The 17 Best Indoor Hanging Plants to Elevate Your Space
Maybe your green thumb is itching for a new plant baby or you want to make your home more lush and vibrant, but you lack the floor space for free-standing potted plants. One easy solution? Indoor hanging plants. They’ll easily add the touch of green you’re after, without taking up any of your precious floor space.
But, like all indoor plants, choosing the right one can be tricky. How much light will it need? What kind of pot should you use? Is it pet- and kid-friendly? So many questions that need answers. That’s why we did some digging (heh) and with the help of a few indoor plant experts (including Bloomscape’s very own Plant Mom, Joyce Mast) we’ve come up with a list for your consideration. Check out the 17 best indoor hanging plants that’ll elevate your space below (plus tips on how to take care of them).
RELATED: 31 Cat-Friendly Plants That Are Safe for Your Furry Friend
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.
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.
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—we like these from Amazon.
11. Neon Prayer Plant
Light requirement: Low to bright indirect
Water requirement: Mist leaves once a week
Pet-friendly: Yes
If you’re looking for a plant that adds just a little bit of color to the space, look no further than the Maranta leuconeura. With its bright green oval leaves, herringbone-like pattern and light-yellow veining, it provides the right amount of greenery to your décor. Just be careful not to place it in direct sunlight, however, because too much sun can fade those charming leaf colors and burn the foliage. These little divas also prefer their water lukewarm and directly into the soil since watering the leaves can result in leaf spot bacteria, the expert tells us.
12. Christmas Cactus
Light requirement: Direct
Water requirement: Two to three weeks
Pet-friendly: Yes
Take your annual Christmas party to the next level when you hang these gorgeous blooms in addition to your tinsel and wreaths. Christmas cacti (or Schlumgera bridgesti if you’re fancy) come to life beginning in November and they’re low maintenance, which makes them perfect for the forgetful plant-parents out there. They only need to be watered every two to three weeks and even then, The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends you do so only when the top one third of soil feels dry to the touch. Easy, right?
13. Chenille Plant
Light requirement: Direct sunlight
Water requirement: Once a week
Pet-friendly: No
Pretty as they are, Acalypha hispida are not to be tampered with carelessly. When in bloom, these plants can be irritating to your skin, so make sure you hang them somewhere high, where children, pups or cats can’t get to them. That said, their bright red color and fuzzy exterior is ideal for sprucing up your front porch or deck (where then easily bask in that direct sunlight they love).
14. Maidenhair Fern
Light requirement: Bright indirect light
Water requirement: Every other day
Pet-friendly: Yes
The Adiantum aethiopicum flourishes in moist environments, so this pretty plant may be a good pick for your bathroom. Aside from regular watering, maidenhair ferns are generally low maintenance. In the event that you do forget to water them and they dry out, Gardening Know How suggests you try giving them a good soak before you toss them out. These cunning little plants have a tendency to re-sprout.
15. String of Hearts
Light requirements: Bright indirect light
Water requirements: Once a week
Pet-friendly: Yes
Your home will be crawling with love when you add this eccentric plant to the mix. Also called the Chain of Hearts, this plant is in the succulent family, so that means you can take it easy on the watering. Make sure the soil is completely dried out before you add more H20 and give it some indirect light, then you can just sit back and watch your Ceropegia woodii spread.
16. Staghorn Fern
Light requirement: Medium to bright indirect light
Water requirement: Once a week
Pet-friendly: Yes
With their long leaves and rich green color, Staghorn Ferns—or Platycerium—will easily catch anyone’s eye as they walk by. These thick plants are epiphytes, which means in their natural environment, they grow on other plants. Their airy nature gives you the option to either place them in a hanging pot or place them on a wood mount to make for some cool wall art (pictured here). Note: They require different watering regimens depending on the season. Pistils Nursery suggests watering them at least once a week in the hotter months and once every two to three weeks in the cooler months.
17. Orchids
Go classic and ultra-feminine with some elegant orchids, aka Orchidaceae. You can plant them in moss, orchid bark or a mix that includes rocks and even corks. Whatever you do, however, don’t plant them in soil. When it comes to watering these striking flowers, remember your regimen depends on the medium in which they’re planted: Orchids in bark are watered once every seven days and those planted in moss are watered every 12 to 14 days, says Joyous Garden. Be sure they get proper drainage because roots soaked in water will result in rot.
Hanging and care tips for indoor hanging plants
When choosing a container, don’t just go for style points. You should also consider the size and material in relation to your plant.
Ceramic pots will retain moisture and are best for plants that like humid environments, while clay-based containers dry out quickly and are better suited for plants that are sensitive to overwatering.
Containers with skinny openings create a vertical look and cause leaves to dangle, and wide openings allow leaves to spread horizontally.
Always use pots that have drainage holes and a saucer to make sure you don’t overwater, causing the plants' roots to drown, and make sure the saucer is always emptied of any excess water.
Also consider the height of your hanging plant. Long plants should hang higher to keep their leaves and branches from trailing on the floor. Smaller, shorter plants can hang lower for a better view. And don’t hang anything too high to the ceiling—this can prevent proper airflow to the plant.
You’ll have to take down your plant in order to water it, so don’t hang it so high that maintenance is unmanageable.
Room size matters too: Hang larger plants in larger rooms to give them space to spread out.
If you have pets, it’s always a good idea to hang your plants out of reach from your furry friends. Some plants can be toxic to animals (and kids) if ingested…and even if they’re not, it’s a mess waiting to happen.
RELATED: The 20 Best Air Purifying House Plants to Freshen Up Your Home
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