hay rack planters

someone gave me several coir lined metal planters. I think they are called hayrack planters. Black metal basket-looking things lined with coir. When I look at them, I cannot imagine placing soil in that and something actually growing. Ive not actually tried it. Anyone here tried this in Texas heat? Is there a secret to making it work?

i've used the wire hanging baskets that are lined with coir. And I'm here to tell you, you will not keep the plants hydrated in those hayracks.

I would immerse the whole basket in a tub of water and had to do it all too often. Then I figured out to line the inside of the coir with a plastic bag (like the potting soil bags) and punch drainage holes in the plastic.

I've since quit using them. I put the coir in the compost and now I use the wire grid baskets turned upside down in my gardening beds to protect new seedlings till they get established. I have one wire basket on the pot of catnip otherwise the resident catnip addicts would succeed in killing the catnip.

Those hayracks are pretty but....

Thanks pod, I looked at those things and said, " that will dry out in about 2 hours in summer!" Just wondered how they could possibly work and maybe I was missing something. Thanks for your input.

I've used one for some time, but with hens-and-chicks. I don't have a photo handy, but the "hay racks" work well for a suculent or something that doesn't need so much water. Also, I line the coir with weed block to help keep the soil from bleeding through.

I saw a really cool looking one with paw paw cactus (I think that is what it was called--I've seen it growing wild here) in a magazine. But I wouldn't want that anywhere near my head =)). It was pretty, but that is all I could think of when I saw the photo.

We use them on the deck and have found the only way things don't cook completely is to line the basket with plastic and poke holes as to slow the water down just a bit before it drains. You still have to water almost everynight in our heat.

I wonder if polymer crystals would help retain moisture ?

I use them in my raised beds and they do seem to work well.

I bet they would, we might try them next year.