Easy to Grow Hanging Plants

It’s the beginning of a new year, and we are in the cold heart of winter.  If you miss being outside surrounded by living green plants, you might want to consider adding house plants to your home. According to design experts, trends for 2021 include adding live plants to your home. Plants are in again. It makes me sad to think they were ever out of fashion.

Photo – Black & Blooms

Several years ago I wrote about plants that help clean the air . Plants not only purify the air, but also improve mental well-being. And, physical benefits aside, they look amazing.  Plants clean the air, add oxygen, and aid mental health. Nothing beats incorporating nature into your home. In short, houseplants are miracle workers. I know they certainly make me happy.  Most of us have plants on window sills and tables.  Today let’s consider hanging plants that will brighten up your space and help give it a cozy feel.  The right plants can add dimension and atmosphere in a way that furniture and accents can’t.

 

Photo – Black & Blooms

Photo – Amazon 3 pack Macrame Plant Hangers

Unsure where to start?

 

First remember that you are adding living plants to your home. They need light and moisture to exist.  If you can’t provide that, you might consider using artificial plants or even a combination of live and artificial plants.  If you have a windowless room, I don’t suggest you put a real plant there unless you add a light just for the plant. Even shade lovers need some light.  My lovely niece turned a closet into a little plant nursery, and every winter she starts seeds in there. She just uses lamps to provide light for their growth. Then when it’s warm enough to plant outside, she has lots of plants to use.

A great place to start, especially if you’re considering having air plants to improve the air quality in your home, is to check out the useful information on Air Plant Expert. There’s lots of useful information on how to properly care for your air plants, as well as how to revive them if you’ve overwatered them.  

Photo: Air Plant Expert

Many of the plants we’ll discuss are tropical and may need bright light but not direct sun and a humid environment. Whatever plant you choose, read about its specific needs to grow.  Most of our homes tend to be dry in winter with the heat on.  Invest in a humidifier and/or a spray bottle for spritzing.  Avoid placing plants over a radiator or too close to the freezing windows.  If you have small children or pets, read about the plant’s toxicity before bringing a plant into your home.

Many people like to hang plants from the ceiling.  If the weight of the plant, soil, and pot are substantial, be sure to hang from a ceiling joist or a wall stud.  If you have a tall bookcase or shelf, a trail of green is a pleasant sight when a vine is on the top. Pickle & Board has a post, Easy DIY Plant Shelf.  Doesn’t that look great?

Photo – Pickle & Board

Easy Care Hanging Plants

Spider Plants

I’m retired now, but back decades ago, I had a spider plant at work.  It was the 1970’s and macrame plant holders and spider plants were extremely popular.  Everything old is new again.  For the last few years, I am seeing lots of design ideas reminiscent of the ’70’s, but of course with a modern twist.  Spider plants are durable little plants that do not take much effort to grow. They have green leaves with white stripes, and they can adapt to most growing conditions. It is perfect for a hanging basket because the new growths hang from the plant in a spider-like fashion, which will dangle under the basket. The plant does best in well-drained soil and indirect sunlight.  A mature spider plant with babies is gorgeous. Besides a macrame plant hanger, a tall stool or plant stand would work well.

Photo – Country Living UK

The ASPCA lists Spider plants as non-toxic for both dogs and cats, but, they attract cats in part because it is mildly hallucinogenic. Because cats are more likely to play with the plant, they’re more likely to eat it and, therefore, suffer from an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum

The leaves of this plant have the unique shape of an arrowhead, hence the name. This is ideal for a hanging basket because if the vine is not trimmed, it will grow to be very long. Provide a bright light but no direct sun. It will do well in a bedroom or a similar room in your home. It requires average water to grow, and it prefers high humidity. Spray frequently and use rich potting soil.   Check out The Spruce’s How to Grow Arrowhead Vine  for more information.  Plant is toxic to pets.

Photo –  1-800-Flowers

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum, also know as pothos, Ceylon creeper or devil’s ivy, is another choice that gives rich rewards for very little care. It is known for improving indoor air quality.   It is actually a climber, but grown without support will trail its glossy, yellow-variegated, heart-shaped leaves. It will tolerate some shade so is great for a dark corner – a winner all round. It is toxic to dogs and cats.

