Every Thursday, we like to post a picture of something we've found online that inspires us to do something similar at the farm.
Sort of our own blog bulletin board so that we can eventually look back and hopefully recreate it...enjoy!
 |
| Image of hanging flower baskets courtesy of Houzz.com |
Right now at the farm, we have ferns in hanging baskets. And you know we love color. So when looking at porch pictures, we saw this and loved it. Of course, I doubt we could keep these up with only being out there on the weekends to water but dang, they sure are pretty.
Maybe I can figure out some sort of slow watering system. I believe some of you have mentioned diaper lining in the bottom of the basket to hold water. Heck, it might be fun to try and see what we could come up with.
Be inspired!
I read on the internet yesterday (the source of all accurate info ;-)), that you could take the insides of a disposable diaper out and mix it up with the dirt and it would keep watering the plants much longer due to the water retention ability of the diaper. Don't really know how long you could expect it to work but it's an idea.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about that but haven't checked it out in detail, thanks!!
DeleteBeautiful hanging baskets! Until you move out to the Farm, you could try these more drought-tolerant plants: Portulaca (“moss rose”) and Delosperma (“ice plant”). They both have colorful blooms.
ReplyDeleteBut I would not use the gel in diapers for any gardening - problems with releasing salt into your soil, inhalation dangers, and problems with biodegradability, among other possible problems.
See:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/2962056/using-sodium-polyacrylate-in-the-garden
and
http://awesomebeginnings4children.com/the-harmful-chemicals-in-disposable-diapers/
Really? I had no idea. I was thinking they'd be ok at least in hanging baskets. I'll have to read up on it in more details. Thanks for the links. And drought tolerant flowers are an idea. Thank you!!!
DeleteI have baskets that have a reservoir in the bottom and the water is wicked up to the plants with capillary wicking, I usually fill the reservoir once a fortnight in the height of summer
ReplyDeleteNow that's a great idea too. I'll have to look into that! *true confession, I had to Google "what is a fortnight" to get a length of time, ha.
DeleteI used to have hanging baskets when I lived in Louisiana. I'd love to get some back up, but living in Oklahoma, I'm afraid the sun would fry them....I'll have to look into it, but that photo really makes me want to try it.
ReplyDeleteYay! That's why we like to look at photos and see something that inspires us to do the same at the farm. I'm glad we could spread the thinking, ha. Have a great weekend and stay safe in the storms!
DeleteThere is a product called Soil Moist that works well in containers. I've used it for years. It's an amazing product. I try to remember to use it in the garden when I'm planting veggies. It helps there too. I usually think about it after I've planted, but I have gone back and mixed it in later!
ReplyDeleteAs your neighbor one state to the east, who understands what a Southern summer entails, I recommend waiting til y'all are at the farm full time, then looking in to Easy-Fill hanging baskets.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of a watering system, and hope you share with us if you figure one out! We're on a well and I don't think we'd get enough pressure to get it up to the porch in quantities enough to water our 8 large baskets. SO far, nothing is going to replace watering twice a day; I have tried the diaper at the bottom, pots with water reservoirs, the soil retaining granules, everything...those things might work fine in cooler areas, but for the most part, in the Deep South, you will still have to water constantly.
If I'm going to go through all that work, I want a great payoff, and so far, I am liking my Easy Fills.
Here's where I get mine: http://www.plantopiaflowerpots.com/
NO affiliation, I just like them! You can grow some veggie sin them, too, but I stick with flowers.