A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Hanging basket of flowers for FULL SUN!???

I have a sun room and every year I attempt to put 2 hanging baskets outside the window and every year I end up tossing them out. I want something that flowers, but I can't seem to pick the right ones. This is full sun all day. This year I tried Million Bells - like small petunias, but they just dried out. I watered them twice a day even! Had the hanging basket with the reservoir on the bottom so that was full of water too! Any ideas?

ND, I've always had real good luck with petunias and also with the Ivy Geraniums (not in the same basket) in my hanging baskets in full sun. Last year, I decided to try the "Wave" petunias in one of my hanging baskets and I thought they would be awesome, but I really wasn't as pleased as I was with the regular ones. As an added bonus, I always had a lot of hummingbirds coming to the baskets with the petunias.

Thanks! I'll try that next year.

Have you ever tried Vinca? I have some Pacifica Orchid Halo and its BEAUTIFUL and loves full sun! It flowers like crazy when getting full sun. Here are a couple pics of it (before transplanting):

Uuuu - I like those! Thanks!

another suggestion is geraniums...they are very drought tolerant and look nice too, any type of ivy would be pretty in it as well.
good luck.

Ummm, PORTULACAS!!!!

They rock for full sun and are drought tolerant!

Marigolds are another good choice too.

I mixed petunias and vican. They look good. They are in full sun and do goood. They are looking peeked right now due to the heat, but they are thriving. I will snap a pic of that planter tomorrow and show it to you.

HELLO!

I have the same problem with hanging baskets in the sun...I have found that Bacopa and Nasturtiums are wonderful for hanging baskets in the sun...also...add water retaining polymeres to your soil...that should help the plant when the temps get out of control hot!!! also...I water mine daily...just a bit... to combat the evaporation and they are still blooming beautifully. Also...the nice thing is, both bacopa and nasturtiums trail over the edges...so they get that lovely flowing look!!!Oh! and the Hummingbirds seem to love the red nasturtiums as well! Don't forget, if the basket is close to the Kitchen... you can eat the leaves and flowers of the nasturtiums in salads! They are gorgeous! But...I usually leave mine . Hope this helps!!! :

Cheers!
HOLLYHOCKGIRL

I have been getting so many great ideas in just the few days I have been registered here. Is there a 'folder' or 'file' where I can copy and past pictures or ideas/responses, or do you just jot them down?

Loz - you sure like your PORTULACAS! What is the other name for them? Rosemoss? My mother commented on them when we toured 16 gardens this summer. I've never had them, but they are on my list for next year!

That's right, I LOVE them!!!! They are in my top five fav. list...I'll always have them in my garden! I just love their vibrant colors.....and their pretty flowers.

Moss rose is the common name.....

Well, you could open your notepad on your computer and jot things down in there....I do that a lot. In your accesories on the start bar.

For hanging baskets you can also mix up some
polymere crystals in the dirt and mix in the BOTTOM HALF of your potting mix..
*put regular potting mix/soil at the top..*
Those crystals hold water and you want the roots to go DOWN, not up, and if they are up, going towards the surface, they'll dry out..*

Also , check the size of your hanging basket. Alot of times they are in a small 8" basket . Even the 10's can dry out fast. I would go with a "super 10" and make sure the problem is truly underwatering and not OVERwatering. Let the soil dry out between waterings. And definitely the portulaca would be a great choice, they don't require too much water, and the colorful vincas they have out are great too.

HELLO WEEZIE,

Thanks for the tip about the water polymeres!!! I was worried about that!?! Have you had any trouble since you mixed yours into the bottom half of your containers? Just wondering?

Cheers!
HOLLYHOCKGIRL