The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-21
What to Use in Hanging Baskets.

Good Housekeeping
Morning glory is one of the most thrifty and
delightful plants for the baskets described.
When grown in the house this vine becomes more
delicate than when cultivated out Of doors. It's
flowers will open every morning and will not
close their blue cups until nearly night. A con-
spicuously beautiful hanging design may be made
by filing clay bowl with soil and planting it,
this month 1.-THE sooner now the better) with
seeds of morning glory. In six weeks time this
vine will be luxuriant and blossoming. Set the
bowl in rustic hanging basket. The morning
glory or convolvulus family, are very free bloom
ing and are SNOWY and desirable for suspendingin
the window. Ivies and ferns look charmingly
planted in bottles filed with water and screened
IN moss in moss lined wire basket. The par
fridge vine will grow in water and may be
utilized for fringing the basket. The ivy
will Irvine about the basket and creep up its
cords. Fresh water must be added to that in
the bottles every two or three days. but this is
little more trouble than watering would be.
There isno lovelier vine for the basket than the
nasturtium, which blossoms very freely. Honey
suckle and trailing esembryanthemum are
also admirable. The center of the basket may
be planted with verbenas, petunias, heliotrope
or mimulus. Three orked branches of any old
tree. which are gnarled and well grown with
branchlets, make fascinating hanging
the pratter. Tie the three forks to
gether by their heads with strong wire
or twine and fasten the branchlets so that these
will form lattice work. Over all the fasten-
ings wind moss. Set in this pot with its
saucer, filing all around it with moss. Attach
strong cords for handles. Ox-muzzles and old
fly covers may be utilized for hanging baskets
by lining with moss and suspending. Nina
ture baskets may be made of turkeys or goose
eggs that look very daintily when planted with
light vines. Choose the largest size. pierce a
hole in each END with needle and blow out the
white and yolk. Then put the egg in boiling
water, and when hot cut it In the middle care
fully for fear it will crack down. using small,
sharp pointed scissors. Crochet covering OF
bright worsted for the shells, and cords to hang
them by. A rich and sandy soil should be put
in the shells. when the vines will flourish luxu-
riantly. There are many ornamental de-
vices to be easily made for hanging plant-holders
that no parlors or living room should be barren
of these interesting adornments.
In planting hanging baskets do not crowd them
with too many specimens Of upright growth
One erect plant, such as geranium or begonia,
is usually enough. The trailers and creepers
should be planted near the edge of the basket.
Strawberry and cranberry vines have been sue
cessfully used in baskets Gazania splendens
will bloom exquisitely and drop down one or two
feet from the basket. Ivy-leaved geranium is
another handsome trailer.
Water should be given judiciously to hanging
baskets, and whenever they are watered the
whole soil in the vessel should be thoroughly
wet. The warmer the room the more frequently
must water be given Usually once day is
sufficient Cold water should not be used, but
that of the same temperature the room. The
easiest way to water wire or moss baskets is to
take them down and saturate them in pail or
tub Of water. If baskets are dried by the
strong heat from the sun. it is good plan to
place them for half an hour in dish of water,
that their roots may drink up full supply of
moisture. Plants will not flourish in pefection
year after year in hanging Baskets they must
be renewed every twelvemonth with strong
young growth if we would have them healthy
and bright.