I have two big hanging baskets I have to fill, in the TX heat. I had

[babylonsister]

ferns in there last summer, but I'm thinking those flowing, flowery petunias for this summer.
Any thoughts on alternatives?

[fight4my3sons]

1. I am definitely not an expert, but...

If you like petunias, but don't like to deadhead all the time, get the tiny bells (I think they are called). I LOVE the purple wave petunias, but the deadheading kills me. Last year I got a basket with those tiny bells and they were great!

[babylonsister]

2. I think the deadheading is what is making me hesitate w/the petunias.

The baskets hang high so I'd be dragging out the step stool every other day. I just googled tiny bell plant and got nuthin'! I'll have to reconsider this now. Thanks.

[ThingsGottaChange]

3. What you're looking for is Calibrachoa

Also called Million Bells, Mini-Petunias and other names. Just look for Calibrachoa. They are almost impossible to kill. I'm in the midwest and I water them almost every day, though. You may need to see if you have to water more often, since you're in Texas. If you notice them drooping just water well and they perk right up!

These are my all time faves! My sister ordered tons of plugs again this year so we'll have tons of baskets! If you don't find any locally, Park Seed sells some online. They are bare root plants. I think I got some from them last year and they did very well.

Good luck!

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks for the name! I hope I can find them at a local nursery; they

look like they'd work perfectly!

[fight4my3sons]

11. yes! That's it!

the million bells. Sorry about that Babylon Sister. I am not good with names at all... TGC is right about the watering though. Mine started to droop and I watered good and they perked right up.

Good luck!

[BOSSHOG]

4. Wave Petunias

are very hearty and grow incredibly large. They'd make a big splash of color trailing down from the basket. Lantana does well in the sun with little maintenance. How bout an indeterminate strawberry plant? Dragon winged begonias also do very well in the sun. No deadheading involved with them but they are a little messy. They have interesting foliage and bloom all season, they shed their blooms often.

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks, Boss. I got the wave petunia idea from you, but am leaning

towards something that doesn't require too much deadheading. I was thinking of scented geraniums; found a site googling, and they look good. They are hard to find around here though, at least the ones that bloom. Still mulling it over...

[BOSSHOG]

7. Geraniums

are one of my favorites. The garden shops around here are filled with them now. But there is a modicum of deadheading involved with them as well.

[babylonsister]

8. I have one old geranium, but it doesn't do too well in the heat

and doesn't bloom much if at all. But my hanging baskets are somewhat shaded during the day, so maybe they'd thrive there.
We have tons around here now, too, but not the scented variety; they seem a bit more delicate-looking than the regular old ones. Boy, I'm sounding jaded now.

[BOSSHOG]

9. Tabula Rasa

"Blank Page" in Latin I think. Just go wild. Go shopping with nothing in mind and come home with something that catches your eye. Being Jaded about plants is a good thing. It keeps the hybrid business busy.

[roguevalley]

10. have you considered getting flowering cactus?

[babylonsister]

12. Not really, because I'm looking for something that spills over the

sides of the baskets as they hang above my head.

[Sweet Freedom]

13. Enchanted Forest

Have you ever been to the Enchanted Forest? That's my favorite nursery. I just went this past weekend and bought 13 beautiful plants for less than $75. The employees know their stuff and are very helpful.

Enchanted Forest
[phone]
10611 Fm 2759 Rd
Richmond, TX 77469

(Take 59S to Crabb River road. Turn left. Go about 1.5 miles to FM 2759 and turn left. Drive a couple miles and after you pass Aunt Agnes' Cafe, the enchanted Forest is on the left.)

[NMDemDist2]

14. are they very close to your living area?

Lantanas work well, but do attract whiteflies

[BOSSHOG]

15. We have some Lantana planted out back

They are monsters. I cut them down to the ground last weekend and they are already a foot tall. They had a trunk as big around as my wrist. Kinda scary. They are great in a pot and butterflies love em.