Basketful of Blooms

Brighten your house from now through spring with violas.

Violas have engaging blooms. They come in many colors, and their tiny painted faces display unique designs. To fully appreciate these delicate yet durable flowers, plant them in hanging baskets where they can be viewed and enjoyed up close.

The viola baskets pictured above were assembled last October. They flowered and slowly filled out during the fall and winter months. Then, in the warm spring sun, they reached their peak and meshed together, turning the planters into balls of blooms. Here's how to make one yourself.

Natural Liner

First line a 14-inch-wide wire frame with sphagnum moss. Soak the moss in water; then lay sheets of moss down into the basket, pressing them against the wire. Start at the bottom, and work your way up the sides.

Add Soil and Plants

Once you've worked the moss about halfway up the sides of the basket, begin to fill it with potting soil. Then push a few of the root-balls through the wires, leaving the plants and foliage to hang outside the basket (see photo above). Sprinkle a tablespoon of water-soluble, slow-release fertilizer around the soil and the roots. If the soil you buy already has fertilizer mixed in, you won't need to add any.

Finishing Up

Continue pressing moss up the sides of the basket until you get to the top. Let 1 or 2 inches of moss drape over the edge. Then fill the rest of the basket with soil, and plant violas in the top, spaced 6 to 8 inches apart. Water thoroughly. A watering wand that attaches to a hose is a great tool for hanging baskets.

Easy Maintenance

This blooming basket doesn't require a lot of care. Pull off old flowers occasionally so plants won't set seed. If your violas become leggy, pinch them back. Aphids can be a problem if temperatures remain unseasonably warm, but if you catch them early, you can spray them off with water from a hose. Control heavy infestations using insecticidal soap.

These violas were left out for three or four days in weather that was in the teens. If temperatures are expected to remain that cold for more than a few days, move baskets into a protected area such as a garage or covered deck.

Water your basket regularly, and keep the soil evenly moist. In the winter, you'll probably need to water only once a week. In the spring, as temperatures rise, you may have to water plants daily. CHARLIE THIGPEN

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Oct 2004
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