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Have you ever looked at your hanging basket or potted plant and noticed the beautiful blooms and new growth on one side but not the other? It's easy to forget to rotate the basket or pot in order to provide even exposure to the sun. My hanging baskets tend to be large and sometimes quite heavy. I never remember to turn them until after I water and then I wind up being as soaked with water as the plants. That is, until I started using swivel hangers. The swivel hangers I bought at the hardware store can easily rotate 360 degrees and hold up to 40 pounds. Now all I have to do is give my baskets a spin to get more sun. I use trivets on wheels for my pot plants. This lets me roll my potted plants to a shady or sunny spot as needed.
So this spring, if you notice that all the plants in your baskets are growing in the same direction, you might want to give them a little spin with the swivel hanger.
Jean Hudgins, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas AgriLife Extension Service