Keeping Your Hanging Basket Beautiful

You finally have your GORGEOUS hanging basket that you hand picked from Garden Valley Farmers Market. You’re watering it and admiring its unique beauty and color that it brings to your home. With a little work, love, and the following tips, let’s keep your hanging baskets looking absolutely gorgeous and full of blooms all summer long.

Location

When choosing your hanging baskets, remember to keep location in the forefront of your mind. Needing a shade plant? We recommend Ferns, Wandering Jew, and Fuchsia!
Needing a basket that’s in a sunny location? Petunia, Million Bells, and Lantana are GREAT choices for you, and come in a beautiful variety of colors.

Fertilize… slowly

Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to fertilizing your hanging basket. Why? First, if fertilizing too much, the flower/plant can become stressed by growing too fast and cause it to go into shock. Slow growth is much better than the opposite in the long run. Second, its important to fertilize because the soil is not exposed to the same soil as a garden bed would be. It’s not getting the same organic compounds and nutrients from the earth when its hanging in the air, so regular fertilizing of your basket is recommended.

Watering

How and when you water your basket is secretly an important tip. Most baskets tend to dry out faster than a bedding plant or pot would because they are exposed to more wind, so watering once (sometimes twice) daily is recommended with most hanging baskets. However, be sure to ask your sales associate for your specific plant’s watering needs if there is no tag).
When is the best time to water, you ask? We recommend early morning. Early morning watering gives the plant enough time to absorb the moisture that is needed so that it can survive the heat of the day, but any time, as long as you’re watering, is a good time.

Regular Pruning and Deadheading

Once a week, cut back and remove any damaged leaves or flower buds from your basket. You will notice a huge difference in the longevity of life from your basket if this is done and kept up with. Doing this not only increases growth in your basket, but it also increases the bloom development. And we all want that, right?!

F Y I

MOST hanging basket from Garden Valley Farmers Market do not need to be repotted, as long as they are kept trimmed back and pruned. But on the off chance that the basket might need some saving… check out the next section on what to do.

Your Plant May Have Outgrown It’s Container

If your plant starts to look overgrown, it might be time for you to repot your basket. Hanging baskets can become root bound because the roots will have no room left to grow. If you haven’t kept up with the regular pruning of your basket, you can repot your plant into a hanging basket that is a size bigger. Wire baskets filled with a coconut liner are a great option because they increase air flow through the root of the plant.

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We would love to see photos of how beautiful your hanging baskets are this summer, so tag @gardenvalleyfarmersmarket in your posts, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #gardenvalleyfarmersmarket and show us your beautiful baskets!

Lastly, if you find this information helpful, we’d love it if you would support us
by sharing with your friends.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. If you’re wanting to earn rewards and be easily connected with us, download our new App. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

Our Top 8 Indoor Plants And How To Care For Them

If you’re looking for easy ways to add some beauty in your home that will not only make it more beautiful, but also reduce stress and filter your air, then we HIGHLY recommend you come to Garden Valley Farmers Market and pick out some of the many indoor plants that we carry. Not only do they provide a warm, personal touch to your home’s decor, but they also remove toxins in the air and release fresh oxygen for you to breathe and enjoy.

Here are our top eight indoor houseplants that we recommend you add to your home
and how to care for them:

Bird Of Paradise
Light. Direct sun through a window or door
Soil. Well draining potting soil
Water. Water when surface of soil starts to look dry

Rubber Plant
Light. Bright, indirect light (can accomplish this by shielding the plant with a sheer curtain)
Soil. Well-draining and well-aerated soil
Water. In growing season (summer), keep the plant moist (Droopy leaves means that it needs more water)
You can also learn more about them here.

Succulents
Light. Succulents LOVE sunlight and need AT LEAST half a day of sunlight, depending on the variety you choose
Soil. Repot in a succulent soil
Water. Water heavily, but not often, making sure the soil is dry between waterings

Hoya Tricolor
Light. Bright, indirect light. Hoya also loves humidity, so it’s the perfect plant for a bathroom that has natural light
Soil. Well-draining soil with a perlite or pumice mix
Water. Less is better. Hoya hates overwatering, so make sure the soil dries out between waterings

Split Leaf Philadendron (Monstera Deliciosa)
Light. Bright, indirect light
Soil. Peat based potting mix
Water. Water regularly, allowing soil to dry slightly between waterings. You can also mist the leaves to create humidity, which mimics its natural habitat)

ZZ Plant
Light. These like indirect, moderate light, but can also survive in low light conditions (perfect for offices)
Soil. Not picky
Water. Only water when the soil has dried out (yellow leaves means too much water)

Pothos
Light. Do well in either bright/indirect light, as well as low light
Soil. Any potting mix is fine
Watering. Allow soil to dry out before watering again

Snake Plant
Light. Grows faster in bright light, but also does well in low light conditions
Soil. Well-draining cactus soil will do fine
Watering. Prevent overwatering by allowing soil to dry out

CAUTION: Even though these plants can be so beautiful, they can also be harmful and toxic to your pets and children. Please remember to research and take this into consideration when choosing your indoor plants.

And as a general rule of thumb, if you are going to repot your plants, remember to choose pots that have drainage holes in them (or drill your own) in order to prevent root rot. It’s also important to choose a pot that’s only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot. This will allow room for growth but will not engulf the plant.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other blog posts or needing more inpsiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team