Spider Plant

Appearance

Spider plants in the genus Chlorophytum comosum, are made up of mounds of narrow leaves. Its leaves commonly have a white or yellow stripe down the middle of each. They spread wide and produce clusters of small white flowers. A hanging basket shows off its long, cascading leaves and ‘spiderettes,’ baby offshoots produced at the end of the leaves.

Size

This type of plant can grow to a height of 6-12 inches and a width of 6-24 inches.

Water

Spider plants are sensitive to water treated with fluoride. Watering a spider plant with rainwater or distilled water is best for this type of plant. The upper inch of soil should be dry before watering.

Sun

Spider plants prefer moderate to bright indirect light.

Good For Beginners?

Spider plants are popular houseplants because they are easy to grow. They require little attention and are tough plants that recover from neglect since their roots and rhizomes store water.

String of Hearts

Appearance

The string of hearts, or Ceropegia woodii, is a vine plant. True to its name, it grows heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are fleshy and gray-green. It also produces small magenta tubers in the spring and summer. Its evergreen, succulent, trailing vines look beautiful in hanging planters or on window sills.

Size

The mature size of a string of hearts is about 1-2 inches tall and the vines can grow 12 inches long.

Water

Make sure the soil has dried out before watering. In the spring and summer, the string of hearts must be watered once or twice a week. It only needs water every two weeks during the fall and winter months.

Sun

String of hearts prefer bright, indirect light. They will not survive in low light, and direct sun will scorch the leaves.

Good For Beginners?

String of hearts are great trailing plants for beginners. The plant care is simple, and this type of plant stores water in its leaves, allowing it to tolerate inconsistent watering.

If you like the green-gray and purple tones in string of hearts, check out the wandering Jew (Tradescantia). Also called inch plant and wandering dude, this fast-growing vine comes in many variations of green, silver, pink, and purple. It’s nearly impossible to kill and easy to propagate or repot. If your plant is getting leggy, simply break off an end and stick it back in the pot!

Air Plants

Appearance

There are hundreds of species and varieties of air plants, each having its own shape and appearance. Most have slender, triangle-shaped leaves that grow in a rosette pattern. Some have silver or green foliage, while others are more colorful.

Some species produce tubular or funnel-shaped flowers. Air plants don’t need soil, which opens up opportunities for many different ways to display them. Hanging mobiles and terrariums show off their unique appearance.

Size

Most air plants are small, ranging from 2-12 inches tall.

Water

Air plants need to be watered about once a week, while some varieties only need to be watered once every two weeks. Since air plants don’t need soil, watering them differs from watering other plants.

To water an air plant, place it in the sink or a small bowl with enough water to submerge the plant. Let it soak for about half an hour, then lay it upside down on a towel to let it drain completely.

Sun

Keep air plants out of direct sunlight. Air plants do best in a brightly lit area out of the sun’s rays.

Good For Beginners?

Air plants are suitable for beginners because they are easy to care for. Air plant parents don’t have to worry about soil, and this type of plant doesn’t need much light to thrive. They are low-maintenance and fun to display in any home.

String of Pearls

Appearance

The string of pearls, Senecio rowleyanus, is a succulent vine with rounded leaves resembling pearls or peas. Each leaf is a plump sphere and has a dark green line. Small white blossoms may bloom, but this is more likely with an outdoor string of pearls. This type of plant is eye-catching in hanging pots that show off its trailing vines and unique leaves.

Size

Mature string of pearls average 1-2 feet long and wide.

Water

Only water about once every two weeks when the soil completely dries out. From fall to spring, string of pearls only need to be watered once a month. These succulents store a lot of water, and overwatering can cause root rot.

Sun

These plants need bright, indirect sunlight. A 5-10 feet distance from a sunny south-facing window is ideal.

Good For Beginners?

String of pearls are great for beginners or lazy indoor gardeners. Its round leaves store water, so this type of plant can cope with some negligence and does not need to be watered often.

If you like the look of vining succulents, also check out burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum). This trailing succulent features dense vines of blue-green, fleshy leaves. It produces pink or red flowers in the summer at the end of its vines.

Boston Fern

Appearance

The Boston fern has graceful green, drooping fronds. Its leaves appear ruffled and look great in a hanger where the fronds can dangle and show off their natural chandelier shape. Boston ferns don’t produce flowers, but brown spots or spores might develop on the underside of the fronds. This type of fern is a common outdoor and indoor hanging plant because of its attractive, dangling greenery.

Size

Boston ferns can reach a height of 1-3 feet and a width of 2-3 feet.

Water

Like most ferns, the Boston fern needs a lot of water. Its soil should be kept moist in all seasons except for winter. It only needs to be watered during the winter months when the soil surface is dry. Be careful not to overwater to where the soil is completely saturated.

Sun

Boston ferns thrive best in bright spots that don’t receive harsh sunlight. Full sunshine should be avoided.

Good For Beginners?

The Boston fern is a popular hanging houseplant because it is one of the easiest ferns to care for and maintain.

English Ivy

Appearance

The English ivy, or Hedera helix, has lobed leaves and lush, trailing vines. There are many types of English ivy. Some varieties have green leaves, while others are variegated with yellow, gold or creamy white leaves. Each vine produces three to five lobes that can mature into heart-shaped foliage. The delicate, trailing stems beautifully spill out of flower pots and plant hangers.

Size

Indoor English ivy plants can grow up to nine feet tall and wide, depending on the variety and growing conditions. It can be pruned to control growth, and the stem cuttings can easily be propagated to grow new plants.

Water

English ivy prefers the soil to dry completely before watering. Keep the soil slightly drier during the winter months.

Sun

English ivy plants need medium or bright, indirect light. All varieties of ivy should be placed away from direct sunlight.

Good For Beginners?

Growing English ivy indoors is relatively easy because of its tolerance of medium to bright light and low room temperatures.

Pothos

Appearance

Golden Pothos, Epipremnum aureum, is a tropical vine in the Scindapsus genus commonly grown as an indoor houseplant. It produces pointed, heart-shaped green leaves, sometimes variegated with white, yellow, or pale green stripes. With its long, trailing vines, Pothos is a natural plant for hanging baskets or macrame planters.

Size

Pothos are fast growers and can grow 20-40 feet long and 3-6 feet wide.

Water

Let the Pothos plant’s soil dry out between waterings. It should be watered every 1-2 weeks.

Sun

Pothos thrive best in bright but indirect light. It may lose its leaf pattern if it isn’t receiving enough sunlight.

Good For Beginners?

Pothos plants are suitable for beginners since they can live for many years with basic care. They are also very adaptable, as various soil, moisture, and light conditions suit them. Pothos is often called devil’s ivy because killing is nearly impossible!

If you like the leaf shape and growth pattern of Pothos, also check out hoyas. Its common name, wax plant, comes from its thick, fleshy dark green leaves that make it an excellent air purifier.

Climbing Plants

There are several larger vining plants that can be styled in a hanging basket, though they’re more commonly trained to grow up a trellis or moss pole.

Heartleaf Philodendron, Monstera arrowhead plant, bougainvillea, and creeping fig can be hung and allowed to cascade down over the side of their pot or basket.