Boston Fern

Boston ferns need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. For this reason, this is an ideal plant to hang in a bathroom. If the humidity is too low, misting the leaves should suffice.  Water the fern when the soil becomes damp. Do not allow the soil to dry out. This may mean watering twice a week or daily in hot weather. The frequency will change depending on the temperature and moisture in your home. You might place the plant on a tray of pebbles filled with water to prevent soil becoming dry. When mature, the plant should be about 2 or 3 feet tall. Since this plant purifies the air, it is ideal for a bedroom.  Great news – Boston ferns are considered nontoxic to both dogs and cats. 

Photo: The Spruce

Burro’s Tail

The Burro’s Tail or the Donkey’s Tail is a succulent that has thick stems and cascading leaves that look great in a hanging basket. The leaves are delicate and can fall with a simple touch, so hanging the plant is best. The plant can tolerate heat and drought conditions. To make sure that it’s not overwatered, limit watering to once a month. It also does well in indirect sunlight. Burro’s Tail is non-toxic.

Photo via Central Square Florist

Philodendron

Philodendron, the sweetheart vine, has large dark-green leaves with splashes of yellow. It can grow to great lengths hanging down like a curtain, but you can keep it trimmed. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every once in a while to remove dust. It has a toxicity level of mild to moderate for cats and dogs.

English Ivy

The English Ivy plant has long vines that can make a beautiful wall display if planted in a hanging basket. The leaves also look great dangling from the hanging basket if you trim them, which creates a flawless look for a dining space. When mature, the plant is about 7 or 8 inches high, but the vines can grow 15 feet long. It does well in partial sun and rich, well-drained soil.  It is toxic to cats and dogs.

Photo – Etsy, The Plant Chica

Prayer Plant

The Prayer Plant has flat leaves during the day, but at night the leaves curl up like they are hands praying at night. The leaves are about 6 inches in length, and when the plant blooms in the spring, big white flowers will appear. They do best with indirect sunlight and slightly acidic soil that drains well. During the growing season, the plant will need to be watered frequently.  According to the ASPCA, prayer plants are non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Photo – Etsy Joy of Plants

String of Nickels (Dischidia nummularia)

This is a plant that gets its name from its appearance. The leaves are shaped like small coins dangling from a rope. String of nickels is an air plant or epiphyte, which means that in its native tropical environment it survives by clinging on to trees and taking moisture and nutrients from the air. It prefers to grow in filtered light, so it will grow in the majority of your home. Due to its origins, it is best grown in a well-drained specialist medium such as orchid compost, and always allow it to dry out in between watering. Drought tolerant. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

Photo – Etsy

String of Pearls

String of Pearls is a plant with a unique look that is quite stunning in a hanging basket. In fact, a hanging basket will keep the toxic plant away from pets and small children. Being part of the succulent family, string of peals requires a bright space  and minimal watering. This ‘hard to kill’ species is the perfect hanging plant for a beginner. Don’t keep it in a place where there is a draft, or the leaves will drop. It is also very sensitive to overwatering, so make sure the soil can drain well.  In humans, string of pearls is rated as toxicity classes 2 and 4 by the University of California, Davis which means dermatitus and gastic distress.  In pets, including cats and dogs, possible symptoms of ingestion of the string of pearls plant may be: drooling, diarrhea, vomiting or lethargy.

Photo – A Beautiful Mess

Hoya or Wax Plant

Grow your easy-care hoya in low, medium, or bright light. It tolerates low and medium light, but doesn’t typically bloom in these conditions. Like most flowering houseplants, the more light hoya gets, the more flowers it will produce.  Water hoya when the potting mix dries out. Don’t worry if you forget to water it once or twice — this houseplant doesn’t mind. It thick leaves and stems help the plant store water for cases just like that. Do take care not to overwater it; hoya would rather be too dry than too wet and can suffer from root rot if the potting mix stays wet for extended periods. Hoyas are considered safe to have around pets.

Photo – Etsy, Wishlistplants

In conclusion, if you are interested in adding a hanging plant, do your homework. Get a plant that works in the space you have and with its occupants.

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If you have questions about carrying for houseplants this winter, see How to Have Healthy Winter Houseplants. 

 

 

For plants for a classroom, see  Houseplants for the Classroom & Homes with Children

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