Hanging Basket - how much and often to water?

olly300

purplepatch wrote: »

Oh heck. A couple of dreary rainy days and I forgot to water. But nice weather again today and I just went outside and everything has wilted and looks very floppy indeed. I've taken it down and put it in the shade and given it a good water. Will they come back or have I managed to kill it already?!?! I can hear DH already.:rolleyes:

Maybe and maybe not.

Just try and see.

*MF*

purplepatch wrote: »

Oh heck. A couple of dreary rainy days and I forgot to water. But nice weather again today and I just went outside and everything has wilted and looks very floppy indeed. I've taken it down and put it in the shade and given it a good water. Will they come back or have I managed to kill it already?!?! I can hear DH already.:rolleyes:

Most plants are very resilient, a good watering tonight, and when you look tomorrow they are up and away again ...

Posted by someone who has forgotten to water too many times, and the plants saved me, not I them.

Fingers crossed ...

purplepatch

It's looking a lot more perky now.... phew. DH didnt notice anyway - it had already lifted a fair bit by the time he got home from work

olly300

purplepatch wrote: »

It's looking a lot more perky now.... phew. DH didnt notice anyway - it had already lifted a fair bit by the time he got home from work

Good to hear.

Don't forget to water them today.

purplepatch

Already done it Olly :rotfl:

Hopefully that's a lesson learnt.

willowbob

Hi purplepatch!

For good money saving, used washing up water is good, just remember not to pour in soggy baked beans or bits of chip!!

Skint46

I'm looking for advice for making successful hanging baskets.
Does anyone have a tip on how to water hanging baskets so they don't dry out?
Each year I water them daily, but, I would like to know if anyone has a good tip for keeping water in the basket rather than watch it flow straight through?
I have tried the water retaining gel but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

Happy Gardening

nodwah

I put a lining of a plastic bag inside the basket liner - a few holes in it and it keeps some water in and lets some through so it doesn't let it get stale.

Every so often when I can be bothered, I take the baskets down and leave them to steep in a bucket of water - that gives them a wee lift

This year I bought water retentive mats from Lidl to line the basket so I'll see how they get on

peter_the_piper

Buy the water retentive gel, soak on a jar and mix with the compost before planting. Treat the gel as an insurance policy, you will still need to water thoroughly at dusk
We use it in all of our baskets and its great.

angelavdavis

I second Nodwah's suggestion of lining with plastic, I have found this definitely beneficial.