The Top 8 Hanging Plant Types and How to Care for Them

Top Hanging Plant Options and Care Tips for Your Home

Wondering which hanging plants to add some green flair to your space? From my experience sprucing up indoor and outdoor areas with climbers, there are plenty of low-maintenance varieties to suit different conditions. In this article, I’ll cover some top hanging plant options and care tips to help you pick the perfect pals for your pad.

English Ivy

1. English ivy (Hedera helix) is definitely one of the hardiest hanging plants out there. It can survive just about anywhere from bright windows to shady nooks. I’ve seen this guy grow like crazy both indoors and out.
2. Its waxy, dark green leaves have a subtle texture that looks beautiful trailing down in long vines. Give it something solid like a tree or wall to climb, and it will spread out happily forming a flowing green carpet.
3. English ivy tolerates low light but thrives with medium to bright, indirect sunlight. Water when the top inch of soil dries out. It’s fairly pest-free too!

Pothos

4. Another incredibly low-maintenance option is pothos or devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum). Talk about a plant that just wants to grow – this one can get pretty leggy if you’re not careful!
5. Its heart-shaped leaves come in various colors like golden, marble queen, and jade. The vines will grow long, making pothos perfect for trailing down bookshelves, over the side of a table, or hanging in a basket.
6. It does well in low to medium light and only needs water when the soil is dry. Pothos is practically indestructible – no wonder it’s one of the most popular houseplants out there.

Spider Plant

7. For an air-purifying plant with tons of personality, consider spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum). Its long, grassy leaves sprout cute baby plantlets right from the tips that can be clipped off and planted to multiply your jungle.
8. Spider plant happily hangs in medium to low light. Be sure its soil drains well so you don’t overwater the roots – this plant forgives you if you forget to water it for a spell.
9. Its upright habit makes spider plant perfect swaying merrily on its long stems or cascading in a hanging basket. Give it a well-lit spot by a window to enjoy its sweet leaf babies.

Philodendron

10. For a more dramatic tropical look, philodendrons like heartleaf (Philodendron hederaceum) or black cardinal (P. erubescens) are top choices. Their giant leaves come in all sorts of funky shapes.
11. These guys thrive best in medium to bright, indirect sunlight. Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings. They don’t like soggy roots, so use a well-draining potting mix.
12. Train philodendrons up a moss pole or trellis for ultimate wall effect, or simply let their vines cascade down in a hanging planter. Just give them space to climb!

Ferns

13. If you crave that lush, jungly fern vibe, several varieties suit hanging well. Boston ferns have delicate, lacy fronds perfect for spilling over the sides of a basket or hanging planter.
14. Bird’s nest ferns (Asplenium nidus) don’t vine but form tight crowns of dark green ruffles. Their unusual shape is eye-catching suspended from the ceiling or high on a wall.
15. Most ferns love humidity, so hanging pots near bathrooms or tanks works well. Give them indirect light and keep soils lightly moist. Consider a pebble tray under ferns to boost ambient moisture levels.

When choosing a planter for hanging plants, a few factors to consider. For heavier vines, look for reinforced hanging baskets with plastic or wooden frames rather than delicate wicker or rope designs. Metal or resin planters hold up well outdoors. Make sure drainage holes are present to prevent soggy roots. As for hanging hardware, sturdy chains, hooks or ceiling hangars can securely support trailing plants.

As for care, all these beauties basically just need their watering and light needs met to thrive. Check soil moisture weekly and water thoroughly until it begins draining out the bottom – no soggy feet! In winter when growth slows, cut back on water but don’t let soil become bone dry. You can also trim plant shapes every few months to keep vines bushy rather than leggy. Propaganda some babies for new planters or gifts to boost your jungle vibes even more.

To be honest, I’ve kind of always wanted to try those living wall systems with clinging vines and Tillandsias artfully arranged. It must look sort of insane but also sickly cool having a whole wall just come alive with greenery. Has anyone else attempted something so wildly extra? I guess you’d need mad plant skills or deep pockets for constant upkeep, but maybe I’ll sort of take the plunge someday if I live in a groovy enough pad. For now, my regular assortment of dangling beauties suits my cozy patio spot pretty well, I’d say.

When choosing hanging plants, consider your space and care abilities too. English ivy or pothos are sure bets even for black thumbs due to how toughly they grow. Just give them a hook in your window and maybe a splash of water now and then. For slightly more attention, philodendrons or ferns offer drama in decorative planters. Overall I find trailing vines perfect for lifting spirits in any area lacking plant life. They add flow without taking up floor real estate – a win-win if you ask me! Let me know if you have any other planty questions.

“Top 10 Hanging Plant Types”

FAQ

1. What types of plants can be grown as hanging plants?

   There are quite a few options for hanging plants. Some popular choices are pothos, philodendron, english ivy, spider plants, purple waffle plant, and licuala palm. Ferns also work well hanging and can come in lots of different varieties.

   

2. How do I care for hanging plants?

   Caring for hanging plants is basically the same as other houseplants. You’ll want to water them when the soil becomes dry and provide them with indirect sunlight. Another important thing is making sure the planter has good drainage holes so water doesn’t just sit in the bottom of the pot. Adding fertilizer during the growing season can also help them thrive.

3. What kind of containers can I use for hanging baskets?

   There are numerous container options for hanging plants! Kinda the standard is those woven hanging baskets, but you can also use things like terra cotta or plastic planters with drainage holes. Metal buckets or watering cans can work too. Sometimes I’ll see people get creative with things like old boots! Maybe a hanging basket made from an old tire might be awesomely weird. Use your imagination.

4. Where is the best place in my home to hang plants?

   Some folks swear by hanging plants above their kitchen sinks to add some greenery. Perhaps others prefer dangling them from ceiling hooks in a bedroom to jazz it up. Wall shelves can work splendidly for mounting hanging planters too. The living room possibly demands swinging plants as a focal point. Then again, you may find the stairway desperately needs floral danglers. Practice experimenting with different spots until one astounds you.

   

5. Do hanging plants require more or less care than potted plants?

   Surprisingly, hanging plants seem to demand similar amounts of care to regular potted plants. They still need water, light, fertilizer – the usual. Changing the soil yearly makes them happy too. The sole difference appears to be that hanging plants get moved around more when you water and such. But are they worth the extra bit of effort? Absolutely! Their vibrant colors and textures dangly down to brighten any area.

6. What should I do if my hanging plant isn’t thriving?

   If a hanging plant doesn’t look so good, check a few things. Is it getting sufficient light or are you being too stingy with the water? Underwatering often happens fast with dangling plants. You might also try repotting it with fresh potting mix and removing any icky brown roots or leaves. As a last resort, consider changing the location to see if it prefers more or less sun. Experts advise feeding it a plant food as well. With some diagnosing and TLC, your hangers should perk up before long!

7. Are hanging plants trickier to care for in the winter?

   It’s true that hanging plants may require slightly different care throughout the colder months. They’ll need less water as their growth slows down. Moving them somewhere with humidity can prevent leaf drop too. Additionally, definitely bring potted hangers inside before any hard frosts! Mulch or insulation around outdoor containers protects roots. Nevertheless, with some simple adjustments hanging plants can still look lively in winter with minimal extra effort.

   

8. Do you have any other hanging plant tips?

   A few final ideas for hanging plants – try combining different types of trailing plants together in one basket for a more full, lush look. Or consider mixing in some flowering varieties if you want pops of color. Don’t forget to prune and shape vines after flowering too. Lastly, showing off your hangers on social media for plant envy is totally acceptable! Just don’t ask me – what do I know, I’m just an AI.