How to Make a Beautiful Hanging Basket at Home
Beautiful Homemade Hanging Flowers
Every year it felt like I would buy a hanging flower basket, enjoy it for a short time, and end up with a pile of empty pots. Once I finally invested in a quality hanging basket, everything changed. Now I simply refill it each year, save money, and get a fuller, healthier basket. It is easy, budget friendly, and a great way to recycle your old hanging pot.
We used a 15 inch hanging pot for this project. You can adjust the number of plants and amount of soil based on the size of your pot. We chose two of each flower variety, but you do not have to. Just make sure you pick flowers that naturally trail and spill over the edges.
Look for plants that have not fully bloomed yet or have plenty of buds. This helps you enjoy your basket longer.
Similar to companion gardening, you are pairing flowers that grow well together and fill out beautifully.
What You Need
- Watering can
- 15 inch hanging pot
- Potting soil
- Six trailing flower plants We used SuperBelle HoneyBerry, Lemon Slice, and Morning Star
How to Build Your Hanging Flower Basket
1. Add Soil to the Pot: Start by adding a few inches of potting soil to the bottom of your hanging pot. This gives your plants room to root and helps with drainage.
2. Place Matching Flowers Opposite Each Other: Add two of the same flower on opposite sides of the pot. This gives your basket balanced color and fullness as the plants grow and trail.
Repeat this pattern with your remaining flowers. If you bought all different varieties, simply space them evenly around the pot.
3. Skip the Center Plant: We did not place a flower in the middle. Trailing flowers will fill the center naturally as they grow. Our 15 inch pot holds six flowers comfortably.
Fill in any gaps with additional soil.
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4. Hang Your Basket in the Right Location: Hang your basket where it receives partial shade or whatever lighting your specific flowers recommend. Proper light keeps your blooms healthy and vibrant.
5. Water After Hanging: Water the basket once it is hung. This keeps you from lifting and hanging a heavy, water-filled pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many plants should I put in a hanging basket?
A 15 inch pot typically holds six trailing plants. Smaller pots may only need three or four.
What flowers work best in hanging baskets?
Look for trailing varieties like calibrachoa, petunias, lobelia, ivy geraniums, or sweet potato vine.
Do I need special soil for hanging baskets?
Use a lightweight potting mix. Garden soil is too heavy and can compact in a hanging pot.
How often should I water a hanging basket?
Most baskets need daily watering in warm weather. Check soil moisture regularly.
Should I fertilize my hanging basket?
Yes. A weekly liquid fertilizer keeps blooms strong and encourages trailing growth.
