Hanging baskets full of flowers are just the right thing to add instant color, fun, and personality to your home and garden!
Hanging baskets are one of the fastest and best ways to add color to your porch, patio, or entry, but they’re also one of the easiest to struggle with. If your hanging baskets have ever dried out, stopped blooming, or started looking tired halfway through Summer, you’re not alone. The good news is that by following a few simple steps, you can keep your hanging baskets looking full, vibrant, and healthy for months on end.
Here are our expert care tips for making sure your hanging baskets thrive this season!
1. Choose the right basket for your space!
We offer a gorgeous selection of locally grown hanging baskets for sun, shade, and everything in between!
Hanging Basket Container Selection
- Size matters—the bigger the basket, the easier it is to care for and keep hydrated. Larger baskets (at least 12″) will be more resilient, less prone to drying out quickly, and boast more blooms than smaller options!
- The type of container makes a difference. Plastic pots hold water best, while wire frames with moss or coco liners tend to dry out more quickly.
- Be sure to install strong hooks for heavy hanging baskets!
Hanging Basket Light Requirements
Pay attention to the amount of sun your basket will receive in its designated area, especially for baskets placed under eaves. Shade baskets in full sun will burn and look bleached, and sun baskets in too much shade will look leggy and stop blooming.
- Plant combinations for full sun need at least 6 hours. (Petunias and Geraniums)
- Plant combinations for partial sun require 4–6 hours. (Million Bells)
- Shade combos need less than 4 hours of sun per day (Fuchsias and Begonias)
Some areas in full sun also receive radiant heat from fences, decks, or siding, so pay special attention and increase watering if your basket is in particularly hot-dry conditions.
2. Watering hanging baskets frequently is essential.
A consistent watering schedule is key to healthy hanging baskets. Hanging baskets are thirsty plants, especially once temperatures rise. Because they are fully containerized, suspended plants, they are especially susceptible to the elements, and limited soil volume means there isn’t a lot of water-holding capacity. Water needs will increase as your plants grow and the weather warms up. By mid-Summer, most baskets will require daily watering, if not more. Check the weight of the basket to determine if it needs watering.
How Often to Water Hanging Baskets
In peak Summer, most baskets need water once a day, and during heat waves, sometimes twice daily. Here’s what to look for:
- Light, dry soil = needs water
- Wilting in the morning = already stressed
- Water running straight through = soil has dried out too much
How to Water Hanging Baskets
Water slowly and thoroughly until water drains from the bottom. A quick splash on top isn’t sufficient to water your basket. The goal when watering is to fully saturate the root ball, and using a watering wand extension on your hose will help tremendously!
Our Pro Tip: If your basket feels bone dry and water is running right through, soak it in a bucket or tub for 10–15 minutes to fully rehydrate the soil.
3. Fertilizing hanging baskets is the secret to bigger, fuller blooms.
If you want that lush, overflowing look all season long, feeding your baskets regularly is key. Hanging baskets are essentially “high performance” containers and as such, they burn through nutrients quickly. In fact, lack of fertilizer is the most common reason baskets stop blooming. Look for a fertilizer with a high middle number (Phosphorus on N-P-K label) to encourage and promote flower production!
Fertilizer Product & Application Recommendations
For more consistent blooms, richer color, and fuller, more vigorous growth, we recommend a combination of:
- Liquid fertilizer applied every 1–2 weeks during the growing season. Our favorite products are Alaska Morbloom Organic Fertilizer and Scotts Super Bloom Fertilizer.
- Slow-release bloom-boosting fertilizer for steady feeding applied monthly. Our favorites are E.B. Stone Organics Rose & Flower Food and Osmocote Flower & Vegetable Fertilizer.
If your basket looks healthy but isn’t blooming much, it might be getting too much shade, might need to be deadheaded, or might need a bloom-specific fertilizer.
4. A little hanging basket maintenance goes a long way.
Avoid the “set it and forget it” mindset. Watering and feeding are the foundation, but a little maintenance goes a long way towards keeping hanging baskets blooming all season. Do this regularly for thriving baskets:
- Deadhead spent blooms weekly to encourage new flowers
- Trim back leggy growth if plants start to stretch or thin out
- Rotate baskets occasionally so all sides get even light
Our Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to give your basket a light haircut mid-season. A quick trim followed by a liquid fertilizer feed can reset growth and bring it back fuller than ever in just a couple of weeks!
Pest Control Tips
Pests can become an issue, especially if your hanging basket becomes stressed from heat or lack of watering. Protect hanging baskets against pests like bud worms and caterpillars with Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew. Spray when you see a small white moth or butterfly on or near your flowers. Monitor for other pests like aphids—if present, use insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Going on Vacation?
Hanging baskets don’t love being left alone, but a little planning helps! Here’s what to do with your hanging basket before you leave for a vacation:
- Move baskets to a shadier, more protected area
- Water deeply right before leaving
- Ask a neighbor or friend to check in if possible
Our Pro Tip: Grouping baskets together and placing them on the ground can help create a more humid microclimate and slow drying.
Hanging Basket Success, Simplified
If you remember just a few things, make it these three things below. This is the same approach our team uses to keep baskets looking their best all season!
1. Water consistently (daily in Summer): Use a watering wand for thorough, gentle watering
2. Feed regularly for continuous blooms: Slow-release fertilizer applied monthly; liquid bloom booster applied weekly
3. Don’t be afraid to trim and refresh.
A little attention goes a long way and once you get the rhythm down, hanging baskets become one of the most rewarding and beautiful parts of your garden. If you’re not sure where to start, stop by one of our Garden Centers. Our team is always happy to help you choose the right basket, troubleshoot issues, or get you set up for success!
Hanging Basket FAQs
How often should I water hanging baskets?
Water hanging baskets daily in Summer, sometimes twice a day during extreme heat. Once they dry out completely, they’re hard to recover.
Can you overwater hanging baskets?
It’s less common, but possible if the drainage is poor or if temperatures are still cool early in the season. Most issues with hanging baskets are due to underwatering.
What fertilizer is best for hanging baskets?
A combination of slow-release and liquid fertilizer provides the best results for hanging baskets.