They’re great for anyone who wants to keep plants out of reach of kids or curious pets, draw the eye up in a room, or display more foliage once floors and tables are chock-full. Here are some of the best planters and hanging accessories around, and pro tips on how to use them properly. This might make the newbie nervous about potential drips and spills—but there are a few easy ways to keep things dry under your new planter. If you go for a decorative planter with a hole at the bottom, you can always carry it over to the sink for watering and allow it to drain completely before rehanging to avoid a splashy mess. Alternatively, you can keep your plant in its original plastic pot and place that in a closed decorative container. That way, transferring your plant to and from a water source will be a lighter lift. You can also look for a planter that has a removable drainage hole plug to minimize any potential for leaks after watering. “Those are all easy ways to alleviate the fear of water dripping on things with hanging plants,” Danae Horst, the founder of Folia Collective and author of Houseplants for All, tells mbg. Some hanging planters have strings or chains directly attached to them. While that two-in-one design makes it easy to get hanging, it also means you’ll have to buy a totally new hanging planter once your plant outgrows it. Hanging straps are the more flexible pick for fast-growing plants that you anticipate needing to move to a larger home eventually. They’ll allow you to swap out your pots as needed up to a certain size. Horst is partial to minimal and modern leather straps but says that trendy macramé can be a good material as well. You’ll just want to make sure that its design isn’t so intricate that it makes it difficult to remove the pot inside as needed. Folia Macrame Hanger With Rings ($24) Angus & Celeste Raw Earth Hanging Planter ($89) Ecopots Hanging Pot ($35) Etsy Leather Plant Hanger by Plant Hugger ($24) Artes Macrame Plant Hanger ($25.95) Mind The Cork Atlas Hanging Cork Planter ($65) Capra Hanging Planter ($70) Folia Swivel Ceiling Hook ($12) Jantens 2-Pack Hanging Plant Hook ($15.99) CB2 Cruz Double Curtain Rod ($109+) The goal, she says, is that “when it does come time to water, you can get it without having to get a ladder out.” Hanging planters can also provide privacy without totally obstructing window views, and they can cast dramatic shadows in your home throughout the day. You can either hang them directly from a curtain rod (double curtain rods are great for this) or take a cue from Horst’s home below and suspend a closet rod in front of your window. Whichever route you choose, always double-check that it can support the weight of your plant. You’ll also want to make sure to use an anchor—one that’s strong enough to hold your growing plant. And remember: Plants are heavier right after a watering! When in doubt, buy a size up. Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan of Leaf Supply and the Leaf Supply Deck of Plants also recommend drilling your anchor into a stud or support beam for the strongest positioning. “This is definitely one instance where we wouldn’t recommend removable hooks that can lose adhesion over time,” they tell mbg. Plants with an upright growth habit will eventually run out of room to grow, unlike trailing plants that cascade down toward the ground and create a beautiful shape as they do. “Vining plants that clamber upward and require staking for support are also generally unsuitable for hanging planters,” Camilleri and Kaplan add. Some of Horst’s favorite plants to hang include the Heart-Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum), Lipstick Vine (Aeschynanthus), String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii), and most species of hoyas. Camilleri and Kaplan are partial to low-maintenance Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) and Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus). Giving your hanging trailing plants a trim every once in a while will keep their foliage looking full, and you can also propagate your clippings afterward. Stay on top of your watering routine, and keep a spray bottle nearby for the occasional misting. You’ll also want to wipe down hanging plants’ leaves from time to time, to keep them from collecting dust. Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
