Why hanging plants are the new must-have home decor item

As a lifelong gardening enthusiast and botanist in Wisconsin’s dynamic landscapes, I’ve seen home decor trends come and go. But one direction has steadily taken root in recent years – hanging plants!

From urban lofts to rural farmhouses, hanging plants have become the must-have way to bring greenery into any living space. As both a visually appealing and practical choice, it’s easy to see why hanging plants are popular.

In this post, we’ll dive into the origins and evolution of using plants as indoor decor, look at why hanging varieties are having a moment, explore the best plants to hang in your home, and get tips to pick and care for these elevated greens to thrive. Come along as we dig into the details of this booming trend!

A Brief History of Indoor Plants in Home Decor

While houseplants feel like a contemporary phenomenon, using live plants as indoor decoration has an ages-old history full of twists and turns. Understanding how the pendulum has swung back and forth helps explain why these elevated edibles are back in vogue.

Ancient Origins of Indoor Gardening

Egypt, Greece, and Rome’s early civilizations cultivated plants inside temples, homes, and palaces. These ancient indoor gardens served various purposes:

• Practical uses like cooking, medicine, and religious ceremonies
• Status symbols to convey wealth and sophistication
• Aesthetic beauty to decorate interior spaces

The Egyptians grew decorative flowers like lotuses and lilies in shallow pools and pots. The Greeks displayed beautiful potted herbs. Ancient Roman patricians had elaborate indoor gardens, including fountains, exotic plants, and wild animals!

The Evolution of Houseplants as Decor

The use and style of indoor gardening has constantly shifted over the centuries:

• Middle Ages: Plants served medicinal needs as Europe dealt with the Plague.
• Victorian Era: Houseplants became a refined pastime for the elite. Exotic species arrived from colonized lands. Glasshouses and conservatories also came into fashion to cultivate temperamental plants.
• Early 20th Century: Plants became more accessible to the emerging middle class as interest grew in bringing nature and green purity into homes.
• 1970s: The houseplant craze took off! Easy-care varieties like snake plants and spider plants became ubiquitous. Macrame plant hangers and terrariums were also trendy then.

The Resurgence of Plants in Modern Interior Design

While indoor plants fell out of favor as interior styles changed over the decades, they are decidedly back in vogue today! What accounts for their revival?

• The wellness movement has renewed interest in plants’ stress-relieving effects and air purification abilities.
• Sustainability has spurred the use of houseplants to bring nature inside.
• Social media made pictures of indoor jungles go viral! Currently, the #urbanjungle hashtag has over 7 million posts.
• Interior design has embraced plants in new ways, such as living walls, hanging varieties, and unique planters.

Bringing the outdoors in through plants is zigging, while much of home decor is zagging!

The Rise of Hanging Plants

While all houseplants are trending upward, hanging varieties are emerging as a popular subset of this booming category. What qualities make elevated plants a must-have?

Popularity in Social Media and Interior Design Magazines

Scroll through Instagram or Pinterest, and you’ll see endless inspiration for incorporating hanging greens. Design influencers love showcasing hanging plants like:

• Ferns suspended in macrame holders
• Trailing succulents flowing from woven baskets
• Wandering Jew vines trailing down from lofted ceilings

Interior design magazines have also noticed the trend toward levitating plants. For example, House Beautiful recommended hanging varieties as an easy way to add more nature to one’s home. Architectural Digest featured celebrity homes decked out with floating ferns and succulents.

Influence of Minimalist and Bohemian Styles

Hanging plants fit right into two of the most popular interior design aesthetics – minimalism and bohemian.

The clean lines and negative space of minimalism perfectly complement modern suspended planters. This arrangement allows greenery to enter without cluttering surfaces and views.

For bohemian style, macrame hangers and overflowing suspended planters create an earthy, eclectic feel. The texture of dangling vines and leaves enhances the cozy vibe.

Speaking of interior design trends, you’ll hear specific terms popping up again and again concerning hanging plants, including:

• Indoor gardening
• Urban jungle
• Plant decor
• Hanging plants
• Macrame
• Boho or Bohemian style
• Minimalist style
• Greenery
• Natural elements
• Tropical plants

Types of Hanging Plants

With hanging plants gaining popularity, what are the best options for suspending them in your home? While preferences vary, here are some top categories for bringing the outdoors in through elevated greenery.

