Preparing Hanging Flower Pots

Last summer we visited family in upstate western New York. Kathy's beautiful country home beckoned us with its sprawling porch that encircled the entire home. Large ferns and pink begonias dripped from hanging flower pots above the white railing fence of the porch at four-foot intervals. As I reclined in one of the many wicker rocking chairs, the cool air from the valley creek gently rocked the wind chimes and sweetly cooled the shady porch on that hot summer day. The flowers and ferns in the hanging pots provided an oasis of beauty, and relieved me from the stress of traveling in a cramped car for so many days.

If you've always envisioned your home with hanging flower pots, either inside your living room or dangling from your porch eaves, the look is easy to create, but somewhat expensive if you purchase prefabricated hanging pots. The trick is finding the correct flowers that will thrive inside of a small container, yet provide beautiful large blooms to last throughout the growing season. Follow these guidelines when preparing hanging flower pots:

• Determine where to place your hanging pots. If using an indoor venue, make sure that you use a sturdy chain and drill into the supporting beam or stud above in the ceiling. You might also hang your flower pot from a bracket secured to wall. Wherever you decide to hang your pots, make sure that you secure the bracket or chain to a stud so that it can support the weight of the pot, the dirt and plant inside, and water.
• Place newspaper or a plastic tarp on a large table and add potting mix to your pots. You can buy potting mix specifically designed for hanging flower pots at your nursery or home improvement store. Follow the directions on the package when using that type of mix.
• Add plants to your potting mix inside of the pots. Depending upon the look you want to create, choose long stems that hang gently over the side of the pot, and perhaps use short, large-bloomed flowers in the center. Be creative in your design and stand back to look every few moments and then rearrange if necessary.

Hang your baskets gently, making sure that the supports hold their weight without incident. Water your hanging flower pots as needed, making sure there is good drainage. Avoid placing indoor hanging plants in corners, as they won't receive enough sunlight to grow optimally.