Creating an indoor hanging garden by hanging plants from your ceiling gives off a vibe.
It’s a great way to continue growing your plant collection with limited floor space, and it keeps your toxic and semi-toxic plants out of reach of your pets and children.
There are a bunch of different ways to hang plants in apartments, but many times, we don’t have permission to drill in our rented space.
One quick and fun way to hang plants in your apartment is on your curtain rods, as they are perfectly placed for sun exposure and a bit of warmth from the sun.
Don’t worry; we have plenty more inspiration to offer. This article walks you through 7 creative ways to hang your plant collection from the ceiling with or without drills!
Primary Considerations for Hanging Plants in an Apartment
Location
You can’t just place plants anywhere in your apartment. They need to be in the right conditions to thrive!
You should keep your leafy green friends in a spot with ample bright, indirect light, and you should avoid hanging plants in a south-facing window. There’s just too much direct impact on your plants. Direct sunlight can burn your plant’s green leaves, so if you do opt to hang plants in a south window frame, consider succulents, cacti, or other types of light-loving plants.
Also, ensure your plant isn’t in a drafty area or hanging directly above or below a radiator or air vents, as the dry air can shrivel up the leaves. Location is key for building the best green vertical space possible.
Hanging Method
In some cases, hanging plants in your apartment takes a careful approach. Luckily, there are a ton of unique ways to hang plants from the ceiling or on other fixtures around your place. Screw hooks, toggle bolts, tension rods, or even self-adhesive ceiling hooks can do the trick, but make sure to pick an option that works well in your space and adds to the aesthetic.
Type of Plant
Choices, choices, choices. There are so many types of plants that make the perfect pairing for a hanging basket. Vining plants like Hoya Kerrii, Pothos, Boston Fern, or String of Turtles make the ideal dangling companion and create a jungle vibe that will take you away from your white wall blues.
Just remember to steer clear of large and heavy plants, or even heavy feeders, as there aren’t a ton of hanging methods that can support their weight (never mind the soil).
Type of Pot
The type of hanging pot you use goes hand in hand with the type of plant it’s holding. There are tons of lightweight potting options made from materials like plastic, or you can even get creative and make your own plant pot out of things like coconut shells.
Ceramic planters or other pots made from heavy material are not ideal for hanging, but surely, some of you will do it anyways. In this case, make sure nothing will come crashing down at the light close of a door.
Additionally, your pot should have drainage holes at the bottom, so consider adding a saucer or cache pot for excess water when growing those heavy drinkers.
Care Requirements
Watering your plants regularly and providing them with their preferred conditions is essential. Plant pots with drainage will likely need to be taken down for watering, so make sure you have easy access to them for transport.
Also, consider how high your ceiling is. If you need to grab a ladder every time your plants need water, consider if it’s worth the effort. Some plants, though, need very little maintenance – think air plants, for example – so those make perfect pairings for those hard-to-reach corners or particularly high ceiling spots. Ceiling height can be a hindrance, but it doesn’t have to be. Different heights can add value with a spark of creativity.
Best Indoor Hanging Plants for your Apartment
Air Plants
Air plants are super interesting in that they do not have roots and don’t actually require a growing medium. These types of plants are called epiphytes, and they typically co-exist with a host organism like trees or wooden materials. Nope, they don’t harm their host. Low maintenance, easy to please, and harmless.
Air plants are perfect smaller plants for a small apartment with high ceilings that needs a touch of color and inspiration. Just be sure to give them access to bright, indirect light, and mist them periodically with a spray bottle for good measure. Once or twice a week should do the trick.
Boston Fern
Boston ferns, while not uncommon, can quickly help turn a dull indoor space into a lush oasis, and they make perfect hanging plants thanks to their long, elegant branches that can reach up to four feet in length!
We like to see them in bathrooms, kitchens, or a living room, but they fit well almost anywhere. Also, they don’t require much bright light. They do love high-humidity conditions, though, so be mindful of the types of plants that you shack up next to them.
Spider Plants
Spider plants are another beautiful choice for apartments, with their stunning foliage that blends well with a hanging basket. Mature spider plants produce baby spiders called ‘Spiderettes,’ that drape down over the edge of their basket to create a rainforest feel in any room.
English Ivy
English Ivy is a popular easy-care houseplant often grown in hanging planters thanks to their long, lush vines and rapid growth. English Ivy likes consistently moist soil, so water them once the soil feels dry and give them bright, indirect light. Because this plant is toxic, hanging it is a great option to keep it away from pets and children.
String of Pearls
String of Pearls is an attractive option for a brightly lit apartment or south-facing windows. These plants are technically succulents and require little water and lots of sun. You can tell when your String of Pearls plant needs watering by just looking at its leaves.
When they get thirsty, they get shriveled and dry, so reward them with a big sip of water if you see those signs. These plants get their name from their spindly vining growth pattern, which hangs elegantly down toward the floor. Small plants with big hanging energy! Some of the best hanging plants, surely.
Devil’s Ivy
Devil’s Ivy, or Golden Pothos, is a fan favorite as a hanging plant. No wonder! They grow super fast and are great for beginner gardeners and houseplant owners with a new green thumb. They grow in all sorts of lighting conditions, including low light, and you can quickly tell if they are unhappy.
