Fill Your Hanging Baskets With A Vibrant And Low-Maintenance Flower

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Hanging baskets spilling over with color are a must-have for many gardeners. But keeping them that way usually means chaining yourself to the watering can. The good news is, you can still grow hanging baskets if you lean on things like self-watering hanging planters. A simpler idea is to pick a low-maintenance flower that can handle a bit of wind and exposure, like the heat- and drought-tolerant ivy-leaf geranium (Pelargonium peltatum).

Ivy-leaf geraniums are a favorite for hanging baskets. They are only winter-hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11, so they're usually grown as annuals, and you can often find them where bedding plants are sold. They have clusters of flowers and a trailing habit, with cultivars available in a range of colors from brilliant red and hot pink to cheerful lilac.

With thick, waxy, ivy-like leaves and a vigorous growth habit, these geraniums can bounce back from a bit of neglect or dehydration. Some hanging basket plants aren't so forgiving, and forgetting to water them even once can spell the beginning of the end. If you're looking for the right plant for those breezy areas along the side of the house, try ivy-leaf geraniums. They like plenty of sun, and as long as you generally give them the water they need, they'll look great even if you skip a day.

With ivy leaf geraniums, your watering regimen doesn't have to be as strict as it does with other hanging baskets. Many people put them in partial shade so they don't have to be watered as often. However, they bloom best with plenty of sun and steady water, so a bright spot on your porch is ideal as long as they can get relief from the hottest afternoon sun.

Geraniums also bloom best when they are a little rootbound, so you don't want to over-pot them. For an established basket, an 8- to 12-inch pot holds enough soil to keep them from wilting during hot weather. Keep in mind that ivy-leaf geraniums are a tender perennial that can't handle frost, so if you can hang them where they're easy to put in the garage on chilly fall nights, you can extend the growing season. You can also bring geraniums indoors and keep them dormant through the winter, then repot them in the spring.

The reality of growing ivy-leaf geraniums in hanging baskets is that while they are a low-maintenance flower, you still have to water them, though a drip pan can help keep flower baskets hydrated through the summer heat. One thing to note is that ivy-leaf geraniums are susceptible to root rot, so if you're using a drip pan, make sure it doesn't stay constantly wet and allow the top inch or so of soil to dry out between waterings.

There are several different types of geraniums, and if you're planning on using them for hanging baskets, it's important to grab the right one. You're looking for ivy-leaf geraniums specifically. These are the only trailing, cascading type of geranium, which is what makes them spill so beautifully. Don't confuse them with zonal geraniums, a different type of geranium that can beat the heat in your yard but that grows upright.

To know them is to love them, and once you fall in love with ivy-leaf geraniums, you'll be curious about what varieties to get and where to plant them. Choose from a range of colors in either the traditional five-petal blossoms or newer cultivars with fuller flowers. Beyond the array of brilliant solids, there are also classic bi-color flower picks like the white and red-striped 'Rouletta' or 'Galilee', which has variegated leaves and pink flowers. You could also try 'Precision Dark Lavender', a lilac flower with red blotches in the center.

For ivy-leaf geranium hanging baskets, the best location is the east side of your house for plenty of morning sun and light afternoon shade. Beyond using these flowers in hanging baskets, their trailing habit and vibrant color are perfect for window boxes, railing planters, and living walls. Home Depot has these affordable Emsco Bloomers Series 24-by-12-inch Deck Rail Planters, for example, and you can choose from a few different finishes to create the perfect color combo with your new ivy-leaf geraniums.