Maegan-Leigh JacobsBringing you closer to nature without taking up space! Besides filling your space with so many houseplants that you can’t see the walls anymore, what else can you do to make urban spaces feel like a rural paradise? All you need to do is look up.
Hanging plants are an often underutilised urban garden design element. Making use of areas that would be otherwise empty, they immediately make your home feel cosier by lowering the ceiling level. bringing you closer to nature without taking up valuable floor or counter space. Many are also low-maintenance, saving you from taking them down and putting them back up all the time. Whether you opt for cascading or upright options, there are a few reasons not to add a carpet of greenery above your head in your home, to stop it from becoming a struggle.
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Don’t hang your plants so far out of reach that they are almost impossible to get down, or you will simply forget about them, Choose pots with built-in drip trays or install a pot cover to stop water from spilling onto the floor. Use a watering can with a long neck to reach all parts of the soil without having to move around too much. Weight Watchers The last thing you want is for your hanging houseplant to fall from its hook right after watering because the pot is too heavy.
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Hanging plants need a lightweight pot and lightweight soil to take the pressure off the hanging point and prevent any accidents. Avoid heavy materials that soak up water – there’s a reason terracotta hanging baskets aren’t easy to come by. Soil can also weigh the pot down, especially when the plant is freshly watered. Amend your potting soil with perlite and palm peat to decrease the weight and improve drainage.
Hanging houseplant care
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Keep It Light: When hanging houseplants, it’s tricky to achieve that perfect level of bright indirect light that most thrive in. Hanging positions, especially in rooms with high ceilings, are typically darker areas not conducive to strong and healthy growth. Try hanging your houseplants at window level to make the most of the sunshine, This is especially true for more succulent plants that normally need at least a few hours of direct sun to thrive.
Simplify Watering: Watering is one of the hardest parts of hanging houseplant maintenance. Many of us have struggled up a stool or wobbly chair, inevitably spilling water along the floor as you go. You may have even looked up at a houseplant in need of water and put it off, not having enough energy for the task. The key is to make watering as simple as possible for yourself
The best plants to use for overheads
A version of this article was originally published in the Garden&Home June 2022 printed magazine.
Feature image: Unsplash
