Vibrant pink and purple morning glory hanging baskets (pair, 30cm)

Description

If you like the idea of making up your own hanging baskets but would happily skip the compost and daily watering, this ASTNIC pair is a useful middle ground. You receive the baskets, their liners and separate artificial flower stems, then arrange the pink and purple morning glories yourself. The result can be as tidy or as relaxed as you want it to look.

The Purple Fuchsia colour combination brings together deep purple and bright pink flowers. In the photographs, deep purple trumpet-shaped blooms sit beside strong pink flowers, with small green leaves between them. It is a bold combination that shows up well against pale walls and gives a dark fence a welcome lift.

Two baskets to arrange your own way

The set contains two hanging baskets, two coconut-fibre liners, two green grass-style half-ball inserts and 24 faux-silk morning glory stems. That gives you 12 flower stems for each basket if you divide them evenly. The grass-style inserts provide a green surface beneath the flowers and something to hold the stems as you build the arrangement.

Assembly is part of the product, rather than a finishing touch to an already completed basket. Sit the insert in the lined basket, add the stems a few at a time and turn the basket as you work. Mixing the two colours around the rim will give a balanced display; grouping a few of the same shade together produces a slightly less uniform effect.

Before hanging, check for any flower heads that have loosened during delivery. Several buyers mention having to put detached blooms back onto their stems. Doing that while the pieces are still on a table is easier than trying to tidy them up after the basket is on its bracket.

Basket size and placement

Each basket is approximately 30cm in diameter, with a hanging height of around 55cm. The separate flower stems are shown as approximately 35.5cm long. Their final spread depends on how far you angle them out, so leave enough clearance around the basket for the flowers to open up.

A matching pair works well at either end of a porch, but they do not have to stay together. One could sit beside a front entrance while the other adds the same colours to a patio or balcony. The arrangements are suitable for indoor and outdoor decoration.

Feedback from people who assembled them

Buyers of this pink-and-purple version praise the colours and the sturdy basket structure. Some found assembly easy and were pleasantly surprised by the finished result. A four-star reviewer was initially disappointed by the plastic parts and loose flower heads, but felt the baskets looked much better once assembled and hung.

Other comments are more reserved. One customer found the assembly a little awkward, and another thought an extra sprig or two would improve the fullness. These are useful expectations to have: allow time to arrange the stems, and judge the display once it is spread out at normal hanging height.

A colourful display with simple upkeep

The flowers have a UV-resistant finish to help limit fading. They need no feeding, trimming or watering, although occasional cleaning and a check of the hanging points will still be worthwhile. Other colour combinations are available if this lively two-colour mix is not quite your scheme.