Hanging Allium Plants: A Creative Way to Add Greenery to Your Space

Alliums are known for their beautiful spherical blooms that add major visual impact to gardens. But did you know these ornamental onions can also be used in hanging baskets and planters to bring striking greenery indoors or onto patios and porches? Hanging alliums is an innovative way to enjoy their unique beauty and transform your space with lovely cascading foliage and flowers.

Why Hang Allium Plants?

Here are some of the benefits of incorporating hanging alliums

• Provides stunning cascades of foliage and blooms

• Perfect for small spaces like patios, balconies, and porches where ground space is limited.

• Allows you to easily move plants to control sunlight exposure.

• Creates fun height variation by mixing with other hanging and upright plants.

• Adds lovely greenery and pops of color to indoor areas.

• Provides pleasing aromas from fragrant varieties.

• Attracts pollinators like bees when outdoors.

Hanging alliums opens up many possibilities to creatively utilize these plants beyond traditional in-ground plantings.

Best Allium Varieties for Hanging Baskets

While most alliums will thrive in hanging planters, certain compact, mounding varieties are best suited to cascading over the edges. Some top options include:

• Allium moly – A petite species with bright yellow blooms in spring. Grows 12 inches tall.

• Allium oreophilum – Forms a neat clump of narrow foliage with pink globe flowers. Reaches 15 inches tall.

• Allium senescens – Displays silvery-blue foliage and lilac blooms. Stays under 12 inches tall.

• Allium sphaerocephalon – A classic choice with purple drumstick blooms above thin, grass-like leaves. Grows 18 inches tall.

• Allium thunbergii – A low grower under 6 inches with vibrant purple spherical flowers.

• Drumstick alliums – Slender leaves and small burgundy blooms on wiry 18-inch stems create a fine-textured look.

Select more compact, low-growing alliums to prevent tall, floppy growth from overtaking your hanging container.

Tips for Planting and Caring for Hanging Alliums

Follow these tips to successfully grow alliums in hanging baskets:

• Choose containers at least 10-12 inches wide and deep to allow adequate soil and avoid root binding. Make sure hanging hardware can support the weight when mature.

• Fill containers with a well-draining potting mix formulated for hanging baskets and containers. Mix in a slow-release fertilizer.

• Plant bulbs or transplants 6-8 inches apart to allow for growth. Place bulbs with tips facing up and tops slightly protruding from soil.

• Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Allium foliage will indicate when plants need more water.

• Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer according to package directions to nourish plants.

• Remove faded blooms to encourage prolonged flowering. Leave foliage intact.

• Repot alliums into larger containers every 2-3 years to provide room for mature bulbs to grow.

Proper planting, watering, and fertilizing will keep your hanging alliums thriving.

Creative Ways to Use Hanging Alliums Outdoors

There are endless options for utilizing hanging alliums outside your home. Here are some inspiring ideas:

• Flank your front door or patio with matching planters overflowing with purple globes or yellow spikes.

• Create an allium-filled oasis on your balcony or deck for pollinators to enjoy.

• Line your front walkway or driveway with blooming, cascading alliums in place of traditional flower beds.

• Craft an allium-centric mixed planter with spiller alliums plus upright filler plants like grasses.

• Grow different allium varieties in coordinating planters on an outdoor living space to compare shapes and colors.

• Accentuate garden fences or gazebos with festive hanging drums of allium flowers.

Let your imagination run wild with the many possibilities!

Stylish Ways to Showcase Hanging Alliums Indoors

Don’t limit hanging alliums to just outside your home. You can also spotlight these special plants inside by:

• Placing a planter with cascading foliage and blooms in an open stairwell or atrium.

• Filling a wall planter or hanging macrame basket in a sunroom with purple Sensation alliums.

• Clustering assorted Allium thunbergii planters on windowsills to greet you with color.

• Creating a living floral arrangement over your dining table with hanging alliums as centerpiece.

• Accenting dorm rooms or apartments by suspending allium-filled pots from hooks in small spaces.

• Arranging matching hanging planters on an indoor patio or solarium for cohesive style.

Let alliums bring their lively presence and refreshing greenery to even your indoor rooms.

Unique Hanging Container Ideas for Alliums

Looking for non-traditional hanging planters to display your alliums? Why not try:

• Colanders or strainers with drainage holes – use for airy drums or chives

• Decorative metal pails or buckets – great for a farmhouse vibe

• Macrame or rope hangers – integrate natural textures and patterns

• Galvanized watering cans – play up alliums’ metallic hues

• Recycled teapots or mugs – quirky chic for small species

• Wood crates lined with plastic – rustic appeal for porches

• Mesh or wire hanging baskets – allow for maximum airflow

With creative containers, you can really highlight the sculptural nature of allium’s spherical blooms and have fun with your design.

Care Tips to Keep Hanging Alliums Thriving

To ensure your hanging alliums stay healthy and happy all season:

• Rotate planters to evenly distribute sunlight, especially if outdoors. Alliums like full sun.

• Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly to nourish plants; reduce to every other month during winter.

• Water when top few inches of soil become dry. Avoid letting plants completely dry out or sit in water.

• Remove spent blooms and any damaged foliage to maintain vigor. Leave healthy greenery intact.

• Monitor for common pests like thrips, onion flies, or aphids and treat promptly if issues arise.

• Repot into larger planters every 2-3 years as bulbs expand; divide overcrowded bulbs.

• Bring containers inside or protect from freezing temps if growing alliums in colder climates.

With attentive care and maintenance, your alliums will thrive beautifully on display.

Growing alliums in hanging containers allows anyone to enjoy these stellar plants – even those without outdoor gardens. With their dazzling diversity of colors, shapes, sizes and textures, alliums are endlessly fun to experiment with in suspended planters. Give your patio, balcony, or indoor space an instant dose of eye-catching greenery and spring to life with hanging alliums.