Your favorite plants/combinations for hanging baskets???

Hi all

I usually hang 4 14" coir-lined baskets around my porch every spring and summer, and I'm feeling sort of uninspired this year. What are your favorite plants (single or combination) that you like to display in your hanging baskets?

Thanks for letting me shamelessly co-opt your ideas. :)

pam

I've been watching for replies as I am looking to go for a totally different look in some of my baskets this year. But this is one I was pleased with so I'll post to get the ball rolling...This is not the best pic of it as it was taken in mid-July and I cut the top of the begonia off in the pic...LOL. It was better balanced in August when I trimmed the bacopa back and the begonia filled in, but can't find that pic right now...It was hung outdoors May 23.

Yellow begonia, coral calibrachoa, orange calibrachoa, midnight blue lobelia, white browallia and white snowstorm bacopa in a 16"basket.

The basket on the far right was it's infancy the day it was hung on our storage shed.

Chocolatemoose...Your combo of Calibrachoa, bacopa. begona and lobelia is gorgeous! Funny thing is, I'm at the most southern point from you and if you don't mind, I'm going to try to duplicate it!

In agreement with KatG, your basket is beautiful. I love the lobelia but it always seems to wither away in our Georgia heat.

Beautiful basket. When I worked in the greenhouse that was my job to do combination baskets. For Sun and Shade. Loved them all However, would say my favs are Fushia and Million Bells for my hummingbirds.
Amy

Thanks for the compliments!

KatG...I looked it up, we're about 4800 miles driving distance apart...feel free to copy...no one will know...LOL. I'm glad you'd like to!

Chocolatemoose...That's hysterical!

Funny thing is that I've fallen in love with Bacopa and they're finally selling it down here! It's my new favorite plant! My "Million Bells" (calibrachoa) is like Zero bells! Great foliage...but no blooms! I don't get it?

Here's what I panted today...got quite a workout with these two!

PS: I'm coming to Alaska on a cruise in late August - can't wait!

This message was edited Mar 24, 2008 2:32 AM

Chocolate - loved the container, it is beautiful. Proven Winners web site has tons of container designs either to be copied or as a launching pad for creativity. KatG - Million Bells need full sun to bloom so if they are in a shaded area they may not bloom. I can't think of anything else right now that might affect the blooming of the plant. Eleanor

Kat, Is that your house? Holy Cow! It looks like you pirated a magazine pic!

How about a close up of the mixed container by the closed door on the very right of the photo? It looks like my cuppa tea EXACTLY!

Eleanor...I think you're absolutely right! Looking at my plants I just might have 17 bells next week! hehe. I was so close to pulling them or just pruning them back and noticed some buds! I think there's hope! It's just weird though. They're a funny plant and I haven't had much luck with them, but keep on trying because I think they're beautiful! Bought some tangerine colored ones tonight from Target!

IIIoquin...Yeah, that's my house and would you believe, I've moved those pots already!!! I liked them, but they just weren't doing it for me!

That planter, is one of the coolest things. It's a stackable planter and basically you can't overwater as it's outfitted with reservoirs.They say it's self-watering, but I'm not so sure about that as I've constantly got the hose out! I started out with a lot of herbs and mixed a few flowers in and It's out of control right now and needs some TLC. However, I've got loads of Parsley, Lemon Balm, Oregano, Rosemary and Basil. I cook a lot and just walk out there and grab a handfulll of what I need. That's probably why it does so well as I'm constantly unintentionally pruning it. It really would be gorgeous with a total mixture of flowers...

The place I bought it from has a website that has been under construction for the last 5 months, but I also found it on Ebay and looks to be a better price...I really do highly recommend this planter. It's really good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hydroponic-Organic-Growing-Self-Watering-Stacking-Pots_W0QQitemZ250172903837QQihZ015QQcategoryZ43555QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Here's when I first planted it...

Here's what it looks like today! It's crazy...but I like it!

Moved my new pots into the "Lizard lounge! haha. They're a little heavy. My Dear Man just shakes his head!

