciate a good misting from a spray bottle every few days. Additionally, a fertilizing schedule is needed to keep your plants thriving throughout the season. I usually feed my indoor plants monthly but will stop during the winter when growth slows or stops altogether. Finally, to keep your containers looking their best regular trimming is important. This means removing dead or yellowing leaves and maintaining a uniform appearance. This keeps the container looking their best and helps prevent diseases and deter insect infestations.
Don’t be shy! If you have indoor hanging containers that you’ve created show them off to us on our Facebook page!
