BEDDING PLANTS
Jackie 159
Posts: 7
in Plants
Hi,
I live in Staffordshire, and have a real problem with bedding plants. have a large carport with a fence running along side it. There is space between the fence and the carport for the sun to shine through. I have half shape hanging baskets hanging from the fence posts, but bedding plants always seem to die off, what ever I do.
I also tried plants in old steel buckets ,but they die!
Are the hanging baskets big enough, for anything to grow in them 20inches wide by 8inches deep?
What is the life span of bedding plants and how can you make them last longer?
Many Thanks
Jackie
0
Posts
The baskets sound large enough, so it sounds to me as though it is lack of light.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I think Punkdoc may have put his finger on it. Most annual bedding plants like full sunshine all day.
Fuchsias and trailing begonias are happy with some shade, but they still need quite bright light.
This might be helpful http://gardening.about.com/od/gardendesign/qt/SunExposure.htm
Work out how many hours of direct sunlight your pots and baskets get, and then when you buy your plants look at the labels and talk to the nurseryman or ask at the garden centre.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You need to give them lots of water and deadhead regularly
I deadhead every day sometimes twice if I have the time. A weekly feed of tomato food helps, but definitely, loads of water
Pinch out the middle of the plants befor you put them in the basket, makes for a bushier plant, to late now, but for next year.
And loads of deadheading as soon as the flower starts to droop
They have to good drainage and you need to water in the cool of the day every day with a good can of water,they will need dead heading and feeding too once a week. and make sure the compost you put it in is not tired ,always use "fresh" compost .In intense heat they will wilt but will pick up in the cool of the day.