The sight of hanging plants descending from perfectly designed baskets creates a beautiful view. Hanging plants can be placed on almost any area of the house, the entry porch, near a window in corridors or ceilings. They are available in many designs, colors, and sizes. It’s no doubt that many would love to have some hanging plants. The challenging part comes in taking care of the plants, especially watering. Unlike the plants growing on the ground, some limitations come with watering hanging plants. Watering methods like drip irrigation or using sprinklers will not work.
Plants growing in containers will require frequent watering than those planted on grounds. How much water your plants will require for proper growth depends on various factors such as:
1. Type of Plant
Different plants have different water requirements. If you are growing succulents, you will not have to water them every day. Vegetables do well in moist conditions and will benefit from frequent watering.
2. Size of Container
Plants growing in large containers will not require frequent watering like the ones growing in small ones. This is because large containers have more soil, meaning that it can hold moisture for long. Small containers have less soil, which gets dry after a very short period.
3. Type of Container
Some containers are designed in a way that they lose moisture faster than others. These include those made of terra Cota and metal. If you are growing your hanging plants in such, you will have to water them more frequently.
4. Location
Hanging plants growing outdoors will require more water than those grown indoors. Soils in outdoor spaces tend to lose moisture very fast, unlike the one in indoor spaces. However, if it’s during the rainy season, you can reduce the watering frequency or don’t water them at all.
5. Type of Soil
Some soils will lose moisture faster than others. If you use clay to grow your plants, it will retain moisture for longer and will not require frequent watering. However, it might cause waterlogging and end up killing your plants. Potting soils may not retain moisture for long periods but are good for plants since they will not become soggy and pose a problem.
Most Effective Ways of Watering High Hanging Plants
1. Lower the Plants to A Comfortable Place
If the plants are hanging from a very high surface, lowering them to a lower position will make watering easy. Use a watering can or garden hose to water them. Wait until the water has stopped coming out of the drainage holes before hanging the plants.
2. Use A Hose
Use a garden hose that is long enough to reach where your plants are. Only turn on the water in the tap when you have placed the hose on the plant, especially when watering indoor plants, to avoid messing up with household items.
After watering the plant, fold the hoses properly, to avoid bending that may lead to breakage. Folding them inappropriately will make them challenging to use next time you want to water your plants. Avoid exposing them in the sun for long, as it might cause their deterioration.
3. Soak Them in Water
Unhook your plants and place them inside a bucket with water. Let them rest there for about an hour before taking them out.
4. Use A Watering Can
If the plants are not hanging very high, use a watering can. If it’s big, don’t put a lot of water, since it will make it heavy to raise. Watering cans are good since they usually have a sprout that makes watering easy. The cans are available in different sizes.
5. Use Self-watering planters
When growing plants in self-watering planters, you don’t have to water them frequently. Fill the water reservoir in the basket, which will then be absorbed by the soil, without your intervention.
Self-hydrating baskets will save you a lot of time and stress that comes with watering hanging plants. If you are leaving your home for some days, you won’t have to worry about your plants dying from lack of water.
How Can You Know Your Hanging Plants Need Watering?
Watering plants appropriately Is one way of keeping them healthy. If they don’t get enough water, they will appear weak and may eventually die. Those grown for food production may produce lower yields. Overwatering plants is not good either. They might start rotting and eventually die. Too much water may make them susceptible to attack by disease-causing organisms. Here are ways that will help you determine when you should water your hanging plants.
Lift the Basket Slightly
Hold the basket on the bottom side to feel how it weighs if it feels very light, it is an indication that the soil is dry, and requires water. If it feels a bit heavy, it’s clear that the soil still has moisture, and don’t need water urgently.
Water your plants before the sun gets too hot to enable them to remain moist the entire day.
More Maintenance Tips for Hanging Plants
1. Add Fertilizer
Just like plants growing on the ground, hanging plants also need nutrients to thrive. Add water-soluble fertilizers to your plants after two weeks. This will help them get the nutrients they require for proper growth, and have the energy to fight pests and diseases. Read the usage instructions carefully to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding your plants. Either of them will damage the plants.
2. Get Rid of Dead Plant Parts.
Some parts of the plants might die due to various reasons. Some leaves may also fall off and lie on the surface of the soil. Get rid of them to make your plants look tidy and more appealing. If accidentally a whole plant dies, get rid of them too, and plant new ones.
3. Provide Sufficient Lighting
Light is essential for the proper growth of plants. If your plants do not get sufficient natural lighting, use artificial glow lights to supplement it.
4. Prune Your Plants
Plants may grow very large, especially when they have the right growing conditions. Pruning them helps them appear in good shape, and encourages the development of new shoots. Use a hand-held pruner to prune dead plants too, or those that have grown too large.
Frequently Asked Questions
The plants might be dying due to reasons like an attack by pests, and diseases, improper watering or lack of essential nutrients. Insufficient lighting is also a probable cause. Provide them with the right growing conditions, to avoid the same in future.
To choose the most suitable container, consider factors like cost, watering needs, and appearance. Those made of terra cotta and metal will require more watering, unlike plastic ones. Some materials will cost more than others too.
If you notice that your plants are dying, identify the cause of the death and deal with it before it’s too late. If it’s insufficient watering, ensure you water them the right way.
High hanging may also be affected by various. Always inspect them. If you identify them, use the appropriate insecticides to get rid of them.
