Create an Indigenous Hanging Basket

Hanging baskets make great gifts for the festive season. By using indigenous plants you can ensure that it doesn’t dry out as quickly as other hanging baskets, which makes this festive gift water-wise too.

Here is what you need to know:

• Line your basket with coconut hair mesh and fill it with good quality potting soil. Use a garden fork to mix in a few handfuls of moisture retaining granules into the soil. Water the soil well.
• Fill your basket with a selection of indigenous plants, such as lobelias, pelargoniums, diascia, hen and chickens, helichrysum petiolare, plectranthus, scabiosa, gazanias and geranium incanum. Place the upright plants in the centre and the cascading varieties along the edges.
• Choose plants in light colours to brighten up shady patio areas, and opt for bright colours if your hanging basket will be in a sunny spot.
• Turn your hanging basket regularly to ensure that all the plants grow evenly.
• Keep your hanging basket in top shape by giving it a good soaking twice a week.