Building Moss-Lined Baskets
Question: I recently saw a moss-lined hanging basket and thought it looked great. I’d like to make one. How do I go about it?
C.D., Anaheim
Answer: A moss-lined hanging basket works well in areas that may not have space or facilities for standard plantings. It also brings plants to eye level where the colors, textures and scents become much more noticeable than in the garden. For these reasons, it’s important to plant correctly and maintain the appearance of the basket.
First, consider the location. This will determine the size of the basket, the type of plants you use and the care that will be required. Select plants that share the same light and growth requirements.
Second, consider maintenance time. If you fill your basket with annual plants, be prepared to replant it once or twice a year. Perennial plants will give you ongoing plant material, but might not bloom continuously. A combination of annual and perennial plants is often a good choice. Or for a very low maintenance basket, try succulents.
It’s also important to consider color when choosing plants for your moss-lined basket. The most pleasing hanging baskets are usually ones that take color theory into consideration.
Determine what the “mood” of the basket is that you are trying to create. A basket filled with nasturtiums, cherry tomatoes and dark blue lobelia will be bright and cheerful outside a kitchen window, while one filled with all white impatiens and ferns may be more appropriate for a shady patio outside a bedroom.
If you are not sure what you want, look in magazines or gardening books, or visit nurseries and public gardens and take note of color combinations that appeal to you.
Materials
(For a 12-inch diameter basket)
* Wire basket
* Sphagnum moss--2 cubic feet
* Gloves for handling sphagnum moss to prevent bacterial infections
* Soil--any light potting mixture
* Water-retaining polymers (optional)
* Fertilizers--time-release and water-soluble
* Plastic--Cut a circle from a heavy plastic bag about one-third the diameter of the basket. This will be used to line inside the moss at the bottom to keep water from running through when the basket is watered.
* Plants--two or three six-packs of cascading plants and one or two larger, upright plants for the top.
* Screw hook, chains and a swivel hook for hanging.
Preparation
* Soak polymers in a bowl according to the directions and add to soil mixture.
* Soak sphagnum moss until saturated.
* Add time-release fertilizer to the soil mixture.
* Remove plants from the containers and thoroughly saturate the roots.
* Place an empty 5-gallon pot or bucket upright to rest the basket on while you assemble it.
Assembly
* Squeeze excess water from wet moss and, starting at the bottom, tightly pack the moss between the wires of the basket.
* Continue to pack rows with moss until you have a small nest-shaped bottom to your basket. Add the round piece of plastic bag to the inside of nest and fill with several handfuls of soil mixture.
* Gently insert the top part of a plant through the wire from the inside of the basket so that it hangs on the outside and the root ball rests on the soil in the center of the basket.
* Pack some moss next to the plant to hold it securely in the wire compartment. Continue working around the basket, alternating a section of moss with a plant.
* After completing a row, add more soil mixture to cover the roots of the plants. Repeat the third and fourth steps, adding more soil between rows until the basket is filled.
As you go, also make a hole in the middle of the basket to insert the plants that will fill in the top.
* Complete the top row of the basket and then tightly pack moss around the rim, covering all of the wire.
* Insert a larger plant (from a 4- or 6-inch pot) into the top of the basket where you have left an opening and fill any gaps with the soil mixture.
* Cover any exposed soil on the top of the basket with moss.
* Hang the basket from a hook that will be able to handle the weight of the basket. When fully saturated, a large basket can weigh as much as 50 pounds. It’s important that you have a solid source from which to hang the basket. A swivel hook will enable you to turn the basket a quarter turn each week so the plants will grow uniformly.
Tips for Success
* Fertilize after planting with a balanced (10-10-10) water-soluble fertilizer to give the plants a jump start.
* There should be no wire from the basket showing through the moss and plants. Be sure also that the moss is tightly packed to keep it from falling apart when watering.
* Create a concave area in the top of the basket so when it is watered, the water can soak in instead of running off.
* Water often to keep the moss from drying out. If it does dry out, soak the entire basket in a tub of water to saturate the moss.
* As the plants grow, deadhead spent flowers and prune any that might be crowding others. During the year, replace dying annuals with fresh ones. Use chopsticks or a dibble to create planting holes in the moss.
* Be patient. After planting, it will take a few weeks for the plants to fill the entire sphere. Plan ahead if you intend to use them for a specific event.
Suggested Plants
* African daisy (Arctotis)
* Alyssum
* Begonia
* Coleus
* Fuchsia
* Geranium (Pelargonium and cranesbill)
* Impatiens
* Ivy
* Lantana
* Licorice plant (Helichrysum)
* Lobelia
* Nasturtium
* Osteospermum
* Pansy
* Petunia
* Thyme
* Tomato (small)
* Verbena
Written and researched by University of California Master Gardener Sheila Peterson of Laguna Beach.
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Have a problem in your yard? University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are here to help. These trained and certified horticultural volunteers are dedicated to extending research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. They are involved with a variety of outreach programs, including the UCCE Master Garden hotline, which provides answers to specific questions. You can reach the hotline at (714) 708-1646 or send e-mail to ucmastergardeners @yahoo.com. Calls and e-mail are picked up daily and are generally returned within three days.
