GARDENING
GARDENING
Hanging Plants
BY GERALD FILIPSKI
Growing plants in the vertical dimension is a decorating scheme often overlooked by homeowners . With many retirees downsizing into townhomes or condominiums , available window space can be at a premium in these homes . Many houseplants prefer west- or south-facing windows but giving up the space in front of those windows to plants is not an option for some . That type of thinking is two-dimensional . Utilizing the third or vertical dimension can open up all sorts of decorating ideas .
Hanging containers not only have a place outdoors , they can effectively and efficiently brighten any room without taking up valuable floor or window space . Today the wide assortment of containers and pots makes it easy to choose one that blends into an existing decorating scheme . Containers suitable for hanging plants take many shapes and forms , from simple plastic to china , pottery , terra cotta or even decorative metal pots . There are even containers made of lightweight cast resin . These containers are manufactured to look like much heavier ceramic or terra cotta . The containers can be suspended in a variety of ways including wicker hangers , metal wall brackets or even wall sconces . In recent years , the wall pot has become very popular . This pot has a flattened back that allows it to sit flush with the wall . You can use your imagination when it comes to containers as well . For example , you can convert a small metal
16 | arta . net news & views is delighted to welcome Gerald ( Jerry ) Filipski to our pages . He is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America , and is the gardening columnist at the Edmonton Journal . He is also the author of Just Ask Jerry : Good Answers to Tough Canadian Gardening Questions .
watering can into a plant container to hang from the ceiling . It might be just the touch of whimsy your decorating scheme needs .
Choosing plants should be done with careful consideration . Make sure you do your homework on what exposure the plant likes , its watering needs and any other special requirements . Consider where you plan to hang the plant , the size of the container , whether you want colour , foliage or both , and , most importantly , the fact that you will be viewing the plants from below .
Many indoor gardeners feel the need to follow the age-old tradition of having a single plant in a pot . Consider using multiple plantings within the same pot to create interest . A creative concept that allows the gardener to change the plants in a grouping or rearrange the grouping easily is to use a larger , decorative , non-draining container into which individually potted plants are arranged . The advantage of this method is that the display can be changed as soon as one of the plants stops flowering , becomes unsightly or you tire of it . Flowering houseplants with short seasons of bloom can be displayed in this way .
You can plan the container on paper to ensure that the plants you want to use will fit . On a sheet of paper , draw a circle the same size as the container and place the individual plants on it . Arrange the plants the way you think they look best and note the positioning on the paper .