- Choose plants that have similar finishing timing.
- Scaevola, Lantana, Portulaca and other similar genera will flower later season compared to most genera used in combinations like Calibrachoa, Petunia and Verbena.
- Begonia and New Guinea Impatiens take longer to mature and develop a required plant size. These items will be small in mixes compared quicker growing items and can easily be taken over by other varieties.
- Less equals more… Less plants in a combination hanging baskets allows for larger flowers and increase health of plants. The converse is, over-crowding creates competition, plant quality, flower size and longevity of containers.
As the hanging baskets matures, root bound containers will hold less moisture and nutrients for plant growth or sustained growth.
Over-crowding can create disease issues due to a thick canopy.
Pot Size Plants per pot (pp) Finish Time (weeks)
10” pots (25 cm) 6 single variety liners 7 to 8
12” pot (30 cm) 6 single variety liners 7 to 8
Pinch: A pinch may be required for some varieties at transplant.
Temperature Requirement:
Day – 70° to 75°F (21° to 24°C)
Night – 60° to 65°F (15° to 18°C)
Reduce night temperatures the last weeks of production (55° to 60° F/ 13° to15° C) to finish high quality baskets.
Media and pH Requirements: Plant in a well-drained soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 5.8 and an optimal EC of 1.0 to 1.75. Allow the soil to moderately dry between irrigations.
Plant Growth Regulators (PGR): For finishing, drench Bonzi (Paclobutrazol) at labeled rates three or four weeks prior to finish. There may be certain varieties which react poorly to Bonzi so be aware of those specific items and omit any application of those mixes.