hanging baskets yellow?

the leaves in my hanging baskets are yellow not dead just turning yellow and the flowers are not blooming as well what can I do?

I'm having the same problem. I read somewhere online that this means they've depleted the nutrients in the basket (because it's such a small space), and that fertilizing can help. I tried feeding mine kelp meal last week but so far no effect.

Hanging baskets that produce huge amounts of blooms need to be fed regularly all season,about every two weeks.Some of them,such as many of the Proven Winners annuals,require a fertilizer higher in nitrogen than other nutrients.You would probably need to use a liquid or fast release type to see quick results.

Lynn

I looked up the analysis of "kelp meal," and the source said .6 - 0- 1.6. That would mean your baskets are getting a very small amt. of nitrogen and no phosphorus. A balanced fertilizer such as 12-12-12 is much more effective with hanging baskets. It can be granular or in powder to be mixed w/water. Peters 20-20-20 is easy to find; just follow instructions to avoid burn.

It could also be a watering problem--too much water and too little water can both cause yellowing leaves. I'd check the watering before you do anything with fertilizer since fertilizing plants that are stressed from something else can make things worse instead of better. Given where you live I suspect underwatering might be more likely, but overwatering is certainly possible as well. I'd check by sticking your finger down a couple inches into the soil and see how it feels.

I'm guessing that your soil is very alkaline. If that's the case, and you fertilize your lawn, I'm assuming you use a nitrogen-only fertilizer on it, since most alkaline soils are rich in both phosphorus and potassium, particularly if a balanced fertilizer has been used on them before. Those elements stay in the soil for ages, while nitrogen is used up quickly.

Hanging baskets are another story, however. They are totally dependent on you for both nutrients and water. So, as ecrane3 suggests, be sure that you are watering them thoroughly, until water runs freely out the drain holes, and then letting them get semi-dry before the next watering. The finger test is the most accurate. If the surface of the soil feels cool, that is another indicator that there is moisture under there. Plant roots need water and air alternately. If they are constantly wet, they can't get air. Back to the fertilizer composition, though- make sure that it contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and that the nitrogen content is either the same as the other two or higher than the other two. Your county extension agent can give you accurate info. on the best fertilizer formulations for your area. Most people need only two formulations- one for turf, and another for everything else. The idea of having rose food, azalea food, tree food, fruiting plant food, hydrangea food, and so on, is good marketing but confusing for the consumer and makes the matter seem more complicated than it actually is.