Just put a lot of these baskets together recently, kinda bummed when I realized they were all too full to keep sticking pieces of more stuff in. Then had the idea to put holes in the sides and stick various plants in the holes. There's some expected wilting, and upside-down leaves, but the plants will sort themselves out when ready. In time, hoping the sides are well hidden. Does this give you ideas? Do you love it or hate it? Begonia, Tradescantia zebrina, Schlumbergera (Thanksgiving cactus.) ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) Begonia, T. zebrina, Callisia, Philos, Hypoestes, Columnea. ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) Schlumbergera, T. zebrina and fluminensis, Begonia. ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) Schlumbergera, T. zebrina and fluminensis, Begonia. ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) Tradescantia sillamontana, Senecio rowleyanus, various Sedums and Crassulas. ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) Tradescantia sillamontana, Senecio rowleyanus, various Sedums and Crassulas. ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) To make the holes, I used a hammer to tap awl into pots (while the "top" plants were in there.) Then made the holes big enough for stems with phillips head screwdriver, and had to use flathead for a couple of extra-large stems. Took about 30 mins per pot to do the holes, then walk around snagging pieces of stuff to stuff in them.
I have special hanging baskets that come already holed. They are ideal for strawberries or achieving a 'full' ball shape with flowers or foliage plants. Yours is a great alternative if you don't have the pre-holed ones to hand.
Eileen, thanks! I would love to see some pics of that! Thanks, Cheryl, Strats, Frank! I will definitely post updates. I'm curious as well, love to share an experiment, good or bad. The plants I 'stuck' all take root so easily, seems very likely to work well. In the 3rd pic down, the white fuzzy one is Kalanchoe eriophylla, didn't mention yesterday I see.
Cool, Ed, please take a pic if you do! One caveat I've encountered, older pots can get brittle. I managed to put nothing but cracks in one over the weekend. Maybe being empty had something to do with it, IDK, I'm not a physicist. Just seemed like older, brittle plastic to me. So I guess I'd say don't try on any pots that aren't expendable. Working on some new creations, between rains...
Thanks, Droopy! The first ones are still looking good except a few pieces of wax Begonia. That may not be the best candidate. Not bad though if those don't make it, with the number of different plant pieces hanging out of a side hole by now. I've finished these three, and working on several more. Thanksgiving cactus, Aptenia, Columnea, Begonia, Callisia ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) I couldn't put many holes in this pot, it made mostly cracks, but this stuff grows so fast, it should fill up/out/down soon. Aglaonema, wax Begonia, Tradescantia fluminensis ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) There's no excuse for this! This should be rather globe-like soon, way too much stuff going on in there, some might lose the battle. Will be fun to see what happens. TOO many to name! ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden )
More than a month after doing the first, I like them so much and they're doing so well, I've done more of these... Mixed pot ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) Pecan tree pots ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) 2 Plectranthus, Tradescantia zebrina, fluminensis, and pallida. ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden )
Here's what the ones in the back yard look like now. 1 Pecan tree pot ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) 2 Pecan tree pot ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) 3 Pecan tree pot ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) 4 Back door pot. ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) 5 Dog house décor ( photo / image / picture from purpleinopp's Garden ) Will take pics of the ones out front today...