Frequently Asked Questions

Fertilize once a week or according to package directions. Use a balanced fertilizer (such as 20-20-20) early in the season to promote even growth in the plants. As the season progresses, fertilize with a flower booster fertilizer (such as 15-30-15) to promote flowers.

What is the best type of fertilizer?

Any plant food for outdoor flower plants works, 20-20-20, 15-30-15, fish fertilizer, or any brand you already use. It is important to give the plants that something extra.

Why fertilize?

Fertilizer provides essential nutrients to the plants. Even though they are planted in a quality soil that provides nutrients, there are not enough naturally supplied to sufficiently support the plant over its growth cycle. A slow release fertilizer is added to the soil, but the additional use of plant food fertilizer is also recommended. All plants can be benefited from the use of extra supplements in the form of fertilizer, just as we use vitamins to supplement our body's.

What do you mean by a moss basket? Why would people want a hanging basket with moss growing in it?

When people refer to a moss basket what they are actually referring to is the basket itself, what the plants are planted in, not what is growing in the basket. A moss basket is built by starting with a wire basket that is lined with moss, and then filled with soil. The flowering plants are then planted in the soil. A good moss basket should be side planted as well as planted on the top; there should be from 9-12 plants on the sides and another 9-11 on top. This is the benefit of the wire frame lined with moss; plants can be put in the sides resulting in a fuller basket. The moss holds the soil and plants together, and once the plants have filled in, you will no longer see the moss.

Will my hanging basket winter over?

Summer flowering hanging baskets are planted with flowering annuals. This means they are plants that only last one season. The plants have been developed to produce a beautiful show of colour during their blooming season, but they only last the one season. Some plants used in hanging baskets can be wintered over (such as geraniums), but they need to be protected from the cold weather.

Can my baskets from last year be replanted? Do you replant them?

Yes you can replant your baskets, but we do not replant them. Essentially most baskets are made for one years' use, and we start with new baskets each year. Many people replant their baskets from previous years. The important steps to remember if you are replanting, is to replace the soil with new soil and replace the wire hangers. The plants from the previous year have used up all the nutrients and good from the soil, and if it is not replaced, your new plants will not perform as well.

Do you do custom order planting?

No, we have done it in the past and have found there are too many differences in colour and tone, with all the variations of plants and the colours they bloom in, it is difficult if someone asks for pink, to make sure we use the right pink tone they want. We feel bad if we specially plant a basket for someone, and they are not quite the right colours. We prefer to plant many different colour variations, and then open our greenhouses up to you, the general public and let you have the selection of over 3,000 baskets to choose from.

What plants attract hummingbirds and butterflies?

Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to bright, strongly coloured flowers that provide nectar. Fuchsia are very popular with hummingbirds, especially, brightly coloured single flowering varieties. Lightly scented plants such as verbena are also attractive to butterflies.