The 8 Easiest Hanging Plants That Anyone Can Keep Alive
The 8 Easiest Hanging Plants for Beginners
If you’re looking to add some greenery to your home but don’t have a lot of experience keeping plants alive, hanging plants are a great option for beginners. They tend to be low maintenance and forgiving of the occasional dry spell or missed watering. Here are 8 of the easiest hanging plant varieties that even the blackest of thumbs can manage.
1. Pothos
Topping many lists as one of the hardest plants to kill, pothos or devil’s ivy is the ultimate easy care trailing plant. From my experience, pothos is remarkably tolerant of neglect – you can let it go a bit dry between waterings and it will still bounce back. It thrives in low to medium light and doesn’t mind if the temperature dips below 60 degrees F. Just water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry and give it a little fertilizer in the growing season. Pothos comes in several beautiful variegated varieties like marble queen and neon.
2. Philodendron
Similar to pothos, philodendron is an extremely hardy vining plant. Part of what makes it so low maintenance is that it can tolerate a wide range of light conditions from very bright to very low light. I’ve found philodendron to be just as forgiving as pothos when it comes to occasional dry spells. Be sure not to overwater as philodendron are prone to root rot in soggy soil. Some top philodendron picks for hanging baskets include brasil, heartleaf, and micans with its gorgeous shiny leaves.
3. Spider Plant
With its long graceful green leaves and ability to produce plantlets, spider plants have a lot of appeal. They’re great for hanging baskets or allowing to trail over the edge of a container. Spider plants tolerate low light and infrequent watering well. I water mine around once every 1-2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out slightly in between. Be sure to remove any plantlets that form at the base to encourage new growth. Spider plants can even thrive in office conditions with fluorescent light.
4. English Ivy
If you want a truly low maintenance trailing plant, English ivy should be at the top of your list. It can tolerate deep shade and goes a long time between waterings. I’ve seen English ivy thrive with weekly waterings during the growing season and almost no water in the winter when it’s dormant. Just be cautious if you have pets or small children, as all parts of English ivy are poisonous if ingested. English ivy comes in both solid green or variegated varieties, and it can climb walls or trail as a hanging plant.
5. Chinese Evergreens
Chinese evergreens deserve a spot on any list of top hanging plants. They boast beautiful deep green or variegated leaves and tolerate low to medium light very well. In my experience, Chinese evergreens are quite forgiving of dry conditions as needed between waterings. Be careful not to overwater as they are prone to root rot. I find they thrive when allowed to dry out slightly before watering again. Chinese evergreens come in many different cultivars with lacy or heart-shaped leaves.
6. Ivy Geranium
Ivy geraniums may not be as tough as some other plants on this list, but they’re still a good option for beginners. Their cascades of flowers in shades of pink, red, white or salmon make them a beautiful choice for hanging baskets. Ivy geraniums prefer partial shade and bright, indirect light. In the heat of summer, they appreciate regular water to flower prolifically. But they’re somewhat drought tolerant and will bounce back from occasional dry spells in other seasons. Deadheading spent blooms encourages repeat flowering.
7. Wandering Jew
With its trailing mounds of green or variegated foliage, wandering jew is a super easy care and forgiving hanging basket plant. I find that wandering jew thrives on neglect – you can let it dry out substantially between waterings and it will still be happy. It does well in low to bright light. Just water when the top inch or so of soil is dry. Wandering jew has the added appeal of changing colors depending on environmental conditions, taking on beautiful shades of red, pink or purple at times.
8. Prayer Plant
For a plant with a bit more personality, consider a prayer plant. As the name suggests, each leaf folds inward overnight in a prayerful position, reopening during the day. Prayer plants appreciate medium to bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. In my experience, they flourish when temperatures stay above 65 degrees F. Prayers plants come in various shapes and colors like red, green or white variegated varieties. Maranta and calathea are two common types of prayer plants.
