DIY Mossy Outdoor Plant Hangers For A Pop Of Green This Spring

Hanging flowers and potted plants in your garden certainly add interest and dimension, but what if there was a way to enhance this trend? While hanging planters on their own are certainly engaging and stylish, creating a potted design that adds more greenery higher up in your garden could bring a whole new element to your outdoor space. In recent years moss-covered décor for your garden has grown in popularity, and everything from moss walls, framed moss, and even bringing nature to your bathroom with a moss floor mat has become a big trend. 

Hanging moss planters may be the next big thing. You can create a planter that also features your blooms and can be draped from almost any area of your yard with just chicken wire and moss: so what are you waiting for? Don't spend money on pots when you can make your own natural version that elevates your space. The only supplies you need are chicken wire, fresh moss, and some potted flowers or plants that will thrive in this hanging environment. 

Your first step is to cut a length of chicken wire to create your moss "cage." The measurement of this will vary depending on whether you want to double-wrap the wire or just want to create one layer. Create a cylinder shape with your wire and cut it so you at least have enough to secure it in a cone shape (where one end gathers at the bottom and the other is an open circle). Use your hands or pliers to secure the cone point, adjusting the wire as you need to create your shape.

You can also try to mold your planter frame into more of a bowl, however the shape isn't super important. Once formed, attach some rope or wire by tying or looping one end around the open portion of your planter (attaching to the chicken wire at the top). You can experiment with different colors or sizes of rope to fit your look. If you want to spray paint your "pot" you can, but your moss should cover a lot of the wire so it's not a necessity — it simply adds aesthetic. 

Once your planter is made, it's time to add your moss. You can buy Sphagnum moss which does well with a variety of plants including bromeliads and ferns, as well as daisies, geraniums, and sweet potato vines. The type of moss you want may vary with the type of plants, flowers, or foliage you intend to keep in it. 

Due to its moisturizing properties, adding moss to your hanging basket before planting makes a great base for a range of plants to give them nutrients and help them grow. Pack your base moss down into the planter, allowing the greenery to show through the openings in the wire. You want the effect to be lush and nature-inspired, hence DIYing this over using a standard pot. Once your moss is filling most of your hanging planter, you can add in your flowers or plants by inserting the roots into the moss so it covers them. You should be able to add a few different plants, then pack your moss around them to secure them. Leave the soil attached to your flora and fauna, and then watch your planter thrive.