Babyllon Bowl Application Ideas

Place the hanging Babyllon Bowl basket on the outside of your 4 X 4 deck posts, just below the railing to bring beauty to your deck and also easily viewed from the yard. In addition, this display saves floor space on your deck and keeps plants away from pets and small children.

To add height to your container arrangements, place the tallest free-standing Babyllon Bowl basket in the center of three containers. The Babyllon Bowl basket ball of flowers will create a lovely crown for your container arrangement.

Use the same plant and moss concept in your flower boxes or containers. After taking any plants out of their original pots, place them upright on top of the soil/compost so the bottom of the stems is an inch below the lip of the container. Instead of adding more soil, add moss to surround the roots up to the bottom of the stems (about 3''- 4'' depending on the size of your plants). Water and fertilize well and the moss will help reduce evaporation from the soil and roots.

Use the two heights of the free-standing The Babyllon Bowl baskets to create groupings in your yard. In the shade, put the tri-legged stands into low growing ground cover and plant the baskets with Impatiens also called "Busy Lizzies". The ball of flowers will seem to float above the periwinkle, ivy or pachysandra.

Use herbs in your Babyllon Bowl basket in a sunny location just outside your kitchen. The design helps you arrange the herbs without mixing them.

The hanging Babyllon Bowl baskets with the Wave Petunias in a sunny location will bring bursts of color to your entry or pool that only requires water and love.

Common Babyllon Bowl Questions

How do I assemble a Babyllon Bowl?

There are 9 steps to follow:

To see this being done, watch the video in the Innovations area.

1) Place the liner in the bottom of the bowl

2) Layer 1 inch of damp potting soil on top of the liner

3) Beginning in any slot, slide a flower (out of its pot) down between the slats keeping the flower and leaves on the outside of the slats and the soil and roots into the center of the bowl. Repeat this flower placement in every other slot.

4) Now go back and pack hydrated sphagnum moss in between each plant (every other slot). This will keep the plants in position and guarantee moisture reaching the roots. You have now completed the first layer.

5) For the second layer, repeat the first layer process, but start by placing the plants over the moss of the first layer. These plants should be angled slightly upwards (~ 45 degrees) in order to start creating the ball shape.

6) Place the remaining 5 plants in every other slot and, then fill the remaining slots with moss. Fill the center opening with potting soil, fertilizer and moss.

7) To plant the top. place 1-3 additional flowers in the center and fill all gaps with moss.

8) Finally, water the plant over the center of the arrangement until water begins to drip though the bowl.

9) Once the water dripping stops, place the bowl on it's stand and admire your work. You probably spent 10-15 minutes in creating this display.

What size of plant is best?

While most potted plants can be used, your best results, for an instant flower arrangement is to use plants in 3'' pots. This size fits the bowl slots the best and allows the appropriate room for moss.

How many plants do I need per bowl?

You will need 13-15 plants per bowl; 6 for each of the two layers and 1-3 plants for the top.

Why do I need special sphagnum moss?

The sphagnum moss that we sell is the highest quality, long strand moss, you can buy. This product is grown commercially, then dried and compressed to eliminate any insect or mold contamination after harvesting. Once re-hydrated, the moss will act as a moisture reservoir to keep your plant roots wet. While garden centers do offer bags of sphagnum moss, it is typically 40% sphagnum or less, not 98% pure as our Big Moss.

How often should I water the basket?

The answer is it depends... It depends on the flowers selected, your geography, the amount of sun etc. The easy way to judge how often to water is to check it when the moss starts to turn a light brown or when the moss is dry to the touch. Slide your finger in past the surface of a section of soil on the second layer. If the soil is still wet, check it again later - when the soil feels only slightly damp, water the bowl again.

Why does water run off the planter soil surface?

Prepackaged potting soil comes with a wetting agent as a one of its ingredients. Over time, this agent is washed away due to repeated watering. When this happens, the soil develops a crusty appearance and does not allow water penetration. It is a normal occurrence for flower planters of all shapes containing commercial potting soil A wetting agent, such as our Wet-n-Gro will restore the soil to it's original condition and allow water once again to penetrate to the plant roots.

What do I need for hard, dry soil?

A wetting agent, such as our Wet-n-Gro, will recondition the soil to allow the water to penetrate and reach the plant roots. 5cc of the solution per gallon of water, applied once a month, will remedy the problem.

Do I need a new liner every year?

Typically, a liner will last 1-2 years. However, if you plant the bottom layer with ivy or ferns or something that will live over the winter (if watered and brought in so it doesn't freeze), it's roots will form a layer that eliminates the need for a new liner.

What keeps the soil from falling out of the bowl?

A Babyllon Bowl requires a liner to be placed in the bottom of the bowl prior to placing any potting soil or plants in the bowl. This can be seen by reviewing the assembly video in the Innovations category

What flowers do well with the Babyllon Bowl?

Size and type of plant: Any trailing plant or flower is great for the 1st layer of the bowl. (Ivy, any vine or fern, lobelia, geraniums) Flowering plants that are 3-5 inches in height and have lots of blossoms do well in the 2nd layer or in the entire bowl. (Impatiens, begonias, lobelia, geraniums, petunias, pansies, campanula - whatever you like) You can plant the top of the bowl with any height of plant because it will not be hindered by chains. (Fuchsia, geraniums) You location has more to do with flower choice (sunny, part shade, full shade). Ask your local garden center what plant fits your zone and other criteria.

Will my Babyllon Bowl rust?

No. Each Babyllon Bowl is coated with a paint that has a plastic component. This paint is baked onto a steel frame, assuring a rust free product. The longevity of this product is not seen with typical planters or hanging baskets.

What if my flowers / plants are too tall for the Spirals?

The metal stem supplied with each Spiral can be replaced with a bamboo cane / tomato stakes for taller flowers. By clipping off the top of the bamboo, a hollow section is exposed and the stem of the Spiral fits it. This allows the Spiral to function and support a taller flower.