Succulents

Succulents are the ultimate hanging plant for many. Their sculptural shapes, low maintenance needs, and versatility for modern or bohemian decor make them a go-to choice. Popular picks include:

• String of Pearls – The bead-like leaves on trailing stems make this a top pick for hanging.
• Burro’s Tail – Perfect for cascading over edges, this plant has dense leaves resembling a tail.
• Air Plants – These epiphytic plants grow sans soil, so you can creatively hang them anywhere.

Ferns

With their lush fronds, hanging ferns create a tropical jungle effect. They bring an earthy texture and tons of visual interest. Great options include:

• Boston Fern – A classic fern with arching fronds perfect for a shady hanging basket.
• Staghorn Fern – Vibrant, antler-shaped leaves make this a unique choice for hanging in indirect light.
• Rabbit’s Foot Fern – Fuzzy, foot-like fronds bring fun texture. Does well in low humidity.

Flowering Plants

A profusion of blooms can make hanging flowering plants mesmerizing. Give them bright, indirect light to see them flourish. Top picks:

• Orchids – With striking blooms, orchids are sure to impress when suspended.
• Hoya – These vining succulents produce clusters of star-shaped waxy flowers.
• Violet – With colorful blooms and fuzzy foliage, African violets thrive in hanging pots.

Foliage Plants

Are you looking for brilliant greenery sans flowers? Foliage plants offer diversity in color, shape, and texture. Excellent options include:

• Pothos – This graceful trailing vine has heart-shaped leaves and is available in golden, neon, and variegated varieties.
• Philodendrons – From vining heartleaf to shield-shaped imperial green, philodendrons cascade beautifully.
• Prayer Plant – With vivid patterned leaves, the prayer plant is a striking choice for hanging baskets in indirect light.

Care Requirements and Aesthetic Appeal

When selecting hanging varieties, consider factors like sunlight needs, humidity preferences, and growth habits. Match these care needs to conditions in your home for healthy plants.

The possibilities are endless in terms of looks! Hanging plants can provide tones from vibrant to neutral, textures from smooth to fuzzy, and shapes from trailing to round. Mix and match to design a unique living art piece. Your elevated garden will purify the air as it delights your senses!

Benefits of Having Hanging Plants in Your Home

Beyond their visual appeal, suspended plants offer many benefits that make them a brilliant addition to your home decor.

Enhancement of Air Quality

One of the top perks of hanging plants is their ability to purify indoor air. Many can filter out pollutants like:

• Benzene
• Formaldehyde
• Trichloroethylene
• Xylene

These toxins are emitted from furniture, cleaning products, and paint. Hanging plants absorb and break down these compounds through photosynthesis.

NASA studies have even shown how efficiently houseplants can eliminate air pollutants in indoor spaces. Suspending them puts these natural air purifiers where they can have maximum impact as the air circulates.

Psychological Benefits

Research also supports the psychological benefits of being around houseplants. Their presence can:

• Reduce stress
• Lower anxiety
• Boost moods
• Increase creativity and focus
• Speed recovery times

Many factors contribute to these effects. The natural beauty of plants and seeing living things thrive induces positive feelings. Interacting with plants also helps connect us to nature, which has therapeutic effects.

Hanging plants amplify these benefits by bringing greenery into your sightlines and surrounding you with nature. Studies show that gazing at plants can quickly reduce stress and anxiety.

Creative Use of Vertical Space

Finding space for plants in urban areas can be challenging, with limited outdoor and floor space. Hanging plants provide a creative solution for bringing nature indoors.

Suspended plants utilize vertical real estate that would otherwise go wasted. Moreover, raising these living artworks opens up your views and doesn’t occupy valuable floor and tabletop space.

You can also hang plants at different heights, creating an indoor jungle effect. Highlights include:

• Hanging a tray of succulents or ferns from the ceiling as a living chandelier
• Suspending a wire basket of ivy in a corner
• Displaying a macrame planter of a wandering jew under a skylight
• Letting tendrils of philodendrons trail down a multi-level plant stand

Style and Texture Addition

Beyond their functional benefits, hanging plants bring undeniable style and texture to indoor spaces. They can become focal points in your home and create living works of art.