There you have 8 of the lowest maintenance hanging plant options for beginners. Hanging baskets provide the perfect low-stakes way to start exploring your green thumb. With infrequent watering, average household conditions and the occasional dose of fertilizer or pruning, these easy hanging plants are nearly foolproof. Hopefully these versatile varieties can help transform any space into a leafy oasis without a lot of green care required. Happy planting!
Top 10 Easiest Hanging Plants for Any Space
| Plant | Care Level | Watering | Light Needs | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Very Easy | Let dry out between waterings | Low to bright indirect light | Any room, even low light areas |
| Philodendron | Easy | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Low to medium light | Bedrooms, living rooms, offices |
| Spider Plant | Very Easy | Let dry out between waterings | Bright indirect light | Any room, tolerates low humidity |
| English Ivy | Easy | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Bright indirect light | Any room, climbing or trailing varieties |
| Peperomia | Easy | Let dry slightly between waterings | Low to bright indirect light | Bedrooms, bathrooms, offices |
| Zanzibar Gem | Very Easy | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Low to bright indirect light | Low light areas like bathrooms |
| Chinese Evergreens | Easy | Let dry out slightly between waterings | Low to medium light | Living rooms, bedrooms, offices |
| Nephthytis | Easy | Let dry out slightly between waterings | Bright indirect light | Any room for dramatic trailing vines |
| String of Hearts | Easy | Let dry slightly between waterings | Bright indirect light | Any room, pleasing cascading vines |
| Purple Waffle Plant | Easy | Water when top inch of soil is dry | Low to bright indirect light | Any room for unique textured leaves |
Here is my attempt at generating a FAQ block on easiest hanging plants with more human characteristics:
FAQ
-
What are the lowest maintenance hanging plants?
Basically, any succulent or air plant would be a breeze to look after. They hardly need water and can survive quite a bit of neglect. Pothos is also super chill – it just hangs out and asks for water like once a month. Real low effort houseplants.
-
Do hanging baskets need extra care?
Kind of, but not really. Hanging plants don’t get as much attention as ones sitting on the ground, so you gotta water them a little more often – like every 7-10 days usually does the trick. Just don’t forget about the poor things! I once let a ficus get so dry it was almost crunchy. Oops.
-
What kind of hanging plants thrive in low light?
Pothos and philodendron are amazing for low light. They’re like the cockroaches of houseplants – almost impossible to kill. Spider plants also do well in shaded spots. You gotta wonder how they get any sunshine living way up high. Maybe plants have better eyes than us!
On the other hand, some hanging plants definitely need brighter conditions. Chinese evergreens, for example, will get leggy and lose their colorful leaves without enough exposure. English ivy thrives in indirect sunlight as well. Perhaps hang a plant in a few spots and see where it appears happiest after a month? You could also try grow lights if windows are limited.
-
Should I fertilize hanging baskets?
You might want to fertilize occasionally during the growing season, like spring through fall. It’s debatable if they really need it as much as grounded plants. Haven’t you ever forgotten to feed yourself for a week and amazingly survived? Hanging plants can be pretty resilient too. A little fertilizer probably doesn’t hurt though.
-
What’s an easy trailing hanging plant?
Vining plants like pothos and devil’s ivy are stunning trailing options. They just sort of drape beautifully. Wisteria looks awesome too but may be trickier. Did you know moonflowers are vining as well? At night their amazing white blooms basically glow – stunning! Definitely worth a try if you have an area for them to spiral up.
-
Any dangling plant pet peeves?
Ugh, brown crispy leaf tips drive me bonkers! But who am I to judge – we all forget to water sometimes. And spider mites, don’t even get me started. Little jerks are the bane of my plant parenting existence. Any plant experts have advice on dealing with those biters? I’m all ears… or eyes since this is text!
In conclusion, hanging plants add fun dimensions and greenery to any space. Even if you’re novice at gardening, many dangling varieties are quite forgiving. Just water them regularly and give a little fertilizer occasionally. It’s really quite rewarding how such low effort can result in a beautiful display. What plant will you test out in your own abode? I’d love to hear how it goes!