Garden & Home TeamHanging houseplants 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. Here are a few expert tips for caring for yours.
Caring for hanging houseplants
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 houseplants 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 to stop it from becoming a struggle.
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. 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.
Words: Madison Moulton
Feature image: Pexels
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