Consider showcasing:

• The vibrant red leaves of a heartleaf philodendron against a white wall
• The wild flowing locks of a spider plant suspended from the ceiling
• The delicate trailing stems of a string of pearls in a sunny window

You can also play with heights, shapes, sizes, and colors to create a one-of-a-kind arrangement. The textures and colors of nature contrast beautifully against sleek modern decor.

Biophilic Design

Hanging plants also allow you to tap into biophilic design, a concept that focuses on bringing elements of nature into built spaces to enhance well-being.

Studies validate the stress-relieving effects of being around plants, natural light, and nature-inspired design. Hanging plants add beautiful examples of nature to enjoy. Grouping your elevated gardens near seating areas multiplies the therapeutic impact.

Space-Saving Solutions

For urban homes, hanging plants are prime space-saving solutions. They allow you to maximize every inch, utilizing airspace instead of scarce floor or table area.

Hang plants in spots difficult to place standard planters like:

• Corners
• Walls
• Staircases
• Ceilings
• Railings
• Shelving

You can also hang plants at various heights to create an indoor jungle effect without overcrowding spaces.

How To Choose The Right Hanging Plants

Now that you’re inspired to adorn your home with hanging varieties, how do you select the perfect plants? Here are tips for picking the right suspended greens.

Consider Available Lighting and Space

As with any houseplant, available lighting drives decision-making. Before buying, note the direction, intensity, and duration of light in areas where you want to hang plants.

Many popular hanging plants, such as philodendrons and spider plants, thrive in indirect sunlight. For spaces with only artificial light, opt for low-light stalwarts like pothos or Chinese evergreen.

Regarding space, picture the proportions of the fully grown plant compared to your vertical footage. Avoid overwhelming a petite area with a fast-growing hanging variety like a sweetheart plant.

Portion out taller ceiling heights for cascading plants, like a string of pearls that can dangle dramatically. Understand growth rates, too. Slow growers like succulents may enjoy the same spot longer than rapid growers like pothos.

Match to Your Schedule and Commitment

When choosing hanging varieties, factor in how much effort you want to invest in care and maintenance. Assess:

• Watering – Hanging plants have varying water needs, from daily misting to weekly soaking. Select plants that match your watering commitment.
• Pruning and Training: Some hanging plants require frequent trimming to shape their trailing growth, while others need minimal pruning once established.
• Fertilizing – While frequent feeding can boost growth, many plants do fine with monthly or quarterly fertilizer. Understand different needs.
• Pest Management – Plants like orchids are more susceptible to pests than no-fuss succulents. Factor in vigilance required.

Pick plants that bring you joy, not extra stress! If you need to be more relaxed or forgetful, focus on low-maintenance varieties.

Complement Your Decor Style

Your interior design scheme also influences perfect hanging plant picks. For example:

• In modern spaces, suspend clean-lined succulents like Burro’s Tail or geometric air plants.
• For eclectic rooms, go bold with trailing spider plants or delicate macrame-ensconced ferns.
• In farmhouse spaces, handwoven baskets overflowing with ivy and wombok create homey vibes.

You can also use hanging plants to create a style, like using wire-framed terrariums of tropical plants to bring jungle energy into a minimalist room.

Don’t be afraid to use plants to shake up your decor! Hanging greens make a welcoming contrast to sleek or cold surroundings.

Consider Plant Properties

• Foliage Needs – Plants like peace lilies with large leaves need more light and space versus compact-leafed philodendrons.
• Growth Rate – Fast growers like pothos require more pruning to control their trailing stems.
• Leaf Thickness – Plants with thin leaves, like ferns, work well in humid bathrooms versus succulents with thick, waxy leaves.
• Toxicity – Cascading plants like ivy or philodendrons are toxic for kids and pets who can reach them.

Remember all aspects of your lifestyle when selecting plants to create a harmonious indoor jungle.

