Bringing your hanging basket back to life can be as simple as replanting
it into a larger vessel allowing its roots to spread out and absorb more nutrients.
By Lin Johnson
When a well-cared-for plant suddenly begins to lose its luster in mid-summer, the cause is almost always overgrown roots in an undersized container. Once a plant’s roots have become wound tightly together, it is nearly impossible for them to absorb water or nutrients.
The first and best option to bring your hanging basket back to life is to replant it into a larger vessel. Most commercial hanging baskets are sold with 10” to 12″ pots as their growing container. To make it through an entire growing season, baskets should be at minimum 14” to 16″ in size.
Select a new basket or container with at least 1/4 more growing space. This gives plenty of space for roots to expand out and bring in nutrients quickly. Next, fill the bottom of the basket with a high-quality potting soil. Before sitting the root ball into the new basket, be sure to loosen the tightly wound roots. Gently break apart the bottom of the roots, taking care to keep them intact to the root ball.
Finish by filling the remainder of the pot with potting soil, and then giving the plant a good watering along with a dose of liquid fertilizer. This boost of nutrients will help the plant to re-flourish quickly.
What happens if you are trying to save a hanging basket that is simply too large to find a suitable basket or container? Once again, don’t throw that plant away! Instead, replant it directly into your landscape for a huge splash of annual color. Give the plant plenty of water and a dose of liquid fertilizer to jump-start its growth, you will be amazed at how quickly the plant bounces back to life!
Advanced Garland County Master Gardener, Lin Johnson, volunteers with Garland County Master Gardeners of the UofA Div. of Agriculture, Cooperative Ext. Service. Master Gardeners pool skills and resources to improve home horticulture, stimulate interest in plants and gardening, and encourage beautification. For more information, call 501-623-6841 or email adykes@uaex.edu. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.
