Everything You Need to Know About Having Indoor Plants on the Wall
If you’re looking to freshen up your indoor space but don’t have much room for plants on the floor, placing greenery on your walls is a fantastic option. Wall-mounted plants not only beautify empty walls, they also help filter indoor air. In this article, I’ll cover the top questions people have about displaying plants vertically and provide tips to help you select, care for, and arrange your wall garden like a pro.
What Types of Plants Work Well on Walls?
- Succulents and cacti: Their thick, sturdy stems make these drought-tolerant plants ideal for vertical gardens. You can mount them individually or in creative designs.
- Ivy: English ivy, Swedish ivy, and other trailing vines cling beautifully to walls. They look especially nice hanging from floating shelves.
- Philodendrons: With their waxy, heart-shaped leaves, philodendrons are fabulous climbers. Try the popular ‘Brazil’ or neon varieties.
- Pothos: Known for being nearly impossible to kill, pothos vines hang down beautifully from walls and poles. Their heart-shaped leaves come in bright or variegated colors.
- Ferns: Delicate-looking ferns like maidenhair and bird’s nest thrive with high humidity near bathrooms. Mount them on walls near showers.
How Do I Attach Plants to Walls?
The most effective and least damaging way is to use mounting hardware designed for indoor plants. Some options include:
- Plant hangers: Clear acrylic or metal hangers let you place a potted plant anywhere on the wall. They come in various designs like chains, ropes, and tension cables.
- Plant shelves: Floating shelves or narrow ledges allow trailing plants to cascade down the wall from built-in support. Opt for sturdy, water-resistant materials.
- Suction cups: Best for lightweight succulents and air plants, suction cups securely adhere small pots directly onto smooth surfaces.
- Adhesive mounts: Temporary mounting strips or removable adhesive sheets are handy for experimenting with arrangements before committing to permanent hardware.
The key is to pick mounts appropriate for the plant weight and wall material. And be sure not to overwater delicate walls may crack or peel over time from too much moisture.
How Do I Care for Wall Plants?
Caring for vertical gardens is similar to floor plants with a few adjustments:
- Water less frequently since they dry out more slowly hanging on the wall. Trailing plants especially stay moister.
- Rotate pots occasionally so all sides receive indirect light. Adjust positioning if any look leggy or lopsided.
- Dust leaves when needed using a microfiber cloth or small paintbrush. Wipe any surfaces where water could drip during watering.
- Prune trailing vines to maintain a balanced shape and encourage new growth. Cut above a node where leaves meet the stem.
- Consider mounting in bathrooms for extra humidity or grouping near windows that accumulate condensation.
The good news is wall plants generally require less maintenance overall than floor greenery! Use your plant knowledge to care for them lovingly.
How Do I Style and Arrange My Wall Garden?
To achieve a polished look, follow these tips:
- Mount plants in odd numbers for visual harmony like clusters of 3, 5 or 7 pots.
- Vary heights and trail lengths for visual interest. Position taller plants towards the back and middle.
- Consider the scale of your space. Mount small pots on small walls and scale up pots for larger expanses.
- Group by color, texture, or type for cohesion. Or scatter individual pots throughout for a mixed canvas.
- Add low-wattage fairy lights or string them through trailing vines for an enchanting after-dark display.
- Mount artwork, woven baskets, or other decorative accents in between plants for balance and dimension.
With some trial and error, you’ll design your own one-of-a-kind living wall that elevates any room! Let your creativity shine.
What Are Some Potential Problems with Wall Plants?
While wall gardens bring beauty, a few issues can arise. Here’s how to avoid common problems:
- Overwatering: Leads to root rot. Only water when soil is dry 2-3 inches deep.
- Pests: Check regularly for signs of spider mites, aphids or scale. Isolate and treat promptly if found.
- Stains: Use saucers and wipe up drips to avoid water marks on walls. Mount coasters under heavy dripers.
- Drooping: Rotate pots to encourage even growth. Prune leggy vines back to shape.
- Damage: Mount securely with care taken around wiring or drywall. Repair small holes right away.
