Hanging baskets can be the perfect solution for those of us who don’t have much yard space. However, they can dry out much faster than containers and direct to soil growing. The key to a beautiful garden using hanging baskets is to keep them as well-watered as necessary. But how do you do so without the use of a hose? Let’s find out.
So, how do you water hanging baskets without a hose? There are many tricks to keeping your hanging baskets well-watered if you don’t have access to a hose, such as setting them in buckets of water, applying a liner to your basket, specific soil mixes that retain more water, and even installing self-watering systems.
So if you have decided to bring some color to your garden with some beautifully decorated hanging baskets, we are here to tell you how to keep them well watered if you don’t have access to a hose system.
Read on to find out all you need to know.
Options For Watering Hanging Baskets Without A Hose
Hanging baskets are notorious for drying out very fast, especially if you live in warmer climates or areas that experience lots of wind.
Don’t let this stop you though, there are lots of ways to maintain a healthy moisture level in your hanging baskets.
Bottles, Watering Cans & Jugs
The great thing about hanging baskets is that they tend to be relatively small.
So even if you do have a hose, it can sometimes be overkill with the amount of water you use.
Bottles and jugs hold the perfect amount of water for one to two hanging baskets.
If you have multiple hanging baskets, a watering can is very useful.
Holding much more water, a watering can quench the thirst of many more hanging baskets.
Ensure you have a steady stream tip, as getting the leaves and petals of your plants can result in sun scorch when wet if they are hung in a very sunny spot.
Soak In Large Buckets
Another simple yet very effective way of keeping your hanging baskets well watered if you don’t have a hose is to soak the basket in a large bucket of water.
Make sure the bucket fits the entire basket and can also hold a good amount of water.
You may need to leave your hanging basket in your bucket of water for 10 or 15 minutes to make sure it’s soaked up enough water.
It’s very simple to tell when it’s time to remove the basket.
The soil should be a much darker color, and it will feel damp if you press your fingers on the soil surface.
Self-Watering Systems
Self-watering systems will not only keep your hanging basket plants hydrated without the use of a hose, but they will also take some of the real work out of keeping your hanging baskets watered regularly.
Many simple systems can be bought in garden shops or even online.
Here is a great, best-selling option from Amazon.
However, if your budget can’t quite stretch to a self-watering system, it is very easy to set up your own.
With nothing more than a small plastic bottle, you can create the perfect self-watering system for your hanging baskets.
You won’t need the bottle cap, so this can be recycled.
Fill your bottle up with water and then quickly turn it over and bury the neck of the bottle into the soil of your hanging basket.
This limits the amount of water that can escape the bottle, and it will only be released as and when it is needed.
Depending on the size of your bottle, you may need to secure it.
This can be done easily with a little twine secured to one of the chains of the hanging basket.
Should Hanging Baskets Be Watered Daily?
Just like container and pot-grown plants, hanging baskets dry out far quicker and will need regular daily watering. In the height of summer, hanging baskets may even need to be watered multiple times per day unless you have decided to install a self-watering system.
If your weather is very hot, humid, and/or very windy, you may find your hanging baskets need to be water two or three times a day.
The best time to water your hanging baskets is earlier in the morning, before the full heat of the day has begun.
This will reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the soil giving your plants the chance to soak up as much H2O as they really need.
A good rule to live by when it comes to your hanging baskets is that as soon as the surface soil feels dry, give them a good water.
When you water them, make sure the water runs through the bottom of the basket.
However, if the water runs through very quickly, this likely means that your hanging basket is far too dry, and you will need to run more water through it.
This gives the soil a chance to soak up more water.
Make sure you don’t allow the potting soil in your hanging basket to dry out completely.
If it does, it will become much harder to moisten the soil and will also kill your potted plants very quickly.
If the soil is starting to pull away from the edges of your basket, it’s time to do some hard and fast damage control, as this means your soil is excessively dry.
Can You Over Water Hanging Baskets?
It’s very difficult to over-water hanging baskets. Their low levels of soil, a large number of plants per basket, and environmental factors mean that hanging baskets dry out very quickly.
At the very least, they will need daily watering to keep the soil at an acceptable moisture level that will keep your plants happy and healthy.
There is nowhere for excess water to pool in hanging baskets unless you have lined it will a plastic bag or plastic sheet, which means there isn’t a risk of over-watering your hanging baskets.
If you have decided to line your hanging baskets with a non-permeable liner and your plants are starting to wilt, or their leaves are starting to go yellow, it could be possible that you have overwatered them, but this is still a rare occurrence, especially if it is very warm, humid, or windy as these conditions dry out hanging baskets much faster.
How Do You Keep Hanging Baskets From Drying Out?
There are a few things you can do to keep your hanging baskets from drying out, such as water retentive liners, moisture-locking soil mixes, and keeping a good watering schedule.
Keeping your hanging baskets from drying out is one of the first things you’ll need to do when trying to keep them looking beautiful and vibrant.
Basket Size
Although little baskets can be cute, their low level of soil means they are bound to dry out very fast.
Larger baskets hold far more soil, which means they hold far more moisture.
Choose the largest basket you can muster for your plants. It’s better to have a larger basket with multiple plants than smaller ones with singular plants if you want to reduce the amount of watering you will have to undertake.
Water Retentive Liners
Lining your basket can be a fantastic way to retain water in your hanging baskets.
The simplest liner you can use is a plastic bag laid under the soil.
Although this isn’t the most eco-friendly option, it is very budget-friendly and stops most of the water from seeping out of the bottom of your basket.
If you are looking for a more eco-friendly option, Coco coir liners may be for you.
Made from natural coconut husk, these liners are thick, long-lasting, and very absorbent.
They will hold a lot of water. Slowly releasing it back into the soil as and when it is needed.
Moisture Locking Soil
Your soil choice for your hanging basket can be make or break when it comes to how much moisture it can hold.
Loose, sandy soils won’t hold much water at all, with most of it running right out of the bottom of your basket.
Adding materials such as perlite to your soil mix can help your basket retain far more water, requiring less watering.
Watering Schedule
Your watering schedule is your main weapon when it comes to combatting dried-out hanging baskets.
Aim to water your baskets at least once a day, preferably in the morning, and if the weather becomes very windy or humid, you may need to water your basket multiple times a day.
Keeping an eye on your hanging baskets soil with let you know if they need an extra top-up.
Lastly
Even though hanging baskets can be a little more fickle when it comes to their water needs, with the right watering schedule and a keen eye, you can be rewarded with full colorful blooms all summer long.