Hanging Plant Care Tips

When caring for hanging varieties, focus on meeting their essential needs:

Watering Routines

Plants soak up moisture faster in breezy hanging baskets. Check the soil regularly to avoid under or overwatering:

• Underwatering – Drooping leaves and brown, crispy edges
• Overwatering – Mushy stems and yellow droopy leaves

Increase watering frequency for:

• Hot or dry conditions
• Newly transplanted baskets
• Fast-growing varieties like pothos

Reduce watering for:

• Cool-weather
• Slow-growing plants like succulents
• Maturing baskets with established roots

Providing Proper Potting Mixes

Use lightweight, porous potting mixes in hanging baskets to avoid soggy soil. Must-have ingredients include:

• Perlite – Boosts drainage and aeration
• Coir or peat – Help retain some moisture
• Compost – Provides nutrients for healthy growth

You can make your mixes or buy readymade hanging baskets soils. Avoid heavy, water-retaining outdoor grounds indoors.

Fertilizing for Optimal Growth

While you can grow hanging plants without fertilizer, feeding helps them thrive. Options include:

• All-purpose liquid feeds – Foolproof and easy to mix into your watering can.
• Time-release granules – Mix into the soil for steady feeding over months.
• Foliar sprays – Mist plant leaves so nutrients are absorbed directly. Avoid flowers!

Follow label directions to avoid buildup. In spring and summer, feed actively growing plants monthly. Reduce feeding in fall and winter.

Preventing Pests and Diseases

Elevated plants still face traditional houseplant issues like:

• Fungal diseases from overly damp soil
• Pests like whiteflies, aphids, or mealybugs

Fortunately, there are many organic prevention and treatment options:

• Let the soil dry adequately between waterings
• Provide good air circulation
• Apply neem oil to deter pests
• Use insecticidal soap sprays to control infestations
• Apply horticultural oils to suffocate soft-bodied insects

With good care, you can avoid problems and enjoy healthy hanging plants!

Designing With Hanging Plants

The fun part is deciding where and how to display your magnificent suspended specimens! Here are decorating ideas:

Incorporating Plants in Various Rooms

One of the beauties of hanging plants is their versatility to add elegance anywhere:

• Kitchens – Herb planters over counters or a pothos in a macrame hanger by the window over the sink.
• Bathrooms – Low-light plants like ferns or orchids near showers benefit from the humidity.
• Bedrooms – Consider a small suspended air plant or marimo moss ball for minimalist plant presence.
• **Here is the continuation of the blog post:
• Living rooms: To add a pop of greenery, hang trailing philodendrons or spider plants in the corners or above seating areas.
• Dining Rooms – Suspend air plants or orchids over the dining table for an exotic plant display.
• Offices – Hanging snake plants or ZZ plants can purify the air as you work.

You’re only limited by your imagination – plants can enhance any space!

Different Ways to Hang Plants Indoors

From DIY to designer, there are endless ways to suspend your plants in style:

• Macrame – These woven rope holders offer bohemian vibes and tons of variety.
• Hanging planters – Ceramic, glass, or rattan pots with built-in hangers keep it simple.
• Wall hooks – Adhere cup hooks to display smaller hanging baskets along a wall.
• Ceiling hooks – Dangle plants from hooks screwed into ceiling beams or hooks.
• Multi-tier hangers – Vertical plant stands that suspend plants at different levels are striking.
• Terrariums – Self-contained worlds and mini-hanging terrariums create a decorative accent.
• Interior hooks – Stylish hooks that fit over interior window sills let you hang plants with style.

Play with different materials and levels to create your signature hanging plant display.

Balancing Aesthetics and Plant Health

When designing with hanging varieties, a balancing act ensues between what looks pleasing and what your plants need. Some tips:

• Select plants suited to indoor conditions rather than forcing unsuitable plants just for looks.
• Give them enough space to grow into their hanging home, avoiding cramped roots.
• Add grow lights for healthy plants if your aesthetic vision exceeds natural light.
• Use hanging solutions that make watering and drainage achievable.
• Prune and train plants gently into the shapes and sizes you desire.

Your hanging oasis can be stunning as well as sustainable for the well-being of your plants!