With some basic monitoring and care, your wall plants can thrive for months or years to come! Let me know if you have any other questions.
What Inspires Creativity with Wall Plant Design?
Break out of the box when designing your wall garden. Here are some unique ideas to spark inspiration:
- Paint plant pots fun colors or decorate with stenciled patterns for individual panache.
- Accessorize trailing vines with mini clothespins to manually shape cascades in interesting forms.
- Hang pots from picture rails, floating shelves, or rod pocket curtains for integrated style.
- Use vertical space creatively like mounting on angled walls, arched doorways, or zig-zag trellises.
- Cluster air plants, succulents, or moss in shadowboxes, frames, or draped burlap for textural centerpieces.
- Consider unexpected wall surfaces like paneled wainscoting, stairs, or the back of furniture for unique vignettes.
Break conventions and let creativity lead the way. Your wall garden will be one-of-a-kind!
In conclusion, indoor wall plants are a superb way to beautify spaces without much floor area. With the right hardware, plant selection, design inspiration, and care, vertical gardens can thrive for years to come. I hope this comprehensive guide has addressed all your questions and sparked new ideas for showcasing greenery vertically indoors. Please let me know if any other plant topics would be helpful to cover. Happy growing!
Plants Commonly Used for Indoor Wall Gardens
Plant | Light Needs | Water Needs | Height |
---|---|---|---|
Pothos | Low | Let dry slightly between waterings | Trailing |
Philodendron | Medium | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Trailing or climbing |
Swedish Ivy | Low to medium | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Trailing |
English Ivy | Low to medium | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Trailing or climbing |
Peperomia | Medium | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Compact foliage |
FAQ
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Can I put live plants on my wall?
Yes, you can put live plants on your wall. Many folks hang pots of trailing plants like pothos or english ivy from picture frames or wall shelves. It’s basically a way to bring some green into your space without taking up floor space.
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What kinds of plants work well on walls?
Plants that do especially well hanging on walls tend to be vines or ones with trailing stems. Pothos,english ivy,philodendron,strings of hearts,and spider plants are all great options. They don’t require a ton of sunlight so you can put them in alcoves or less bright areas. At the same time,some succulents and small flowering plants also do fine if the area gets some light.
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How do I care for wall plants?
Caring for wall plants is pretty similar to caring for regular potted plants. Give them sunlight if possible and water when the soil becomes dry. You may need to use a shallow pot so the plant’s weight is not too much for the wall or shelf. Be sure drainage holes allow excess water to escape. Check on wall plants occasionally to make sure they’re not in danger of falling if they get heavy.
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Won’t wall plants fall down?
Perhaps some plants could fall over time if they grow really heavy. Nevertheless, as long as you use pots with drainage and don’t overwater,most lightweight wall plants should hang tight. It’s best to choose trailing vines or shallow-rooted varieties. You might double check their hangers or shelves annually too. On the other hand, succulents and very small plants pose little risk of crashing down!
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Is it hard to care for wall plants?
Caring for wall plants is pretty simple, though not without some effort. You’ll need to water them weekly or so in most cases. Additionally, they may need a wipe down of their leaves periodically to remove dust. However, the rewards are great – who doesn’t love the delight of green plants anywhere they can find space? With just a little TLC, wall plants can bring a lot of life to a room.
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What are the benefits of wall plants?
There are some cool benefits to displaying potted plants on your walls. Wall plants can brighten living spaces without taking up precious floor area. They also function pretty much as wall art that’s alive. Wall gardens have been found to help improve moods and reduce stress and anxiety according to some research. Plus, who doesn’t wanna show off their green thumb and plant parent skills? Wall plants are kind of amazing that way!
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Anything else I should know?
One final thing – make sure to display wall plants in spots out of direct sunlight if that’s an option. While many can handle low to medium light, strong sun may cook some foliage. Maybe look to experts on particular varieties if you got questions. And don’t forget to share pics of your leafy wall masterpieces with plant friends! Their envy will surely make your efforts worthwhile.