In my photo HNI 0046 in my photo section you will see on my garden shed an old shopping bag dispenser converted to a flower basket. I placed a plastic garbage bag into the container, and filled it with soil. I then cut X's into the spaces in the container and then pushed the plants into the slots. I poked a few holes into the bottom of the bag for drainage. Every morning I watered the basket with a watering can with a teaspoonfull of my favorite granular fertilizer. On especially hot days watering was more frequent and later on watering was more frequent to account for some loss of soil and the container becoming root bound.

I have to say I had 2 and was a bit disappointed with them, the holes are rather large too big to put plug plants in , the peat falls out of the holes, I blanked off the lower holes as I found them a bit low.
. I think a liner would be the answer.

Surely a liner defeats the purpose ie easy fill. The point of these baskets with the big planting holes and little dropdown gates is to do away with fiddling about with holes in liners. I can see that adding some moss at the back of the gate would stop the compost from falling out.
(I'm not a fan of domestic hanging baskets and that much black plastic makes me very twitchy)

ps did you buy the watering 'fountains' to go with them? They would seem to be the answer as they provide a reservoir of water and get the water to the centre of the basket in one go.

Loosestrife, I saw the picture. Looks good.

Liziebee, I will look in to the liner when I go out to the GC in a few minutes.

Urbanite. I will look in to see how easy it would be to cut the liner in the right place to keep it easy.

Why does the black plastic make you twitchy?

No, I didn't buy a fountain.

Thanks everyone for your input. It is greatly appreciated.

Listening to GQT one of them suggested the water retentive gel in baskets

Sounds like a god idea. Thanks Pam.

I have bought 2 bags of moss to cover the holes and grate.

It's not an ethical, saving the planet stance - I know plastic has its uses but I just don't like the look of plastic pots and see too many displays of plants spoilt (to my mind) by them.

Well, the baskets are designed to fill out very well.You only see the pretty flowers when they have grown a bit.

The plastic appears to get hidden.

I wouldn't have a plastic hanging basket if it weren't for the side holes which get hidden.

I don't mind plastic pots though.

Each to their own though

:o)

Good luck with them - I do think the 'fountains' would be a big help with the watering, if it's not too late.

Be nice if they made the pots from recycled plastic, maybe they do and I haven't noticed, I haven't bought any for years except with a plant inside ?

Urbanite, I will look in to the fountains.

The baskets came yesterday morning.

Add water retaining gel to the compost when planting have a look at my begonia basket 17" Easyfill.
Only watered once a day best If you water early in the morning.

Thank you for the info Peter. I will pick up some water retaining crystals on Monday.