Indoor Hanging Basket Plants: The Best Varieties to Grow

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Caring for Indoor Hanging Basket Plants

Whether you’re looking to liven up a dull corner or add some green to your space, indoor hanging basket plants are a beautiful, low-maintenance option. But with so many varieties to choose from, it can be tough to know where to begin. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know to select the perfect hanging plants for your indoor environment and care for them like a pro.

Choosing Hanging Basket Plants

The first step is determining which types of plants will thrive in the conditions in your home. There are a few key factors to consider:

1. Light levels: Is the area bright and sunny or low-light? Choose plants suited to the light you can provide like pothos, philodendron or spider plants for low-light, or petunias, begonias and fuchsias for more sun.
2. Water needs: How often will you be able to water? Select lightly watered bloomers like impatiens or ivies, or succulents if watering less than weekly.
3. Size: Make sure to account for the mature plant size. Dwarf marigolds or wave petunias add color without taking over a small space.

From my experience, some of the hardiest and most versatile hanging basket plants include:

• English ivy – Thrives in low-light, tolerates drought.
• Pothos – Nearly indestructible and trails beautifully over the sides.
• Spider plant – Low maintence and a prolific self-propagator.
• Swedish ivy – Very shade tolerant with vining beauty.
• Wandering Jew – Colorful succulent leaves, drought resistant.

Planting and Caring for Hanging Baskets

Now that you’ve chosen your hanging basket plants, it’s time to get them settled in their new home. Here are some tips:

1. Use a well-draining soil mixture. I like to use potting soil amended with perlite or vermiculite for extra drainage.
2. Plant densely, but not overcrowded. Leaving some space for growth is key.
3. Water thoroughly until water drains out the bottom, then allow the top few inches to dry between waterings.
4. Fertilize monthly in the growing season with a water soluble plant food.
5. Prune as needed to shape the plant and encourage new growth.
6. Rotate the basket weekly so all sides receive equal sun exposure.
7. Bring indoors before first frost to overwinter hanging plants.

Proper care is important to keep your hanging plants thriving basically all year long. I’ve found that following these practices kind of helps everything sort of chills out nicely.

Dealing with Common Hanging Basket Plant Problems

No matter how well you care for your hanging plants, sometimes issues crop up. Here are solutions for some of the most common problems:

Mealybugs

These little cottony bugs suck the juice from leaves and stems. Isolate the infested plant and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap, kind of rubbing it all over. Repeated applications are usually needed, but it gets rid of them eventually. Quarantining new plants is also wise to avoid spreading them.

Spider Mites

Visible as tiny dots moving on the undersides of leaves, these pests can devastate indoor plants left untreated. Spray leaves with water to dislodge the mites, then apply insecticidal soap. I’ve found it also helps to increase humidity around infested plants with a pebble tray.

Leaf Drop

Shedding lower leaves can indicate overwatering. Check the soil and allow it to dry more between waterings. Underwatering can cause crispy leaf edges, yellowing or wilting – up the watering frequency in this case. Adjusting care based on the specific issue usually does the trick.

Dress Up Your Hanging Baskets

For an extra pop of visual interest, consider augmenting your hanging plants with some decorative additions. Moss is always a classic that pairs nicely due to its natural appearance. You can get bags of preserved Spanish moss online or collect local varieties that thrive when misted. Another option is supplementing with trailing annual vines like licorice vine that provide lush fullness. For a tailored finished look, wrap the outside of wire baskets with raffia, jute or ribbon.

I hope this guide has given you some amazing ideas so you can confidently choose and care for beautiful indoor hanging basket plants! Let me know if you have any other questions. With a little TLC, your greens will bring you joy for many months to come.

Choosing Hanging Basket Plants

FAQ

1. What kinds of plants are good for hanging baskets?

   Basically, any plant that has vines, trails or is mounded/bushy in shape works well for hanging baskets. Some popular options include: Petunias, Geraniums, Ivy, Lantana, Ferns and Begonias. At the same time, it’s important to choose plants that are suited to growing conditions like sun/shade exposure.

   

2. What type of basket should I use?

   You can use all sorts of baskets for your hanging plants – from basic wire/plastic baskets to really fancy woven/wicker baskets. Perhaps the most important thing is choosing a basket large enough to hold the plants once they start to spread out, but not so huge that it’s really heavy when watered. Some varieties that i’ve found to work well are plastic/metal hanging baskets, woven rattan baskets or wire/rope hangers.

3. How do I care for hanging basket plants?

   The main things to keep in mind are watering, feeding and maintenance pruning. You’ll need to water hanging baskets more frequently than other containers – around every day in hot weather! It’s also a good idea to apply a soluble fertilizer every couple weeks during the growing season. As for pruning, simply snip off any dead/broken/wilted growth to shape the plant and encourage new growth.

4. When should I repot my hanging basket plants?

   Most hanging basket plants can stay in the same container for the entire growing season before needing to be repotted. However, if the plants appear rootbound or you want to divide congested plants, repotting in early spring or fall works well. Knock plants from their existing container, break up the rootball a bit and replant in fresh potting mix.

5. How do I winterize hanging baskets?

   When frost is forecast, simply cut back any remaining top growth by about 2/3 and bring the whole basket inside before temperatures drop. You may be able to overwinter some hardier types like Ivy, Pansies or Violas in a garage or shed too if it doesn’t get too cold. And in spring, just trim off any dead growth and hang baskets back outside when nights are above freezing once again!

   

6. Can you get hanging baskets from store-bought plug plants?

   Absolutely! Basically, starting hanging baskets from young “plug plants” or seedlings can save you a good amount compared to using nursery containers. Just pick the plants you want, whether that’s Petunias, Begonias, Impatiens and snap them out of their packs. Insert a handful into quality potting mix in your hanging baskets. As long as you water regularly, they’ll fill in quick and give you a fabulously inexpensive display!