Flower Pouches?

Hi Kell. Believe it or not, there is a very large nail in the concrete. I know, my DH didn't want it either, but I said the bags were going there regardless of what he said, so he put the nails in. If you decide you don't want them later I imagine you could just patch the little hole. I like something beside the door in the summer. If you find another way of doing it, let me know.

broots,thank you so much for the pictures.
I like these-they look longer than the green ones I have.

I really enjoyed this thread about the bags. I have been reluctant to try them. It is so dry and windy here I am afraid even with the water crystal I couldn't keep them moist enough. I really don't have water near my fence where they would look the best. i have a hard enough time trying to keep my large pots on the deck wet enough. Donna

I have used these bags for the last three yrs. I got mine from Walmart, do not remember the price, I'm thinking $2 a bag. Mine has the green plastic handle. I have not had one to break yet. Some of my bags are three yrs old, some newer.
The only problem I have had is trying to maintain moisture level. Some one gave me an idea that I'm using this yr. With a 10 hole bag, all of mine are, I cut open and stuck max. feminine sanitary pads(4 fit perfectly) to the inside back of the bags. The pads contain water retention crystals.
Mine have been planted for almost a month now and have never looked better. I also insert my plants from the inside
as stated in a post above, try to get as small a starter plant as I can. The only thing that can destroy plastic is
sunlight. Mine are keep shaded for the most part. Hope this helps.

Larry

I'll be interested to hear how well the pads do for keeping the moisture to the plants. I had heard this tip before but was afraid it might act as a wick and pull moisture from the plants instead of to them.

Zany, will let you know. I use a good quality potting mix with osmocote added. When I water, I usually tilt the bag at an angle to make sure it get watered top to bottom. Everyone who sees them has wanted to know where I got them.

I had a few of the green ones a few years ago, and they wworked okay, but I did have trouble keeping the bottom half watered, but I didn't know to lay them flat for a month, maybe that helps disperse the roots more evenly throughout the bag....I'm going to try again using some of your ideas, they are really pretty when they are all filled out. I think I'll try some peas in them too!

Thanks Broots, I can't wait until they actually get peas on them :o)

I got those bags a Meijer for $1.25, sometimes they have a sale and then they're only .64 cents or something like that. I told my mom I would get her a bunch, she really liked the idea of those :o)

I was just thinking that my problem with the handles breaking on the green bags was probably because I used 20 plants instead of the 10 that they tell you to plant, which would make the bags so much heavier come mid summer.

LOL

Hi All, I have been following this for a bit and just ordered some Black Tie Blooming Bags from a company here in Maine not to far from me called Pine Tree Garden Seeds P.O.Box 300 New Gloucester,ME. 04260 for 2 bags with 2 brass hooks to hang them with they cost $5.98.I did not think that was to bad a price? Everyone has done such a great job with them, thanks to you all for the great tips, I hope that I will be able to get some results close to yours. I am hoping to put them on either side of my door as you did Broot's,Great job.

Thanks littlehawk. I know you will love them & they sure brighten up your entrance.

Last year I saw a website (or a TV show?) that showed how to make them for super cheap, I remember it was really simple to do, but now I can't remember what they were using for the bags, anyone have ideas?

I remember seeing an old innertube used for making one and thought it was pretty clever but so many tires are tubeless now I don't know where I would find an innertube to try it with. But if I ever find one I bet it would last for almost forever!

I wonder if a bag made out of burlap would work.......hmmmm

I've got my thinking cap on, probably anything waterproof and sturdy enough could be sewn into one, hmmmmmmmmm I might go buy a vinyl tablecloth from the dollar store and sew a couple up!

I'll have to try that one out too :o)

Why does it have to be waterproof?I'm thinking surplus tent canvas.

I really didn't think it would necessarily have to be waterproof either but what do I know........LOL

I was thinking waterproof only because they tend to dry out quickly, especially on hot days

yeah, guess I can see your point there :o)

if you know anyone that has put in a pond liner the part they trimmed off could be seamed up to make good sturdy bags..or an old waterbed mattress...or leaky air mattress...although the flannel backed tablecloths might makr pretty ones that look better while you are waiting for the plants to fill in.

This message was edited Friday, Apr 18th 2:19 AM

For that matter ,why not take a bale of potting soil and put slits in and plant them right in there?
It will look like a big rectagular flowering rock....LOL

My Black Tie Blooming Bags arrived yesterday, and they look to be more substantial than the green bags. I also like the fact that the slits are not precut, so that you can cut the number that you want, more evenly spaced. I bought two 6 packs of impatiens, so I'll cut 12 slits and not have extra plants left over.

The bags that I started with petunias look great and I'll move them outside this weedend.

I have enjoyed all the discussion about homemade bags. I started eyeing an old shower curtain - - but quickly came to my senses, as I have enough bags to last me for a couple of years.

This message was edited Wednesday, Apr 23rd 12:57 PM

I was at the local dollar store the other day, and spotted one of those hanging shoe holders, it has about a dozen pockets, so I bought it, I figured what the heck, it's only a dollar! I took it home and filled all the pockets with soil, I think it might work! I'll post a picture when I get some plants into it.

LOL, now I think I better check our dollar store and see if they have those shoe bags! What a neat idea!

hey, I have to get me a shoe bag too :o)

I think it will look neat! the one I got is only about 2 feet wide by 3 feet high, it is red gingham, so I thought I'd plant red & white somethings??? in it, maybe white bacopa and red verbena

Carena, That sounds really cute. All of you (or yo'all as we say in the south) are so clever with your ideas!

Carena that's so ingenious- how clever you are.

What is the quote? Poverty is the mother of invention..something like that? LOL I'm hoping it will work, with the added weight of the plants it might need a little more support, but I think it will be so cute!

I bought one today and I'm thrilled. It was only $9. and filled with streptocarpella, that's it, just streptocarpella. I love that plant. I guess I just never have found one filled plants that moved me before. So I can re-use the pouch next year? Hope, hope??

Liz,would love to see a picture.

Liz that's going to be beautiful!

LOL, right now it's still lying in the trunk of my car in the garage hiding from my dh. I'll post a picture when and if it can come close to looking as spectacular as Broots pictures. Those pics are outstanding. OK, I looked at her pics again, I can't beat that.

Liz, I'm sure yours will look great. Just give it time & LOTS of fertilizer. Yes you can re-use the bags. I never bothered, just started fresh the following year(probably all the tape had something to do with that). I would just cut the flowers off at the end of the season & pull the roots out from the inside. I know I tried different plants til I found what I liked. Tried nemesia one year & wasn't crazy about it. But it's fun trying. Good luck & with your gorgeous weather there shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks Broots, I'll try. LOL, you obviously haven't been watching westcoast weather. We've had rain for the last 32 of 38 days. We're starting to mould between the fingers.

I just developed a roll of pics and look what was on it! The before pic. way before..I hadn't even planted anything in it yet, LOL! I'll have to take another one in a month or so, this is my $1 shoe bag before I planted it.

Carena, I can't wait to see your flowers!

Thanks to broots for providing the link to get me here. You've given me some great ideas. I'm wondering if anyone is still using your growin bags & what your thoughts are about them?