The appeal of hanging baskets lies in their ability to maximize vertical space. These suspended planters are a powerful way to add concentrated bursts of color and texture to areas where traditional gardening is not possible. Achieving a season-long, flourishing basket depends entirely on making informed choices about the container, the plants, and the maintenance routine. Finding the “best” hanging basket is less about a single product and more about aligning these three components for a successful growing environment.
Container Types and Material Differences
The material of a hanging basket significantly affects how quickly the soil dries out, which directly impacts the required watering frequency. Wire baskets, often lined with coconut coir or sphagnum moss, offer a rustic aesthetic and exceptional aeration for plant roots. However, this high level of airflow and porous material means water evaporates rapidly from the sides, requiring daily or even twice-daily watering in hot weather to prevent wilting.
Plastic baskets are the most common and practical choice for moisture retention, as their solid walls prevent water from evaporating through the sides. These containers reduce the need for frequent watering, making them a better option for gardeners who cannot water every day. Plastic is also lighter weight than ceramic, but it can deteriorate over time when exposed to constant sunlight and heat. Choosing a larger basket, regardless of material, helps to buffer against rapid drying because a greater volume of soil retains moisture longer.
Natural liners, such as coir or moss, provide excellent drainage and a desirable look, but they are notorious for drying out quickly, especially when exposed to wind. Some gardeners mitigate this issue by discreetly lining the inside of the natural material with a piece of plastic sheeting, puncturing a few holes for drainage. This technique combines the aesthetic appeal of a wire basket with the moisture-retaining benefits of a plastic container.
Matching Plant Combinations to Light Conditions
The most successful hanging baskets are those whose plant selections are perfectly matched to the available light. A common design approach is the “thriller, filler, spiller” method, using one upright plant for height, mounding plants to fill the middle, and trailing plants to cascade over the sides.
Full Sun Recommendations
Areas receiving six or more hours of direct sunlight require heat-tolerant, heavy bloomers that can withstand intense, drying conditions. Petunias, particularly the vigorous, self-cleaning trailing varieties like Supertunia, are a classic choice, producing waves of color without needing deadheading. Calibrachoa, often called Million Bells, provides a similar, miniature petunia-like flower and thrives in full sun with constant blooming.
Other sun-loving options include trailing verbena, which produces clusters of flowers and tolerates hot, dry conditions well. Geraniums, or pelargoniums, offer a mounding, sturdy presence as a “thriller” or “filler,” providing vibrant color and structural foliage. For a unique trailing element, the silvery foliage of Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ offers a striking contrast to bright flowers and handles the heat.
Partial/Full Shade Recommendations
For locations receiving only morning sun or filtered light, plants that prefer cooler temperatures and consistently moist soil are necessary. Fuchsias are perhaps the quintessential shade-loving basket plant, known for their elaborate, pendulous, lantern-like flowers that thrive in filtered light. Begonias, especially the Dragon Wing and tuberous varieties, are excellent shade performers that offer continuous color and lush foliage.
Impatiens and their New Guinea cousins provide brilliant bursts of color in full shade, creating a dense, rounded mound of blooms. For a trailing element in the shade, lobelia offers a delicate cascade of tiny blue, purple, or white flowers. When planting, a high-quality, moisture-retentive potting mix is necessary, as garden soil is too dense and does not drain well enough for containers.
Watering and Feeding for Season-Long Blooms
Hanging baskets require significantly more attention than garden beds because their root systems are confined to a small volume of soil that is constantly exposed to air and wind. The single best way to check if a basket needs water is to lift it; a light basket indicates dry soil, while a heavy one suggests adequate moisture. During hot summer periods, this may mean watering once or even twice a day, preferably in the morning to prepare the plants for the heat.
When watering, saturate the root ball until water drains from the bottom of the container. If the soil is severely dried out, water may run down the sides and bypass the roots; in this case, soaking the entire basket in a tub of water for 20 minutes is the best way to rehydrate the soil. Rain alone is rarely sufficient to penetrate the dense foliage and reach the roots of a well-developed hanging basket.
Because frequent watering flushes nutrients out of the limited soil volume, a dual-action feeding strategy is required to sustain continuous flowering. Incorporating a slow-release granular fertilizer into the potting mix at planting provides a steady baseline of nutrients for several weeks. This must be supplemented with a water-soluble liquid fertilizer, typically applied once a week or every two weeks, to support the high energy demands of prolific blooming. The liquid feed should be formulated for flowering plants.