DIY Hanging Planter Ideas

Are you looking for budget-friendly ways to showcase hanging plants? Before buying expensive planters, consider using household materials to explore these DIY hanging planter projects.

Upcycled Hanging Planters

Breath new life into old items destined for the landfill. Possibilities include:

• Plastic bottles or jugs – Clean thoroughly, paint or decorate, and attach hanging cords.
• Tin cans – Affix magnets to the bottom and hang from magnetic air vent covers.
• Baskets – Macrame or rope can create boho-chic holders for attaching plant baskets.
• Teapots – Clean out an old cracked teapot and use it as a charming planter.

Macrame Hanging Planters

Creating knotted netted planters is easier than it looks! You just need natural fiber rope, a few essential knots, and creativity.

Adorn with beads or shells. If going liner-less, add a plastic liner inside to hold potting soil and a drain tray below to catch drips.

Recycled Material Planters

Upcycle and repurpose all kinds of cast-offs:

• Milk jugs – Paint them and macrame a hanger.
• Tea tins – Punch drainage holes in the bottom.
• Old cups or mugs – Affix cup hooks on the handles.
• Mason jars – Macrame rope handles for a rustic look.

Look around for materials before buying planters. It’s amazing what you can upcycle!

Easy DIY Wall-Mounted Planter

Add industrial flair with a simple wall planter made from plumbing parts. You just need:

• 1⁄2” copper coupling
• 1⁄2” copper end cap
• Heavy-duty wall anchors

Drill drainage holes in the coupling. Screw the couplings into the wall anchors. Add lush plants like ivy or philodendrons.

Creative Plant Stands

Unleash your inner innovator:

• Ladder – Affix S-hooks along the rails to hang baskets.
• Coat racks – Repurpose by hanging macrame baskets from hooks.
• Pipe conduit – Affix to the wall horizontally and hang small pots with S-hooks.
• Driftwood – Affix industrial hooks along branches to suspend air plants.

Multiply your vertical planting space and show off your DIY prowess!

Where to Buy Hanging Plants and Accessories

Once inspired, you’ll need places to procure splendid suspended specimens. Here’s where to buy:

Local Nurseries and Garden Centers

Support local businesses while getting helpful advice. I recommend these terrific Wisconsin nurseries:

• K&M Greenery – Excellent selection and hanging basket care guidance.
• Tang’s Garden Center – Helpful staff and workshops for plant care.
• The Bruce Company- Gorgeous showroom with custom planters available.

Visit garden centers near you to talk to experts and personally select plants and pots. You can’t beat that hands-on, human touch!

Online Plant Stores and Marketplaces

If mobility is limited or you want exotic finds, online stores offer convenience and selection. Favorites include:

• Hirt’s Gardens – Ships healthy, nursery-grown plants right to you.
• The Sill – Gorgeous photos and decor advice accompany their plants.
• Bloomscape- Sleek site with plants shipped directly from greenhouse to home.

Etsy also connects you to many creative plant artisans and pottery makers for one-of-a-kind finds.

Sourcing Stylish Hanging Supplies

Once you’ve got your plants, you need hanging supplies and cachepots. Shop specialty stores:

• Pistils Nursery – Gorgeous macrame hangers and modern pots
• Hanging Plants – Boutique-like style with custom plant stands available
• The Citizenry – Ethically handmade textile baskets and wall hangings

Scope out flea markets and thrift stores for hidden hanging gems, too! Upcycling scores you savings and style.

Hanging Plants in Different Cultures and Traditions

While hanging plants seem trendy, suspended greenery in the home has cultural roots across civilizations. Reflecting on their symbolism and history enhances appreciation for this ancient decorating practice made modern again.

Significance in Asian Cultures

Influential Asian philosophies like Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra guide the placement of plants to harness their positive energy.

• Feng Shui – Hanging plants near entrances or in the wealth corner beckon good fortune.
• Vastu – Suspending plants like money plants in the northeast corner draw prosperity.
• Japanese traditions – Plants displayed in tokonoma alcoves promote harmony and tranquility.

Positioning plants thoughtfully allows their presence to infuse vitality and blessings into the atmosphere.

