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Arrange a Succulent Hanging Basket
Ease of care and the use of vertical garden space prompted the creation of this charming succulent hanging basket. However, suspended containers can be more at the mercy of arid summer temperatures and drying winds than their bedded neighbors. Planting the basket with succulents was the inspired solution here.
A thoughtful combination of choice tender and winter-hardy succulents fill this container. Plant material was not only inserted into the top of the moss-lined wire basket but into the sides of the basket as well, filling out the arrangement and giving it cohesive, 360-degree appeal.
Succulent Hanging Basket Planting tips:
- For succulents, I recommend mixing two-thirds commercial potting mix with one-third chicken grit or surface (a baked clay soil conditioner similar to crushed terracotta).
- Before filling the moss baskets with the container mix, line the inside with plastic, landscape fabric, or a double layer of burlap to ensure the potting mix won’t fall out through the moss. The extra lining will also help the soil retain moisture. If you use a plastic liner, slice a few drainage holes into it.
- Although the thick, fleshy foliage of succulents gives them some tolerance to drought, it’s important to regularly monitor the moisture of the medium. I prefer to keep most succulents on the dry side, but when they are watered, they must receive a thorough drink. Let the potting mix dry out between dousings.
- Ensure supports can hold the weight of the planter when it’s moist.
- In the fall, dismantle the basket and plant the hardy succulents into the garden. Tip and leaf cuttings of the echeveria are easily rooted and overwintered indoors.
Succulent Hanging Basket – Clever Container Fixes for Every Problem Area
Type Succulents 1
Condition: Shade/low light
Container solution: Bold and dramatic pots.
Consider the color of the container to also add impact.
Plant solution: Ferns, caladiums,
impatiens, tuberous begonias, browallias, boxwoods, ivies,
deadnettles (Lamium), hostas, shade-tolerant grasses.
Type Succulents 2
Condition: Hot and dry
Container solution: Deep containers with
large soil capacity, made from resin, cast-iron, terracotta,
concrete, or fiberglass
Plant solution: Hardy and tropical succulents, such as
sedums, echeverias, agaves, geraniums (Pelargonium
spp.), cannas, fibrous
begonias, portulacas,
gazanias, selected ornamental grasses, phormiums
Type Succulents 3
Condition: Limited ground space
Container solution: Hanging baskets and window
boxes that can be supported and attached to overhead or vertical
surfaces
Plant solution: Select a mixture of upright and
cascading plant material suitable for light levels.
Type Succulents 4
Condition: Windy exposure
Container solution: Avoid lightweight, porous
containers. Use heavier options, such as cast-iron, terracotta,
concrete, or fiber stone
Plant solution: Ornamental grasses, cabbage
palms, ivies, geraniums, portulacas, fibrous begonias. Avoid plant
material with large, thin foliage