Florida! LOL! I thought those pics were from last year. :)) The planter is way cool...but I gotta tell you that yours is better looking than anything they show....maybe you can get a commission if you send them your photo.

I just got back from Melbourne where I took advantage of their best local nursery and brought a bunch of stuff home to take cuttings from. Unfortunately, I also bought a mystery plant (shrub). They called it Cape Fuchsia, and it vaguely looks like a Phygelius, but it isn't. I really wanted Phygelius but maybe I'll like this thing, too. (Probably spelling it wrong)


Would anybody be interested in a group or coop buy of these?

Suzy

Love that container KatG! Eleanor

Hi phuggins,

My first hanging baskets of spring are these.
One is that of Vilola,Senecio and sweet alyssum.
The other consists of two colors of Primula .
They are displayed like these.

Tomtom

Too beautiful for words! You do such great work, Tomtom!

KatG, Will you adopt me? I love your house!

jlp222...Let's just sneak into Kat's Lizard Lounge, hide behind one of the plants and we can hang out happily there because she'll never see us with all the gorgeoso-ness...But FIRST...

We gotta sneak into Tomtoms to learn how he creates his magic...Hmmm, it's going to be a bit of travel, Kat's in FL and Tomtom's in Japan, but THEN...

When Kat finally kicks us out, we'll know all we need to know when we get back home....Sound like a plan?

TomTom, I always love your combinations, your plants, and your planters! You have the eye, and that's for sure!

Do you buy the plants at the garden center?

Suzy

Chocolate, swing by here and pick me up. We'll hit Florida first ; )


I love your name BTW.

jlp222...On my way...and thanks!

I am blushing today...My apology to Tomtom who I have been told is a she, not a he.

Chocolate, will you please tell us how many of each plant you used? I have a friend that "crams" the plants into baskets and they are beautiful. I'm always afraid to overcrowd them. Advice?

JLP and Chocolate...You need to come on down! There's lots of room here, but if you're thinking about hanging out in the Lizard Lounge...you really have to like lizards! Check out Rastifarian guy with the lizard on his shoulder!!!

I think I have to rename rastifarian guy - "King of the Lizard Lounge"

ooooops...wrong photo..

Tomtom, you have the most amazing and beautifully planted containers I've ever seen in my life. I know that you put your heart and soul into them, but yet give them such a delicate, yet elegant look. I've seen them on your other thread, they're "breathtaking". Please post more. You're such an inspiration and I Thank-you.

Kat

Bugme...I made three in different color combinations for a semi-shade spot. They were:

(1) 6" pot begonia
(3) of one color calibrachoa
(2) of a second color calibrachoa
(3-4) small plugs of lobelia
(3-4) small plugs of bacopa
(3-4) 6-pack cells of browallia

The begonia I purchased at about 6" high. The calibrachoas, bacopa and lobelia I buy as 4" pots early in the season, then I root cuttings since they are very expensive up here. The browallia I start from seed.

This way, I can put a stuff a basket for a lot less $$$.

Hey Gals...this is what I replaced the big black pots with last weekend! OMG! I like them though and if I don't, I'm up ____ creek without a paddle as they probably weigh about 400lbs each! I took my chanches and dragged about 400lbs of soil through my house as it was the shortest route from the front door just hoping a bag didn't break on the way! hehehe. All is well! Just can't get away from the tropical look...but that's okay.

Chocolate...I have this love-hate relationship going on with Calibrachoa! I love it...but sometimes, it just hates me! It's probably one of the most tempermental plants I deal with, but I persist because I think they're beautiful. I planted some in November and I had the most amazing foliage, but no blooms...Planted one full of blooms last Saturday in a container and it's dead???

I had a little talk with the big foliage plants and suddenly they've gone nuts! Obviously Calibrachoa has a season. They need Sun.

Thank you Chocolate

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words. I'm highly flattered.
Most of the plants are grown from seeds by myself.
I use organic fertilizer as the basic fertilizer and chemical one as the additional fertilizer .
The wooden containers are hand-made by my self.
Thank you again.

Tomtom

Tomtom - your containers are beautiful!! KatG - I love those containers! They are awesome!! Eleanor