Hanging houseplants have existed since at least 600 BC, when King Nebuchadnezzar II built his wife, Queen Amytis, the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The gardens were one of the great wonders of the ancient world, with myriad magical flora suspended in the air taking visitors’ breath away. Honor that incredible sight by making your own Hanging Garden of Babylon! Sure, it might involve more plastic pots, window suction cups, and $5 macrame rope spools than the real thing, but will be beautiful nonetheless.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about hanging plants, including detailed reviews of the 5 best indoor hanging plants for decorating your home.
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Why Have a Hanging Plant?
More like, why not have a hanging plant? Hanging plants look beautiful, save space, and purify air. They add gorgeous green accents to interior spaces, complimenting decor that ranges from elegant to boho chic. They aren’t just good for you, either: hanging your plants provides them with enough space to flourish and excellent air circulation, leading to bigger, better plants.
What is a Hanging Plant Called?
There is no specific name for hanging plants because there is no single “hanging plant.” There is a large variety of plants that can thrive in a hanging planter. Flowers, herbs, succulents, cactus, spiller plants, and more can make excellent hanging plants.
How Do You Hang Plants Indoors?
You bought your plant hanger, your plant container, your spider plant, and hook. You couldn’t be more excited to start your very own suspended garden. But then, you hit a speed bump: How do you actually hang the plants? Fear not, below are instructions on various ways to hang plants indoors.
How Do You Hang a Hanging Plant From the Ceiling?
The most traditional way to hang a plant indoors is to drill a hole in the ceiling, screw a hook into it, and hang the plant from a rope or chain attached to that hook. For more detailed instructions on how to do that, check out the guide below!
Materials
- Swag Hook
- Adjustable Hanging Chains
- Drill
- ⅝ Inch Drill Bit
Instructions:
- Set up your swag hook. It should include a hinged clip at the top which will anchor the hook against the ceiling’s opposite side.
- Choose which spot you want to hang your plant from. Drill a hole in the ceiling using the ⅝ inch drill bit.
- Install your swag hook by screwing the hinged clip onto one side and the hook onto the other. Pinch it along the threaded rod and push it into the hole you drilled.
- After it goes through the hole you should feel the clip’s arms extend and become flat, securing it in place. If you don’t feel that occur, tug on the hook to make sure that its arms have flattened.
- Turn the hook until it is level with the ceiling.
- Attach your plant to the chains and adjust them so it will hang at your desired height.
- Hang your plants from the ceiling. Enjoy your beautiful, new hanging plant!
How Do You Hang a Hanging Plant Without Drilling Holes?
The most common way to do something isn't always the best way to do something. You can easily hang plants without drilling holes! Whether you live in a temporary housing situation or just don’t own a drill, there are some excellent options for hanging plants in your home.
S Hooks
You will be hooked on S hooks! This handy tool can help you easily hang your plants off of numerous surfaces including light fixtures, wall art, closets, doors, shelves, and so on. Just make sure the hook is secure and balanced before weighing it down with your plant.
Tension Rod
Tension rods are an excellent choice for hanging plants indoors if you live in an apartment or temporary living situation. The spring-loaded pole in tension rods adjusts to a height that extends up to a ceiling or to fill narrow spaces. You can then hang plants off of them.
Working in a similar way, coat racks are also a great option that don't require drilling holes or sticking anything to your walls. They also have the benefit of being completely portable.
Window Hanger
Window plant hangers that use suction cups to stick themselves, and your plants, to windows, are another easy to use, easy to move, plant hanging device. They normally can’t support plants that are large or heavy, but if you have small plants they work really well, suspending the plants either on a shelf or in a planter.
Plant Stand
Buy a plant hanger that includes a stand so that you don’t have to hang it from your ceiling, walls, or windows. This makes moving plant hangers easy, giving you more flexibility. Something to keep in mind is that plant hangers with stands will obviously take up a bit of room, mitigating the benefit of hanging planters saving space.
To see some other tips for how to hang plants without a drill, check out the video below!
Can You Hang Plants With Command Hooks?
You can do anything with Command hooks, so, of course, you can hang plants on them.
