Hanging plants: the best indoor hanging plants
Looking for something green to jazz up your living space? How about a hanging plant? We have ten of the most beautiful and durable hanging plants.
Casual, stylish or elegant: hanging indoor plants add something special to any room. With their long, trailing shoots that spill over the edge of the pot like a waterfall, they add a certain flair to any room. At the same time, these green housemates improve the indoor air and can be incorporated into the design and ecosystem of your home. Whether in a tall pot, trailing from the top of a shelf or hanging from the ceiling in a basket, hanging plants are always a good choice.
Discover which hanging plants are not only beautiful but also robust and easy to maintain in our list below.
Contents
1. Heart-leaf philodendron
The heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens) is that plant you often see growing upright around a moss pole. However, this plant can be easily cultivated as a hanging plant too. It looks fabulous, for example, trailing from a hanging basket. With its firm, heart-shaped leaves, which can grow up to 30cm long, it is perfect as a lush green ornamental. And the heart-leaf philodendron is more than just a beauty of the plant kingdom, it is also very hardy. It is rarely ever affected by diseases and apart from fertilising and watering, the only care required is the occasional removal of dust from its leaves.
2. Sword fern
The leaves of the sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) are up to one metre long and look like a bunch of gorgeous green feathers. The striking leaves can hardly be overlooked and depending on the species, grow either upright or overhanging. Especially beautiful are the varieties with twisted or wavy fronds. However, it is not only its beautiful leaves that make the sword fern a great hanging houseplant: they are also very easy to care for. Give them a little water and fertiliser every now and then and they will thrive. They only need a little water, however, as they are sensitive to waterlogging.
3. Common ivy
Most people know common ivy (Hedera helix) as a climbing plant on house facades or trees – however this robust climber also makes a fabulous indoor plant. It is particularly suited as a hanging plant, and not only looks great but is extremely robust. Apart from regular watering and (if necessary) fertilising, ivy does not require any further care. It will even thrive in darker rooms where other plants struggle to survive. The only disadvantage to ivy is that it is slightly poisonous, sometimes causing skin irritation. Consequently, it is not suitable for households with small children or animals.
4. Ornamental asparagus
Asparagus (Asparagus offincinalis) is known more as a delicious veg than as an ornamental plant – however its little brother, the ornamental asparagus (Asparagus densiflorus), also makes a beautiful hanging plant. This very low-maintenance, leafy ornamental plant looks very similar to classic asparagus and impresses with its finely fanned leaves. The leaves are also popular as a green foliage in bouquets. When ornamental asparagus flowers (which only happens rarely if taken good care of), it is adorned with small white flowers that develop into extremely decorative red berries. Unfortunately, the berries are highly poisonous and therefore not suitable for consumption.
5. Basket plant
“Robust” and “long-living” are probably the two words that best describe the basket plant (Callisia fragrans). Kept at 18 to 22°C out of direct sunlight and watered sparingly, this plant will thrive. With its rose-tinted leaves, which can sometimes border on red, the basket plant is a stunning interior addition. If well cared for, basket plants can develop long flowering stems (called panicles) that make them a real eye-catcher. In Russia, the basket plant is prized for more than just it’s beauty. It is also used as a “living pharmacy” – as it is said to help with a wide range of ailments.
6. Spider plant
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), also known as green lily or spider ivy, will grow almost anywhere, both indoors and outdoors, as long as the temperature is above 10°C. They prefer a bright location, but require little care. They grow well when watered generously and fertilised every now and then. Spider plants have a beautifully dense head of leaves that produce long hanging flower shoots. They also have a positive effect on your indoor climate. In fact, spider plants are one of the best air-purifying plants, and are efficient at cleaning particularly polluted indoor air.
7. Lipstick plant
The lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus) has hanging, tubular flower clusters and fleshy leaves that make it one of the most beautiful hanging plants. Its flowers, which shine in red, orange or yellow in the summer months, make the lipstick plant a real head turner. They should be kept in temperatures between 20 and 25°C, watered occasionally and fertilised a little every two to three weeks. You can help to stimulate good flower growth come spring by keeping the plant almost dry for four to five weeks through the winter.
8. String-of-pearls
Anyone unfamiliar with the string-of-pearls plant (Senecio herreianus) can immediately see where the name comes from. What looks like hundreds of intricately threaded green pearls, is in fact the small, round leaves of the string-of-pearls plant. Some of the tendrils create a delightful effect by trailing all the way down to the ground. The string-of-pearls plant is not just an extravagant eye-catcher, the leaves also store water for dry periods making it very low maintenance. It only needs to be watered when its soil has dried out completely.
9. Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum), also commonly referred to as devil’s ivy, is famous as a climbing plant, but this evergreen also makes a wonderful hanging basket plant. Pothos weaves a dense curtain of leaves that can make an excellent decorative room divider. It is very resilient and easy to care for, making it extremely popular as an indoor plant. It can tolerate occasional drought or long watering intervals and does not need fertiliser. In addition, its leaves are extremely decorative and often show patterns in white, cream or yellow. However, pothos is so much more than “just a pretty plant”. It is well-known as an air purifier, sustainably improving the air quality within a room. It can even, for example, reliably absorb exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke and formaldehyde.
Devil’s ivy is just one of many air-purifying plants. Read this related article to discover our top 10.
10. Mistletoe cactus
Although its appearance might suggest otherwise, mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis cassutha) does indeed belong to the cactus family. With its bushy, long overhanging shoots it looks great both in a pot and in a hanging basket. Unlike its appearance, its character fits the typical cactus cliché and is extremely easy to care for. Mistletoe cactus is a very hardy plant that will forgive major care mistakes – making it the perfect plant for beginners. In a warm, semi-shaded location in your home, for example, it will thrive when watered once a week and fertilised once a month. Only rarely do they need to be repotted.
Houseplants do need plenty of nutrients to maintain their decorative, hanging growth. We recommend feeding your hanging plants regularly with a liquid fertiliser such as our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food. This can be quickly and easily done with the watering can and poses no danger to your pets.
- Perfect for a wide variety of houseplants & foliage plants
- Liquid fertiliser for robust plants & healthy growth
- Quick & easy application - child & pet friendly
