CHAPTER IX 

 PLANTS FOR HANGING BASKETS 



Hanging baskets are usually made of wire and lined with 

 moss. In some cases the moss almost fills them, and plants 

 in their pots are sunk in it ; in others, its purpose is merely 

 to contain the soil in which the planting is done. The 

 former method has the advantage of enabling the . plants 

 to be removed easily and replaced by others when they have 

 finished flowering ; the latter allows of their having a larger 

 quantity of soil, and so gives them a better chance of doing 

 well, provided that they are kept sufficiently moist. That 

 is the difficulty. In time the roots reach the outside of 

 the soil, and as, except for a comparatively thin covering 

 of moss which quickly dries, it is exposed to the light and 

 air, it soon loses its moisture and, unless water is added, 

 the extremities of the roots are killed. One thing is essential 

 — the surface of the soil should slope from the outside 

 towards the centre. If it slopes the other way — if it is even 

 level — most of the water will run off instead of penetrating 

 it and getting down to the roots. With every care, however, 

 it is scarcely possible to moisten the whole of the soil by 

 pouring water over it, especially if it has been allowed to 

 get very dry. It is best, therefore, to take down all hanging 

 baskets once or twice a week in summer and to immerse 

 them for about five minutes in a pail of water. 



The plants most suitable for this purpose are those 

 w^hich are either pendulous or else creeping or twining, but 

 not of very vigorous habit. Ordinary climbers make so 

 much growth that it is impossible to keep them within proper 

 limits. Among the species enumerated some are annuals, 

 others are herbaceous, perennials or bulbs, and a few are 



