Hanging Baskets and Container Gardens
One of the most popular educational sessions at the Short Course this year was a session on hanging baskets and container gardens, where it was standing room only. This is not too surprising. Baskets and specialty containers have become very profitable for many independent retailers. Considering the popularity or the program I thought a summary for those unable to attend might prove beneficial. The following concepts and information were presented by Terri Woods Starman from the University of Tennessee and Tom Smith from Four Star Greenhouses Inc.
There are many plants and a near infinite number of combinations that can be used for containers and baskets. Of course, some combinations work well and others are simply put - disasters. Perhaps the best way to determine which combinations work is to observe the combinations put together by someone else. So what works? Several things became clear to me while listening to the speakers of this program.
Simple is Good!
Some of the best pots are simple combinations
two or three plants. The best pots shown during
the seminar were relatively simple combinations
put together by Four Star greenhouses. More
complicated mixtures can work too, but they often
seem to become too busy, with many plants getting
lost in the mix. Tom stated that "We want all the
plants we put in a mixed basket to be there at the
end of the season". This makes good sense.
Why pay for, and go through all the trouble of
planting and growing, plants that will not
contribute to the overall performance of the
container?
Put Together Plants of Similar Vigor
This goes with rule one. If the vigor of the
plants in the container is closely matched, it is
much less likely that one will dominate another
and eliminate it from the pot. If you must use a
plant that is not too vigorous, use other similar
plants. An exception might be a less vigorous
upright plant in the center of the container
combined with vigorous trailing plants.
Use Enough Plants to Fill the Container
Most of the best containers have plants planted in groups of 3 and 4. Two plants in a container seem to produce what
Terri called "dog eared" plants. The third and 4th plant of each cultivar provides balance and can greatly reduce production
time.
Consider the "Elements of Design"
Florists are trained to work with texture and
color when making a floral arrangement. Creating a
mixed container is a similar process. Mix textures
to provide depth and visual interest in the
container. Work with the colors using the color
wheel. Analogous and complementary color
combinations seem to work well in mixed
containers. Analogous colors are closely related,
for example red and red violet. Complementary
colors are opposite each other on the color wheel,
for example yellow and violet. Some of the best
combinations in the program used the neutral white
flowers, or silver gray foliage to help show off
the other colors. Many nice color combinations can
be easily obtained by using some of the
"Theme Mixed Impatiens" available from
seed. For example Goldsmith Seed's "Accent
Pastel Mixture", Ball Seeds' "Dazzler
Peacock Mix", "Tempo Wedgwood Mix" from Bodger
seeds, and many others can be used to create a
nice color mix in a container.
Use Plants that Grow Together in Baskets
Containers can be "grow-together"or
"put-together". Terri Woods Starman described a
grow together pot as one where the plugs are
planted together in the container or basket and
then grow together. A put-together pot, in
contrast is constructed from plants that are near
the finish size and are combined shortly before
marketing. Put-together seems to work well for
patio containers, but the best baskets shown in
the program were grow-together.
Use Large Containers
The size of the container determines the media
volume and thus water and nutrient holding
capacity. If you define a 10" basket as 100%
then an 8" basket will only hold 45-50% and a
6" basket 15-20% of the medium by volume.
Some of the best baskets from Four Star
greenhouses were planted in 12" square fiber
pots.
Don't Put Too Much Time Into Your Baskets
Better baskets are grown later in the season.
Growing a basket too long results in plants that
are difficult to ship. Remember that even in a
retail greenhouse the plant has to be transported
home by the consumer. A plant that is too big will
be difficult to put in the car and may be severely
damaged in transport.
Grow Plenty of Smaller Pots Too
If you grow great combination pots, some of your
customers are going to want to duplicate them at
home in some "special" container of their own. Be
sure that you have some of the same plants
available in smaller containers to capture that
sale too.
My Favorite Combinations from the Program:
These are the best of the combinations from Four
Star Greenhouses. Use this as a guide for plants
that work together, but remember that other
cultivars may be available that are just as good.
(Plant Number and Size)
10 INCH BASKET
12 INCH BASKET
12 INCH FIBER BASKET (Red, White and Blue)
14 INCH UPRIGHT POT
Toxic or Sour Mulch
Fortunately, "toxic mulch syndrome" is quite easy to diagnose and prevent. Mulch that has gone anaerobic will have a very strong, acrid, sour odor. In contrast, mulch that is safe to use will have a pleasant, musk smell like freshly cut wood or compost.
To avoid the formation of sour mulch, store mulch in piles less than eight feet high, or periodically turn higher piles with a front end loader to maintain aeration of the pile. Similarly, sour mulch can be detoxified by thoroughly leaching it and allowing it to aerate for several days.
Information provided by Rob Berghage and Jim Sellmer Penn State Department of Horticulture, Ornamental Horticulture Extension Specialist, 103 Tyson Building, University Park, PA 16802, (814) 863-2571
This publication is available in alternate media upon request
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