Plants grown in a hanging container - pots are called ampelous. German Ampel means hanging vase. Increasingly, this method of landscaping is found on balconies, verandas, in gardens. A hanging basket with flowers saves space, makes the flower arrangement visible from any angle and just looks very festively beautiful.
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What plants are suitable for ampel cultivation
For ampel cultivation choose colorful plants, beautifully blooming, or having long shoots hanging from the pots. Nasturtium or petunia have this property to some extent. Viola, snapdragon and pelargonium (geranium) are not curly or drooping, but are colorful and meet all the requirements of ampel floriculture. Either way, all varieties are very suitable for decorative purposes when grown in hanging baskets. Currently, even small shrubs are used for planting in a hanging vase.
Most popular and well-known plants for ampel breeding are listed in the following list.
Petunia is distinguished by a variety of colors, long flowering throughout the summer, and ease of care.- Pelargonium (geranium) is a popular plant. Its conditions are warm and sun, watering is not too abundant, tolerates drought.
- Ampel begonia prefers a sunny location. In such conditions, it is the most beautiful, blooms with red flowers on long stems. Otherwise, it is not very demanding of care.
- Verbena also does not require complex care, blooms for a long time. Grows well on loosened fertile soil, loves the sun.
- Campanula belongs to the bellflower family, has stems more than 20 centimeters hanging. The flowers are white, light blue or slightly purple in color. The plant blooms very abundantly and looks beautiful at the same time. The arrangement of two pots with white and blue flowers is called "the bride and groom". They are hung on the window - as close to natural light as possible. But it does not tolerate strong sunlight.
- Ampel fuchsia - indoor beautifully flowering perennial plant. Graceful white-pink or purple flowers appear in the fall. Prefers moist soil, but not excessively. It is not recommended to expose it to direct sunlight.
- Viola - "pansies" is distinguished by flowers of a pleasant appearance with a rich and varied color, very decorative. There are special ampelous varieties of this plant.
In addition to those listed, in this type of floral design, ampelous flowers for pots are widely used, the names of which are less known.
- Surfinia, which is characterized by various shades of flowers and abundant flowering. Grows rapidly, reproduces vegetatively
- Lubelia with shoots hanging down like a waterfall, flowers of various colors: white, blue, pink. Blooms in June if sown on time.
- Bacopa widespread in America and Europe, but not yet popular with us.Loves warmth, sun, which ensures flowering.
- Dichondra complements other plants by combining with them to form hanging cascades.
The fact that some ampelous plants are not known to everyone does not diminish the importance of such a culture in decoration.
How to choose the right plants for your garden
Flowers or plants of the same species look great in a hanging planter. But you can plant two or more species in one basket. Then there will be an opportunity to combine plants and make whole compositions. Plants are distinguished by types and growing conditions.
We list ampelous plants for the garden. Their names, depending on the growing method, are as follows.
If they were transferred to the garden for the summer period, and usually winter in a room, then these are perennials: pelargonium, begonia.
- Pelargonium is suitable for the case when it is not possible to regularly water the plants. She tolerates heat, heat, drought, being an unpretentious culture.
- Begonia and love, on the contrary, cannot stand the heat and require regular watering and maintenance.
Both plants can or should be placed in shaded areas.
Garden annuals you need to sow in early spring or take ready-made seedlings.
- Ampel petunia is suitable for multi-color combinations. Blooming balls and cascades are made from it, and vertical structures are decorated. Loves the sun, good soil and regular watering. Petunia, as well as bagopa, are distinguished by long flowering, up to cold autumn.
- Lubelia tolerates the sun, but she also needs always moist and fertile soil.
- Ampel dichondra is still a new plant in everyday life, not everyone knows. Differs in long shoots over a meter in length. Small leaves are sometimes silvery in color. Suitable for vertical gardening.
Ampel flowers for the garden, the names of which have not been listed, are also viola, nasturtium, balsam, nolana, diascia, bindweed, scovola.
Hanging vases with flowers easily transferred to a new location, creating a new look for the old garden landscape. Dull or dull areas are enlivened with planters. When used outdoors, annual flowering plants are often used. They grow rapidly, requiring only the simplest care rules to be followed. So, for example, plants that love moisture and are resistant to drought are not planted in one planter. And also light-loving and shade-loving.
Balcony Plants
Indoor plant species are used in the interior for ampel cultivation. In the summertime, they can be transferred to the balcony, veranda. These are begonia, fuchsia, campanula, geranium, perennials listed earlier. For a motley and colorful decoration of the balcony, sow petunia, nasturtium and other annuals. Sowing is done in a pot with soil or a balcony box. A hanging vase is convenient because it can be outweighed from place to place, changing the look of the veranda. Just like in the garden, blooming balls or cascades on terraces and balconies are made from petunia, lyubelia and surfinia. Balcony boxes should be well fixed or stably positioned.
Plants for hanging planters
Equivalent campanula, fuchsia, ampelous begonia are well known to indoor plant lovers. When hung on balconies and verandas in the summertime, these plush representatives should still receive appropriate care... It is necessary to loosen and moisten the soil, protect it from direct sunlight for a long time. For prolonged flowering of campanula, wilted flowers are removed in time.
In the open air, annuals are used in summer: petunia, snapdragon, viola, especially curly varieties, nasturtium. These plants can be planted without being combined with other plants. The compositions are made from geranium and petunia. Begonia and fuchsia are combined with love. Petunia is supplemented with verbena or dichondra.
How to arrange ampelous plants
Ways to decorate the territory with hanging plants and flowers obey the rules.
The location of the vases should not interfere with movement.- The interior or space of the garden is updated by changing the place of the planter.
- The container with hanging plants can be placed on stands or fixed on the balcony, but in compliance with the rule of stability, using a secure fixation.
- Old things are used to create compositions: movable or broken carts, bicycles, hanging teapots. It gives things a second life and makes the garden interesting.
Observing the general rules, you need to consider where this or that culture grows best: in the light or in the shade. Bear in mind the ability to tolerate drought when regular maintenance is not possible, wind resistance... First of all, you should ask about these parameters in order to prolong the life of ampelous “masterpieces”.
Ampel nasturtium
Nasturtium is distinguished by its decorative originality, having flowers of an original shape with color in red and yellow shades. Blossoming is pleasantly complemented by leaves contrasting in color. Nasturtium does not grow in the room and is an annual garden plant... Many gardeners have paid attention to its diversity, willingly cultivate it. Depending on the variety, nasturtium is more or less climbing, often curling, or vice versa, similar to a herbaceous bush.
Although this flower needs ample sun, it can live in partial shade. Often grown in garden vases, it also looks elegant when hung. Ampelous nasturtium gives rather long shoots, more than a meter. A beautiful look is obtained from the combination of red, orange and yellow flowers. But there are also terry varieties. The plant is easy to sow and get seedlings, but this should be done in May, when frosts are excluded. This culture is unpretentious to the soil.
Conclusions about ampel floriculture
Hanging baskets, blooming balls and cascades decorating interiors, gardens and even city streets have become commonplace. Making life more beautiful, ampelous plants attract with the possibility of a convenient hanging position with a significant decorative effect. All they require to maintain their beauty is regular watering and a little care. By choosing this method of plant breeding for landscaping the territory, flower growers will be able not only to impress others, but also to get delight from the result for themselves.
