Maybe your green thumb is itching for a new plant baby or
you want to make your home lush and vibrant…but you lack the floor space for
free-standing potted plants. One easy solution? Indoor hanging plants.
Suspended from your ceilings, they’ll add the touch of green you’re after,
without taking up any of your precious floor space.
But like all indoor plants, choosing one to start with can
be daunting. Which plant is best for your home? How much light will it need?
What kind of pot should you use? Is it pet- and kid-friendly? You might have as
many questions as there are plants to choose from, but that’s where we come in.
We did some digging (heh) and consulted with an indoor plant
expert—Bloomscape’s very own Plant Mom, Joyce Mast—to come up with the ten best
indoor hanging plants to elevate your space
CHOOSING THE RIGHT INDOOR HANGING PLANT
According to Mast, when looking for the best indoor hanging
houseplants, you’ll first need to determine a couple of things:
What kind of light will your plant enjoy?
How much time will you have to take care of its needs?
Are you able to reach the plant (to water it) once it is
hanging in your home or office?
Once you’ve determined your ideal plant situation, then you can
shop around. Below, ten varietals to get you started.
1. ENGLISH IVY
Light requirement: Bright indirect to direct
Water requirement: Once a week
Pet-friendly: No
Botanically known as Hedera helix, this glossy, deep green
climbing vine isn’t just for covering castles and prep-school campuses. In
fact, it’s better suited as a hanging plant, and it’s a cinch to care for too.
It has medium watering needs and likes medium light—if you want to hang it in a
darker spot, try rotating it with another plant every few months.
2. BOSTON FERN
Light requirement: Low
Water requirement: Twice a week
Pet-friendly: Yes
Nephrolepis exaltata, or Boston fern, is feathery and
high-impact but relatively easy to maintain (yep, even for beginners) in
low-humidity conditions. It’s an air-purifier and it’s safe for pets, making it
an ideal pick for families. Just make sure you give your plant enough space
away from the ceiling to allow for proper air circulation.
indoor hanging plants birds nest fern
OLGAMILTSOVA/GETTY IMAGES
3. BIRD’S NEST FERN
Light requirement: Low to bright indirect
Water requirement: Twice a week
Pet-friendly: Yes
“This lush and tropical plant enjoys low to medium light,”
Mast says, “is easy to care for, pet-friendly and loves a bit of extra
humidity—so place this one in a windowed bathroom or kitchen. Also known as
Asplenium nidus, they get their name from the way their new growth first looks
like a tiny bird egg before the frond unfurls. And the more light they get, the
crinklier those fronds will grow in. Luckily, though, the bird’s nest fern also
does well in low-light conditions, so it’s the one to choose if you want to
brighten a dark corner in your home. Mast’s tip? “Never pour water in the
center or crown since it will rot, but only under the leaves and onto the
soil.”
4. STRING OF PEARLS
Light requirement: Bright indirect
Water requirement: Once every two to three weeks
Pet-friendly: No
The round pods on this pretty succulent plant aren’t just
for looks—they’re actually filled with water to help your Senecio rowleyanus
survive a drought (or um, your neglect). Thankfully, these hanging plants are
easy to care for and require little more than a spot with indirect sunlight in
your home. They’re ideal in spaces with high ceilings, so their vines have
ample vertical space to sprawl. But FYI, this plant is mildly toxic, and can
cause minor illness (gastrointestinal distress and skin irritation) if ingested
by humans and pets.
5. SPIDER PLANT
Light requirement: Low to bright indirect
Water requirement: Once every two to four weeks
Pet-friendly: Yes
The graceful, spindly leaves of Chlorophytum comosum make it
a great option for hanging, and thanks to its low-maintenance care
requirements, it’s beginner-friendly too. Mast told us, “This whimsical plant
enjoys medium to bright indirect light, is very easy to care for and is
pet-friendly, too. This plant may produce little spiderettes (little spider
plants) that can be cut off and placed in water to grow new roots and then be
planted into the soil. You can share the new little baby with family and
friends!” The more, the merrier.
6. PHILODENDRON HEARTLEAF
Light requirement: Low to bright indirect
Water requirement: Once a week
Pet-Friendly: No
If you, like us, have always wanted a lush hanging plant
that grows without much fuss, Philodendron cordatum green is the one. “These
fast-growing heart-shaped plants enjoy low to bright indirect light areas,”
Mast tells us, “and are very easy to care for.” They thrive in almost any
environment, so the world (read: your home) is your oyster. Even better, Mast
says it can withstand drying out from time to time: “Just water thorough and
hang back up,” she says.
7. BABY’S TEARS
Light requirement: Bright indirect
Water requirement: Once a week
Pet-friendly: Yes
Baby’s Tears, aka Helxine soleirolii, are common in
terrariums because of their delicate, small leaves and thin stems. But put one
in a hanging planter and it will really thrive, with trailing vines that spread
quickly and spill over the edge of its pot. It does prefer humid conditions and
hates to dry out, so try it in a bathroom with a window.
8. BURRO’S TAIL
Light requirement: Direct
Water requirement: Once every two weeks
Pet-friendly: Yes
Burrow’s tail, Sedum morganianum (and also sometimes Donkey
Tail), is a succulent like String of Pearls. Its funky, plump leaves are a
little high maintenance but worth it: It will sometimes blossom in the summer
months, with pink to red flowers at the ends of its “tails.” It’s best grown in
full sunlight, so choose a very sunny spot or a room with a south-facing window
for best growth. It should be watered moderately and regularly except in the
winter, when it needs less watering. And about those leaves: They’re pretty
delicate and can break easily, so choose its home wisely.
9. SILVER SATIN POTHOS
Light requirement: Low to bright indirect
Water requirement: Once every two weeks
Pet-friendly: No
Silver satin pothos, Scindapsus pictus, is a classic choice
for indoor hanging—it has elegant, dappled leaves and trailing vines. According
to Mast, it enjoys “low to bright indirect light areas and looks lovely as a
hanging plant because its patterned silvery green leaves drape over.” It
prefers average to warm temperatures and moist but not wet soil (so don’t keep
it saturated). Pothos will tell you what it needs: If the leaves start to turn
yellow, you’ll know you’ve watered it too much, and if they turn crisp or
brown, it’s getting too much direct sunlight. To reap its air-purifying
benefits, hang it in your bedroom close to where you sleep. And like the spider
plant, this one you can share: “Take little cutting from this one and share the
plant love,” says Mast. “These are easy to propagate.”
10. AIR PLANTS
Light requirement: Direct
Water requirement: Once or twice a week
Pet-friendly: Yes
Air plants might be the lowest maintenance of all indoor
hanging plants—they don’t even require soil. As long as you water them once a
week (whether it’s by soaking or spritzing) and keep them from shriveling up,
they’ll accent your space well. Hang them in glass terrariums with holes for
air circulation
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