[brownp]

My wife has ordered lots of plug plants for hanging baskets - they have arrived and are small plug plants - around two inches tall. They are all lobellia and such like.
My question is, would it be ok to plant them directly into the hanging baskets and put the baskets into the greenhouse rather than potting on?
Thanks in advance
Phil

[Yorkie]

I guess so - the most important thing will be protecting them from frost.  Don't overfill the basket with plants!

[brownp]

Thanks we'll bear that in mind

[sunshineband]

At this time in the year, planting them directly into the baskets is a good idea tbh, as then they can bulk up a bit before you harden them off and then hang them in their final position

[Headgardener22]

There is the other point of view which says potting them up into 7cm pots gives them the chance to get established before you make up the hanging baskets. It depends whether you've got enough pots & compost. You're also less likely to overfill the baskets because the plants will be slightly bigger when you put them in.

[Yorkie]

True 

[Goosegirl]

I have this problem every year with the plants that I want lower down the hanging basket because, if I plant them in the basket to establish them before hardening off, it is easier to get the smaller growth (either the plant or its root ball) through the basket sides, but they do seem to grow into better plants by potting on; then you have the difficulty of getting the increased growth (or root ball) through the basket sides. My baskets are metal with small divisions down the sides. Oooh - just had a "light bulb" moment and am going to give it a go!  Use a small square pot, but divide it in half with, say, a flat piece from a plastic milk carton cut off to the same width and length. Fill both sides with some compost and plant two plugs - one on either side. When you're ready to plant your basket, you will have a flatter root ball that will be easier to insert in the side. Whatever you do, ensure you gently tease out the rootball so the roots will be better able to grow out.

[Yorkie]

I was taught a trick to help plant up the lower parts of baskets - to wrap the leaves in a small piece of newspaper or similar, and then thread them through the basket from the inside.  The leaves should be OK, and saves squashing the compost ball if threading through from the outside.