Coconuts aren't just for pie and tropical drinks. The fiber from the husks of coconuts provides the raw material for hanging basket liners. The dark brown color of liners made from coconut fiber, also known as coir, makes an attractive contrast to the green leaves and colorful blossoms of hanging baskets. You can find coir liners in many different shapes. For hanging baskets, choose bowl-shaped liners designed to fit inside wire basket frames.
Step 1
Insert the coir form into the wire basket frame. Push down until the coir is firmly seated. Water the coir. The dry coconut fibers should soak up water and may expand slightly.
Step 2
Cut planting holes in the bottom and around the sides of the coir liner with a sharp knife. Space the holes 2 to 4 inches apart to allow room for plants to grow. Cut from the outside of the basket, positioning the cut-outs between the wires. Remove and discard the sections of coir you've cut away.
Step 3
Insert plants into the holes you've cut, starting at the bottom of the basket and working up the sides. Remove the plants from the nursery packs and position in the planting holes. Use your fingers to move the potting soil out of the way if you need to. The University of Illinois Extension suggests choosing plants such as petunia, sweet potato vine, verbena or ivy to give your basket a full look.
Step 4
Fill the basket loosely with a potting soil designed for use in pots and baskets. The soil should be rich and should drain well. Pat the soil firmly around the roots of the plants.
Step 5
Mix a tablespoon of water-absorbing crystals into the potting soil. These crystals absorb water and hold it around the plants' roots. Coconut fiber baskets are porous and can dry out quickly in hot weather, so adding these crystals can protect your plants from becoming too dry.
Step 6
Plant additional plants on the top of the basket. You can plant a taller specimen plant, such as a geranium or begonia, in the center top, or stick to trailing varieties such as petunias or ivy.
Step 7
Water the basket thoroughly. Use a sprinkler attachment to your hose to gently rain water onto the basket until the soil is soaked. You'll need to water your basket every day unless you receive rain.
Step 8
Feed your basket with a water-soluble fertilizer designed for container plants. Feed them every two weeks during the growing season.
Tips and Warnings
- Move your basket to a shady spot during the hottest part of the day to help keep plants from drying out. Line the wire basket with plastic before inserting the coconut fiber liner to help retain moisture in the basket soil. If your basket dries out, the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension recommends submersing the basket in a bucket of cool water and allowing the basket to soak up as much water as it can to revitalize the basket.
Things You'll Need
- Wire hanging basket
- Coconut fiber basket liner
- Sharp knife
- Potting soil
- Water absorbent crystals
- Plants
- Water
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