Plants in hanging baskets generally need frequent watering because their potting mix is light, drains quickly, and dries out fast. The best practice is to water when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. During hot, sunny days, this may mean watering once a day or even twice if temperatures are very high (25-40°C) or conditions are windy
. Key points for watering hanging plants:
- Water thoroughly until water flows out of the bottom drainage holes to ensure the entire soil ball is moistened
- Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as this makes re-wetting difficult and can cause plant stress or wilting
- On cooler days or seasons, watering frequency can be reduced accordingly
- The best time to water is in the morning (between 5 am and 9 am) so plants can absorb moisture before the heat of the day. If a second watering is needed on hot days, do it late afternoon but not too late to avoid wet roots overnight
- Check soil moisture by sticking a finger 1-2 inches into the soil; water only if dry
- If a basket dries out completely, submerge it in water for 1-2 hours to rehydrate the soil from the bottom, but avoid leaving it too long to prevent root rot
In summary, watering hanging plants should be done frequently-often daily in summer-based on soil moisture rather than a fixed schedule, with thorough watering each time and attention to time of day for best plant health
