Welcome to the trend of vertical gardening. Indoor plants on the windowsill or a tree in the corner can enhance interior design in ways that ordinary potted plants cannot. Of course, mixing and matching plants of different heights, leaf types, and flower colors is also fun.
Nothing complements trailing plants better than a raised planter. By adding hanging baskets to your existing indoor plant collection, you can create a layered plant look from floor to ceiling. Change the colors and shapes of the vines to create a unique appearance, or choose similar vines for consistency.
Discover the best eight indoor plants, ready to be hung in baskets in the kitchen, living room, or even the bathroom.
Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida)
It's hard not to touch the fuzzy catkins. The chenille plant is an interesting specimen for annual container gardens, but it also thrives indoors, provided you have a bright south or east-facing window to give it the energy to bloom year-round. The chenille plant also loves plenty of water and nutrients, which you can provide by watering it with compost tea, a win-win.
String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
The unusual succulent beads of the string of pearls plant are stunning in modern homes with bold and stylish design elements. Like most succulents, the string of pearls plant grows in bright light and thrives in dry soil. If your plant is happy, it may even produce small white flowers for you. If the ends are too sparse, you can trim a string of pearls plant.
Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus)
Seven-leaf tree specimens bring cheer to winter homes when they bloom for weeks. The lipstick plant comes in red, pink, or orange, and is an excellent indoor plant because it can tolerate low light conditions and infrequent watering. Buy the largest plant, and you will see blooms in the first season. Do not prune the lipstick vine before the flowering ends, as buds will form at the top of the plant.
Black Pepper Vine (Piper nigrum)
A plant that can flavor your meals can also be an interesting addition to indoor hanging baskets. The black pepper vine needs enough light to produce the berries we call pepper, but indulging in supplementing plant light to achieve this feat may be worth it. Pepper plants can take years before you see any flowers. In container cultivation, the plant grows to a reasonable three feet. Outdoor summer vacations will help maintain the plant's vitality.
Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus)
Named for its cheerful orange flowers and known as "Christmas wintergreen" for its winter blooming time, the goldfish plant is a petite specimen that can fit in a smaller hanging basket over the kitchen sink or in half a bathtub. The plant grows well in low light or north-facing windows. The goldfish plant is an epiphyte (air plant) that uses trees for support in its native habitat. Try using large orchid pots to keep the roots healthy.
Queen's Tears (Billbergia nutans)
Like other bromeliads, the queen's tears plant produces many pups or offsets that you can remove and replant to increase variety. Although queen's tears grow well in both bright and low light conditions, the plant must experience short periods of natural light to trigger the formation of autumn buds. Therefore, allowing the plant to only experience natural light can produce the best flowering results. Queen's tears are hardier than many indoor plants and will do well as long as temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia or Nepenthes)
Hardy pitcher plants from the Sarracenia genus exhibit upright pitcher plants, while tropical pitcher plants from the Nepenthes genus are used for hanging baskets. Tropical pitcher plants have very specific growth requirements, but they are easy to grow when those requirements are met: give the plant bright light, no fertilizer, and constant moisture. Although pitcher plants are carnivorous, resist the urge to fill the pitcher with flies and grasshoppers, as they may rot. Occasional gnats are enough for indoor pitcher plants.
Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus argyraeus)
Plants like this pothos are popular among beginners because some classify them as "non-killing" plants. The colorful leaves cascade over the sides of the hanging basket or attach to a support through aerial roots. This satin pothos enjoys low light and moist soil but can tolerate drought.