Hi Chris,
I am starting my Sphagnum moss hanging ball that I got last year at Topiary Art Works, again. Can you please look at my photo and tell me if it is still good? Any idea on how to fix the holes? Any idea on what made the holes?
Thanks so much.

By the way, do you still have the wreath above? How did it do?

This is what I want to do.

This is my ball at present


Also I had purchased the Welcome planter with the coco moss lining. What kind of soil am I supposed to use in a coco liner? If I'm putting semps and succulents in it, do I just use the same mix that I use for my potted semps.
click on photo for a clearer image.


Photos from Topiary Art Works. http://www.topiaryartworks.com...

Hi Debbie,

I had to take that wreath apart because none of those plants are hardy in my zone. I brought the plants inside for the winter, but the process of removing the plants destroyed the wreath form. Now I just use sempervivum and sedum so I can leave it outside year round.

From the looks of your ball, I think that a critter must have made that a cozy winter house - a mouse maybe? That's a pretty big hole to fix. I'd try to find some spaghnum moss to repair it. After you stuff the hole with the moss (stuff it so it's pretty solid) you can hold it in with nylon thread or fishing line. Not sure how long it will last though.

Never tried planting semps in something with a coco liner, but I'd think that the same mix you use for other pots of semps should work OK.

Good luck, and let us know how they turn out!

Chris

Ok Chris, no semps in the Welcome Planter with coco liner. I'm going to do all I can this year to have all of them survive. I'm not taking any chances. I also sent a photo of the ball to Topiary Art Works to ask their opinion. I know you told me above, but please tell me again. Where can I get the sphagnum and do I have to buy a whole block like they have at Topiary AW?

I saw someone else on this cubit, that took two of the black wire baskets that are lined with coco, put them together to make a huge ball for semps and stuff. Then they filled it with soil. I'll go look it up.

Oh, and I hope it was a bird that made the hole and not a mouse.

I hope it was a bird too. I'd look for spaghnum moss at a craft store like Hobby Lobby or Michaels. They'd have a much smaller quantity you could purchase. Or maybe Topiary AW would be willing to sell you just a small amount to repair it. Never hurts to ask.

I'm pretty sure that was Jacki that did the wire basket ball.

Thanks so much Chris. I'll give them a little while longer to reply and then I'll just head out to Hobby Lobby to check it out.

Hey Debbie, that was me that did the two baskets together - they work great, and the Lee Valley ones I got had fitted liners of coco fibre (formed to the shape of the basket).



Edited to add the link:

http://cubits.org/sedumandsemp...

That is so cool Jacki.

Is that an updated picture of it from this year Jacki? It really is cool!

It's finally starting to look like something. I overwintered it in a corner, so nothing special was done to it - I'm so mean! I lost a few, so luckily, there are some that are getting established and making chicks. It's so hard to punch through the coco fiber to make holes, so I'm glad the chicks are just rooting through it.

Thanks so much Jacki and thanks for the link. It's looking good. I just took a loritab for my toothache, so I didn't go back and read the thread. But, I'll ask again here. When I buy the individual baskets, they are already lined with moss. After I join them, do I need to put soil inside of the whole thing. And if so, how do I? Do I just cut a hole at the top and pour it in?

Debbie, I just fill each basket separately, then put a piece of plywood over one of them, tip the two together and then wire the two together. I do have a round ball all welded, but it's a pain to fill. I eventually lined it with burlap and filled it from the top. I'm going to take that one apart and use the panty hose method.