Materials
- Command Medium and Large Crystal Hooks
- Air plants or Small Succulents
- Small Glass Terrarium Globes or Pots
- Twine or Macramé Cord
Instructions
- Choose where you would like to hang your terrariums or small pots.
- Attach the adhesive to the Command hook and attach the hooks to the wall. Press firmly.
- Cut 4-6 inches of pieces of twine, fold them in half, and then tie them at one end with a knot, forming a loop.
- Use two other strands, knot them together, and continue to do so until you have knotted all the strands together.
- Continue to tie knots until you create a net with the twine and cord.
- Add your terrarium or small pot to the net.
- For the finishing touch: add your succulents or air plants!
Hanging Plant Positioning
You know you want to hang plants, you know how to, now the question is: where?
What is the Best Height for Hanging Plants?
Hang your plants around eye level so you can easily admire them and take care of them. Having a lower plant means more sun exposure, a frequent reminder to water it, and that you are looking at its gorgeous foliage, not its container’s bottom. Plus, the driest, darkest part of your home is near the ceiling so you shouldn’t hang your plants too close to it. If you have a short hanging plant stand or tall ceilings, consider lengthening its hanger it with either rope or chains.
Where Do You Hang Hanging Planters?
You can hang hanging planters indoors or outdoors, depending on the versatility of the structure you are using. When deciding where to hang your planter consider the needs of the plant within it. Some plants will need to be near windows or hung lower so that they can catch sun rays, while some will prosper inside and some will need to be outside.
What Are Good Hanging Plants for Low Light?
Low-maintenance plants like air plants, succulents, cacti, and spiller plants don’t need a lot of sunlight or even direct sunlight. It should be noted though that most plants will require at least a bit of sunlight to actually flourish.
Top 5 Hanging Plants
Succulents
Succulents are one of the most common plants to grow at home because they are extremely low-maintenance but absolutely beautiful with unique fleshy leaves in a variety of colors. Their thick leaves help them retain water, which is why they can survive drought, or your roommate forgetting to water them while you are away on vacation for two weeks.
Really, you can treat your succulents badly and they will somehow double in size. These suckers just want to live.
If you are sold on succulents, try Shop Succulents Unique Collection of 5 Live Hand Selected Succulents. The package includes 5 hand-selected succulents and cacti varieties. The downside is that you don’t get to pick out exactly which plants you get, but trust me, you will not be disappointed with Shop Succulents’ choices. The succulents come in 2” square pots fully rooted in the soil. You only need to water them once a week year-round, except for in the Winter when you can get away with watering them 2-3 times a week.
You also will need to feed them a balanced fertilizer in the Spring that has been diluted to ¼ strength. They should be left in a position that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
Because of how easy succulents are to care for, they are great for people who are in it for the beauty of hanging plants, but not so into the work that growing plants can take.
These beautiful hand-picked succulents are vibrant, colorful, and easy to grow.
- Beautiful variety
- Handpicked
- Pots included
- You don’t actually get to pick your succulents out
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Air Plants
One of the low maintenance plants to grow, air plants are an excellent choice for beginner or lazy gardeners. They get most of their nutrients from the air, so just existing keeps them alive. When they take in air, they purify it. Their presence has also been known to reduce stress.
They are great for plant hangers because of their low-maintenance care routine and compact size. If you are amazed by air plants, consider getting 5 Ionantha Mexican Air Plants. You will receive 5 plants, of the same variety, that are between 1-3 inches in length. They come green and then blossom 2-3 times during the year, turning captivating, eye-catching colors.
They can be grown in containers, globes, terrariums, displays, a shoe, you name it, air plants can probably grow in it. To care for your air plant, soak it in water for 20 minutes once a week. They require indirect, bright light, giving you some wiggle room for where you can place them. If you are worried about remembering your air plant's minimal plant instructions, don’t, they come with a free ebook about caring for them.
It does take some time for the air plants to bloom, so if you are looking for an all-year colorful plant these are not for you.
These beautiful little plants are a great option for compact plant hangers and terrariums and take very little work to keep healthy.
