Don’t put your hanging baskets away for the winter. They can give you just as much pleasure over the short winter days as they do in summer.
The easiest plants to use in winter hanging baskets are pansies, violas, ivies and cyclamen. Cyclamen do not trail like the others will, but can still provide a contrast if you choose the color of your pansies and violas carefully.
Variegated grasses work well as a contrast, too. Their different form and color show off the bright flower colors very well.
Take a look at the winter hanging baskets on display on this page for inspiration. If you click on any basket you will be taken to a page where you can order those exact same seeds or plants for your own baskets.
Prepare your winter hanging baskets using fresh compost or soil/compost mixture. Add a scoop of slow-release organic fertiliser to each basket. Put a wide bowl in the base of each basket to act as a water reservoir. Remember that we get periods without rain even in winter. Add water retaining silica gel granules to your compost and plant your plants as you would for a summer hanging basket.
You should water/feed your basket every three or four days depending on the weather.
There is still time to grow your own winter hanging basket plants if you order your seeds by mid-October. Alternatively you can order plug plants, which save a lot of hassle.
