- Working Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Skill Level: Kid-friendly
In a regular hanging basket, it can take a while for the plants to inch their way over the sides of the container and create that pretty, flowing effect. To solve that, try making a sphere with two metal basket frames and coir liners to create extra surface area for a truly impressive floral show. Fill your sphere planter with fast-growing annuals that bloom continuously through the growing season, and you'll have a gorgeous spectacle of color in no time. This example uses shade-loving impatiens, but if you want to place your hanging sphere planter in a sunny spot, petunias would work equally well.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Marker
- Knife
- Spoon
Materials
- 2 spherical metal basket frame
- 2 coir liner
- Container potting mix
- Moisture-retentive crystals
- Slow-release fertilizer
- Cardboard
- 6 zip ties
- 24 plants of choice
Instructions
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Line and Fill Basket Frames
Begin with two metal basket frames that have a coir liner. Remove the chains from the baskets and place a liner into each basket. Fill the liners to the brim with a potting mix designed for container use. If your potting mix doesn't already contain them, add moisture-retentive crystals and slow-release fertilizer pellets according to their package directions.
Related: Why You Should Fertilize Your Plants
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Assemble Sphere
Place a flat piece of thick cardboard over the soil in the basket that will form the top half of the sphere. Holding the cardboard in place with your fingers, invert the basket, and rest it on top of the base basket. Carefully slide out the piece of cardboard from between the baskets, then secure the baskets together using zip ties to hold them firmly in place. Trim the extra lengths of the ties.
Related: How to Make a Perfect Hanging Basket
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Plant Flowers
Use a marker to make a dot or X on the liners where you'll add plants. Space planting holes evenly, about 3 inches apart. Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut planting holes in the liners where you made marks.
Meanwhile, soak the root ball of each plant in water. Squeeze the soil gently to release excess water. Tuck each root ball into a planting hole so that each plant's stem is at the same depth is was before in its pot. If necessary, use a spoon to dig out a little space to fit all the roots into your sphere planter. Use your fingers to firm the soil around each plant to hold it in place.
Editor's Tip: Look for plant plugs or cell packs of flowering annuals, which have small root balls. They're easiest to tuck into small spaces and will quickly grow into full-size plants.
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Hang and Water Your Sphere Hanging Basket
Reattach one of the chains that came with the hanging baskets to the top of the sphere. Hang the chain from a sturdy support, then water the whole thing thoroughly to help the new plants settle in and stay hydrated.