If it needs water, the leaves begin to curl, so glance toward it every now and then to make sure it’s thriving. Pro tip for pet owners: hanging this toxic plant allows you to keep your pets safe and your mind at ease.
String of Hearts (Chain of Hearts)
Name isn’t the only thing in common between String of Pearls and Chain of Hearts. Each makes a great choice as an indoor hanging plant, as they are both low maintenance and look stunning. Still, they grow relatively quickly and bloom with beautiful white flowers when given plenty of light. A lovely reward indeed!
The long vines on these trailing plants have heart-shaped leaves and can grow up to 3 feet long, so make sure to hang them high and out of reach of pets. They are also super light, so they are safe for most hanging methods.
Mistletoe Cactus
Another succulent, the Mistletoe Cactus, is often grown in hanging planters. They are very low-maintenance and grow relatively fast, which makes them a perfect plant for beginner plant parents.
Mistletoe Cactus does not need much water and grows well in bright, indirect light. Their twiggy, trailing vines with fleshy leaves will look beautiful draping down from your beautiful ceiling! While this took the last spot on the list, these are some of our favorite plants.
How to Hang Plants in Apartment (Drilling)
First, let’s be sure we are ready to rock with our tools and materials.
Tools and Equipment Needed
- Stud Finder
- Pencil
- Drill and Bit (make sure the bit is slightly smaller than the size of your hook!)
- Screw hook
- Your potted plant
Choose a Plant and Pot
As mentioned above, choosing the right plant and pot for your hanging planter is important. Consider the weight of your plant plus its pot beforehand. Safety is paramount! Make sure that your ceiling is going to be able to handle the weight of the plant.
Also, keep in mind the care requirements of your plant. Does it need full sun? How often will you need to water it? Can you easily take the plant down if needed? All these questions are important to ask yourself before drilling in those screw hooks!
Locating a Support System
First things first; choose the right location for your plant. Keep in mind your plant’s light requirements!
- Locate a ceiling joist that you can drill into using your stud finder. (You can also use this method with wall studs)
- Mark the ceiling with a bit of pencil once you’ve located a beam.
Begin Drilling or Installation
- Drill a pilot hole where you marked a joist.
- Ensure that you are using a drill bit slightly smaller than the hook screw you’re using. This will help the hook to fit firmly and tight into the small hole.
- Screw in the hook and twist it tightly.
Test Strength
- Tug on the hook to make sure it is secure.
- Next, hang your plant from the hook. You will want to slowly let the weight of the plant onto the hook to ensure that it can hold the weight of the plant.
- Once you’ve let go of the pot, you’re done!
7 Creative Ways to Hang Plants in An Apartment (Without Drilling)
If you live in a rental apartment, you may not be allowed to (or want to) drill any holes in your ceiling. Fair enough. Below are five different clever ways to hang plants from your ceiling.
Magnetic Hooks
These days, apartments are commonly built with metal beams running through the ceiling. If this sounds like your humble abode, all you are going to need to hang your plants are some heavy-duty magnets! Some of these magnets can hold a crazy amount of weight, some up to 100 pounds. Talk about the perfect solution for your heavy feeders. If the magnets you choose don’t come ready with a hook, get creative for a fun DIY project. If your walls happen to be built with metal materials, you can consider a wall hang method as well. Easy.
Tension Rods
Tension rods are most commonly used as shower curtains, but they make an effortless and affordable way to hang beautiful plants around your apartment. All you need to do is find the best place for them, which is generally in between two solid structures or door openings. Avoid our mistakes and ensure you apply enough tension. Use S hooks to attach plants to the tension rod, and then throw up some macrame plant hangers. These will look particularly stunning in subtle corners. Just be careful not to put too much weight on them, as a spring curtain rod is not the most sturdy of structures.
Adhesive Hooks
There are many self-adhesive hooks on the market that are much stronger than you may think. All you need to do is attach them to your ceiling according to the package instructions and hang your plant! The great thing about a hanging plant hook is that they are affordable and easy to use. This type of hook can usually hold up to 16 pounds, so opt for lightweight plants like ferns or air plants.
C-Clamps
If you have exposed beams on your ceiling, using a C-Clamp to hang indoor plants is a great way to hang plants without drilling. This method looks exceptionally stylish if your living space has an industrial vibe! You can also use these clamps outdoors to hang plants from your balcony.
Door Hooks
These little S-shaped hooks are often used to hang coats or bags, but you can easily use them to hang your plants, too! They are effortless to install. All you need to do is get some door hooks, hook them onto your door and hang your plant from the hook! You can hang these on any door in your home. Just make sure your plant doesn’t get smashed into a wall when you open the door (for obvious reasons).
Hang Plants from Coat Racks
If you have an unused clothing rack, consider recycling it as a plant hanger and creating a hanging garden! A hanging or standing rack can work well for holding your plants. These racks can handle a lot of weight, so if you want to hang a lot of plants, a coat rack is probably the best way to display your indoor jungle.
Suction Hooks
This is a great idea for those with a skylight. You can apply suction cups with hooks onto the glass, and they can hold up to 13 pounds of weight, making it easy to hang lightweight plants from your skylight. Because they are directly near the front of a window, they can access plenty of bright, indirect light! Ensure your plant isn’t exposed to lots of direct sun during the afternoon, as this can quickly burn a plant’s leaves. Either way, suction hooks are a great choice for building an epic hanging indoor garden.