7 Best Hanging Plants: A Guide to Hanging Plants

These plants look great in hanging baskets, macrame hangers, and minimalist hanging pots.

1. 1. String of pearls: String of pearls plants (Curio rowleyanus) are succulents known for their small, pea-shaped leaves. They exist as ground cover in their natural habitat, but as houseplants, they provide perfect cascading vines for hanging baskets. In addition to their pearl-like foliage, these plants blossom with small white flowers in the spring. These plants should receive bright indirect sunlight and minimal watering.
2. 2. Burro’s tail: Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) is a drought-tolerant succulent. Also known as donkey tail and horse's tail because of its pendulous stems and blue-green leaves, burro's tail grows vertically downward and can reach up to four feet in length. Give it at least four hours of bright light or partial sun daily and water them sparingly.
3. 3. Spider plant: Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) have long, solid-colored and variegated leaves. They also produce clusters of small white flower blooms that mature to form baby spider plantlets, or spiderettes. These low-maintenance hanging plants do well with bright indirect light or partial shade and minimal watering.
4. 4. English ivy: The English ivy (Hedera helix), also known as the common ivy, features fast-growing vines and bright green leaves. These plants do well in low-light conditions or north-facing windows. To avoid overwatering your English ivy, allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings.
5. 5. Boston fern: Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata), also known as sword ferns, feature long fronds with many small, sword-shaped leaves. Boston ferns do best in consistently warm, humid environments, making them good hanging plants for well-lit bathrooms. This plant requires consistently moist soil, so if you notice the leaves becoming dry or falling off of the fronds, gradually give it more water.
6. 6. Pothos: Often confused with philodendron, pothos vine (Epipremnum aureum), also known as devil’s ivy, is an easy hanging plant to care for. Plant your pothos in well-draining potting soil and place it in a relatively sunny spot with plenty of bright indirect light. If you want to maximize growth of the vines, fertilize your plant monthly with liquid houseplant fertilizer during the spring and summer.
7. 7. Air plants: Air plants are small plants that absorb moisture from the air. They don’t require soil, which makes them perfect for hanging from the ceiling as houseplants. To ensure your air plants get enough light but not so much that they scorch, hang them in a west-facing window. Water your air plants by misting the leaves. Use a spray bottle filled with tap water for easy-care misting.

Hanging plants from the ceiling is an accessible DIY project that requires just a few tools—all of which you can find at your local hardware store. You can install a hanging plant in a few simple steps.

1. 1. Weigh your plant. Depending on the hanging planter you choose, the hanging chain, the size of the plant, the type of soil it requires, and how much water it needs, the total weight can add up quickly. After potting your plant, water it thoroughly and use a scale to weigh it. This will give you a good sense of the maximum weight the hook will need to support—until the plant grows and needs to be repotted, of course.
2. 2. Assemble your hanging materials. You will need ceiling hooks with the right bearing weight for your plant (curved swag hooks work best), a hinged clip, and a drill with the proper drill bit (⅝-inch is the right size for most ceiling hooks).
3. 3. Find the right location. In addition to finding a spot that will provide the right light conditions for your plant, you’ll also want to find a secure spot that can bear weight. The most reliable way to mount indoor hanging plants is into a stud of solid wood such as a ceiling joist; if you own a stud finder, you can use it to locate the closest joist. If a stud is not conveniently accessible, you can also install a hanging plant pot into ordinary ceiling drywall, provided that you use a swag hook with hinged clip that opens out once you push it through the drywall.
4. 4. Drill a hole in the ceiling. Using the ⅝-inch drill bit or a drill bit slightly smaller than your hook’s screw, firmly press your drill into the ceiling. If you're drilling into a solid stud, the process is straightforward. If you're drilling into sheetrock with no stud behind it, you'll need to widen your hole to fit in the hinged clip. The clip will expand once it gets past the drywall, which makes it difficult to remove without damaging the ceiling, so make sure you're putting it in the right spot.
5. 5. Install the hook. For solid wood installation, screw the swag hook into the hole you pre-drilled. For installation into drywall, thread your hook into the hinged clip, then push the whole apparatus into the ceiling until the clip expands to hold it in place. Ideally the base of the swag hook will cover the hole you made to fit the clip. If not, you will need to patch the ceiling.
6. 6. Hang your plant. With your hook now in place, you're ready to hang your plant.

Ceilings aren’t the only ideal place for hanging indoor plants.

1. 1. Use a suction cup window hanger. For small hanging plants that require full sun, place suction cup window hooks high up on the inside of your window. Make sure there’s a solid grip before hanging your plant.
2. 2. Take advantage of your bookcases. If you’re adamant about not putting any holes in the ceiling or walls, tall bookcases or entertainment consoles can easily become the ideal spot for cascading plants.
3. 3. Use a coat rack. Whether you buy a new one or thrift one from a flea market, a coat rack is a free-standing way to display your hanging plants.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.