Role in European Traditions

The elite in European societies used indoor plants to convey prestige and sophistication.

• In Victorian-era England, lush potted plants decorated conservatories and parlors. Propagating exotic specimens from abroad displayed affluence.
• In medieval times, they were hanging plants commonly adorned noble homes in France and Italy. Only the privileged could dedicate resources to decorative flora.

Presence in Indian Cultures

Hanging plants feature in Indian spiritual traditions and healing practices:

• In Vastu, plants like tulsi are believed to purify and protect homes spiritually.
• Plants like neem and banyan are used in ayurvedic tonic preparations to promote health and longevity.
• Marigolds and mango leaves are central in religious Hindu ceremonies for their auspicious symbolism.

Purpose in Middle Eastern Traditions

The hospitality of Arabic cultures manifests through lush vegetative greetings.

• Hanging plants and trees welcome guests in open-air courtyards.
• Elegant arrangements of roses and jasmines near doorways signify the generosity and warmth awaiting inside.
• Water features bordered by elaborate plantings create restful, paradise-like spaces.

Feng Shui and Vastu Guidance on Hanging Plants

For added perspective, these ancient schools of thought guide the harmonious placement of plants.

Fundamental Principles in Feng Shui

In feng shui, plants balance the five elements to create a positive energy flow called chi.

• Hanging plants should not block chi at doorways and paths.
• Plants with round or smooth leaves suit the metal element and boost chi.
• Place plants in the fame and reputation bagua area for success.
• Cascading or weeping plants evoke the water element to cultivate calm chi.

Ideal Positioning in Vastu

This Indian philosophy guides home design and layout to amplify prosperity and harmony.

• The northeast direction governs self-improvement, so cascading plants stimulate growth here.
• I am hanging money plants in the north to boost financial gains.
• Where the sun rises, the east calls for flowering plants to ensure health.
• Hanging shrubs in the southeast kindle positive family energy.

Use these principles thoughtfully to enhance the energies provided by plants.

Common Questions About Caring for and Decorating With Hanging Plants

Some common questions may be swirling if you’re new to decorating with hanging plants. Here are answers to popular beginner inquiries.

What conditions should I consider when picking a hanging plant?

Match the plant to the space’s lighting, humidity, airflow, height, and temperature. For the healthiest growth, select plants suited to your conditions.

How often should I water my hanging plant?

It depends on the plant! On average, check the soil weekly and water when the top few inches are dry. Adjust for your plant’s needs and growing season.

What are simple hanging plants for beginners?

Great starter plants include pothos, philodendrons, spider plants, ferns, and low-light plants like Chinese evergreens. All are relatively forgiving.

Can I hang plants in rooms without windows?

Yes! Opt for low-light plants or use grow lights. Snake, ZZ, and cast iron plants thrive in low light.

Where can I buy hanging planters and supplies?

Nurseries, garden centers, florists, home stores, and many online retailers offer a wide selection of hanging pots, macrame holders, and hardware.

How do I prevent pests on my hanging plants?

Keep leaves dry, provide airflow, use natural pest deterrents, and relocate outdoors if pests persist indoors. Be vigilant about inspecting for early signs.

What are the easiest hanging plants to care for?

The top low-maintenance picks are succulents, snake, spider, pothos, Chinese evergreens, peace lilies, ZZ plants, and philodendrons. Slow-growing, drought-tolerant varieties are more straightforward.

Final Thoughts on This Must-Have Home Decor Trend

Hopefully, this post has illuminated why hanging plants deserve soaring popularity and a place in home decor. With endless variety, styles, and benefits, what’s not to love about levitating some greens?

I encourage you to incorporate these elevated edibles into your space fearlessly. If needed, start small – even one planter can enhance a room’s ambiance. The possibilities are boundless once you realize how beautifully plants can infuse their special magic into a home when hung thoughtfully.

If challenges arise, consult your local greenhouse experts for troubleshooting. Plant lovers must unite to help nature flourish, one hanging basket at a time!

I’d love to hear about your experiences decorating with hanging plants. Share your stories, photos, and questions with me and our growing community of plant lovers. Now, go out there and fill your home with heavenly greenery!