Wire baskets must have a liner to prevent the soil and plants from falling between the wire frame pieces. Spanish moss is commonly used as a liner due to its availability, appearance and porous nature. Moss fibers allow some drainage from the basket while retaining enough water to keep the soil moist when used properly. Annual flowers work best in hanging baskets, as they can be replaced each year with no worries about plant storage over winter. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Fill a bucket with water. Dip the Spanish moss into the water and let it absorb the moisture for a minute or two. Remove the moss from the water and set on your work surface.
2. Set the basket on a flat surface if it has a flat bottom or sit a rounded-bottom basket on top of the bucket to hold it steady. Hold the basket between your knees to further steady it if necessary.
3. Lay strips of the Spanish moss into the basket. Lay it first on the basket then build it up around the sides. Layer it in until the basket has a 1 to 2-inch thick lining of moss.
4. Poke holes into the side of the moss and slip the roots of your flowers through if you desire plants to emerge from the sides of the basket. Otherwise, leave the moss whole and plant in just the top of the basket.
5. Combine a slow release fertilizer with your potting soil, following package instructions for application amounts. Fill the moss-lined container with soil to within 1 inch of the rim.
6. Sow the flower plants into the basket. Space them according to the label directions that came with each plant. Water after planting until the moisture begins dripping from the bottom.
Tags: Spanish moss, into basket, moss into, Spanish moss into
