Setting Up a Nice Color Bowl or Hanging Basket

There are so many pre sprouted flowers and plants available right now that it is the perfect time for setting up all kinds of containers to beautify our living areas.

I love the color bowls on display in the Lawn and Garden shops but they are so overpriced. I decided to make a few color bowls of my own and for less than $20 (and less than the cost of 1 premade color bowl) I was able to make two of my own in about 10 minutes. If you already have empty pots, extra potting soil, etc. around the garage from previous plantings you can save even more.

Step 1: Materials

You can make both a Terra Cotta Bowl and hanging basket using these items:

I large round bowl - $7
1 Coconut Hanging Basket - $5
3 Pre sprouted Six Packs - $2 each
1 small Bag Potting Soil (already had)
Some Drainage Material (already had)
Total cost $18

When selecting plants for your color bowls you want to choose ones that all have similar growing needs with varying colors, shapes, height and directions.

I chose Celosa (the red pointed flower that grows tall and upright), Vincia (white rounded petals that grow medium height and spread outwards) and Petunias (purple and white horn shaped flowers that will grow over the edge and dangle a bit)

All three flowers are annuals, require a basic potting soil (not top soil), require daily watering, good drainage and can use the same plant food and fertilizer.

Coconut bowls are excellent for hanging planters because they are a natural fiber and while they drain well they also retain just enough water in the soil for happy healthy plants.

Terra Cotta Bowls are also excellent as the pot will also drain well and absorbs excess water into its shell.

Step 2:

Scatter a little drainage material in the bottom of your bowls, since both of these bowls are good draining material you don't need much.

Add potting soil to within 2 inches of the rims leaving space for setting your plants and adding more soil to cover the roots later.

Step 3: Add the First Plants

Starting with your tallest plant and working from the middle out remove it gently from the container and spread the root ball by grasping in the lower center and working the roots outward so the ball is almost flat.

Place your center flowers without overlapping the root balls any more than you have to. You don't want to overcrowd your color bowls, remember some of these flowers are going to need room to spread out.

Step 4: Adding More Plants

Repeat this process adding the next sets of flowers, since the Petunias will be dangling I put them a little closer to the edge and the Vincias will be spreading around the inside of the bowl so I placed them a little more between the edge and the Cleosias so they could grow between the other two.

Once all of your plants are in place add more potting soil around the color bowls to cover the exposed root balls well and press down lightly to pack the soil on top.

Step 5: Place Your Color Bowls

Hang or place your color bowls in their desired locations and water them well being careful to water on the soil and not directly on the flowers themselves.