- Easy to care for
- Purifies air and reduce stress
- Compact size
- Green most of the year
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Spiller Plants
If when you imagine your hanger plants it isn’t an image of a pristine terrarium or a neat, little plant in a pot, but rather that of endless amounts of leaves and vines, elegantly cascading over the rim of the planter, you should get a spiller plant.
Spillers are not quite as easy to take care of as succulents and air plants, but are notoriously hardy, growing up and out. They can thrive in full sunlight or full shade- they are not picky. Some great spiller varieties include English Ivy, Senecio, or Baby Tears.
My personal favorite is English Ivy because of the romantic accent its glossy leaves can add to a room, and its purifying abilities, removing pollutants like Benzene, Formaldehyde, Xylene, and Toluene from the air. For a hardy and gorgeous plant try the AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE English Ivy. This climber is fast-growing and extremely easy to care for. You will receive one plant in a 6” pot but don’t worry, it will quickly outgrow that. Your plant may be monstrous by the time it dies, which could take as much as 3 years.
To care for your English Ivy place it near a window so it is exposed to bright, indirect light, and water it frequently.
This beautiful spiller plant adds an elegant twist to any room with its dark, glossy, cascading leaves.
- Hardy plant
- Fast grower
- Beautiful vines and leaves
- Can outgrow hanger
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Orchids
Orchids are a gorgeous, refined plant to grow in containers indoors! They add a pop of color and class to indoor spaces and are very easy to take care of, needing sunlight and some care, but being overall very easy to manage.
If you want an orchid hanging plant, consider getting a Color Orchids Live Blooming Double Stem. They come from an orchid facility with 5 acres of greenhouses in Culpepper, Virginia. They have over 30 varieties of orchids to choose from, and each one receives over a year and a half of care before it is shipped out. Because your orchid has already taken root before you even get it, it’s extremely easy to care for by the time it makes its way to your plant hanger. You only have to water your orchid once a week and place it in a spot with low sunlight.
With proper care, your flower will bloom for 8-12 weeks each year. It’s somewhat expensive, but it comes in a beautiful ceramic pot so you can just plop it right on your plant hanger. If you ever decide to take your orchid down and, I don’t know, eat it, you can actually experience numerous health benefits. Orchids can cure stomach problems, promote weight loss, stimulate cell growth, and more! An indoor hanging orchid plant is great for someone who loves flowers and the hanging plant aesthetic.
These sophisticated flowers make excellent hanging plants, adding a pop of color to any room!
- Elegant, colorful beauty
- Over 30 varieties to choose from
- Received care for over a year-and-a-half
- Expensive
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Ferns
Ferns are an excellent, low-maintenance plant to grow indoors. They are prolific growers that sprout bright-green feathery fronds.
They can purify spaces and are non-toxic to pets, so if you ever decide to move your fern to the floor, don’t worry too much about Fido nibbling on it.
If you are a freak for ferns, consider buying Costa Farms Live Boston Fern Hanging Basket.
These ferns are hand-picked in Florida, I know, it’s disappointing it’s not Boston, but not too disappointing considering the farm they come from prides itself on growing lush, healthy plants, only shipping them out once they top 10” tall.
Your Boston fern should be kept distant from the ceiling so it can experience proper air circulation. Consider putting it in your bedroom because this purifying powerhouse can actually help you sleep better. The downside of this plant is that it is not returnable if it arrives messed up. However, Costa Farms takes great care with shipping their plants. Give your fern a little love, and it will love you back. Boston ferns are a great hanging plant for people who want to benefit from their purifying abilities.
The bright-green feathery fronds of your Boston fern will delight you every day while it purifies your air.
- Purifying plant
- Bright-green leaves
- Easy to care for
- No returns
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Conclusion
The best hanging plant is the AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE English Ivy. With its purifying abilities, gorgeous leaves, and easy maintenance it is one of the best hanger plants you can buy online. Of course, all of the plants on this list make fantastic hanger plants! Let me know which one you pick in the comments.
I hope you enjoyed this guide! If you found it helpful be sure to share it so more people can realize what their hanger plant destiny is.