Four Things to Consider When Adding Hanging Flowerpots to Your Home
Courtesy of Amazon
Adding a hanging flowerpot, or a collection of hanging pots, to your indoor garden or an otherwise lonely corner of a room is a great way to enhance your space and bring the outdoors in. But decorating with suspended greenery and flowers isn't quite as simple as choosing a planter and getting to work; there are a few things you'll need to know before you get started. And though there are a couple more steps involved when hanging a flowerpot versus simply potting one at ground level, the added dimension a suspended plant gives your home is well worth that extra effort. It's also a great way to maximize your space by taking your greenery vertical.
Related: These Decorative Flowerpots and Planters Will Make Your Plants Pop
The Benefits of Decorating with Hanging Flowerpots
Today's options for hanging flowerpots are practically endless, says Fernando Wong of Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design, Landscape Architecture Firm. "There are straps made out of everything from leather and fabric, to metal," he says. If you're styling indoor spaces, Wong says the right flowerpot can soften a room and bring in some life from outside. "In the early 19th century people in cold climates would create elaborate garden rooms in sunny areas that they filled with plants and palms," he says. "Bringing in hanging plants is in this same tradition and is a great antidote for the winter blues." Wong loves a hanging terra-cotta flowerpot ($44.95, cb2.com), which adds earthy texture to any space. If you're styling outdoor spaces, hanging flowerpots can help elevate your garden and allow you to incorporate plants that may otherwise get too much sun, too much shade, or be toxic to the children and animals living in your home when grown at ground level.
Where to Hang Your Flowerpot
Wong says you'll need a strong garden spade, good potting soil, and an understanding of your home's sun exposure. "South-facing windows get the most light and are ideal for plants that require full sun," he says. "East facing windows welcome the morning light so they are great for plants that need some sun but could burn in the full [southern] light." If you have windows with north-facing light, they'll be ideal for plants that need filtered light. "Do a little research and see how much light your plant needs before you place it." These same rules can be applied for outdoor plants, just remember that they will see more overhead light outdoors than when hung by a window.
Consider Your Materials
Not all flowerpots are ideal for indoor hanging, so it's important to choose one that is. Most importantly, consider how your pot will drain—those made from wire mesh that rely on straw lining to keep the dirt in), and how heavy they are. You'll want to double-check your pot's materials before deciding where to hang it. "Some materials are more porous than others and can better facilitate drainage which is an important factor in keeping one's plants healthy and happy," explains Marie Danielle Vil-Young, founder and creative director with À Votre Service Events®, LLC. She says pots made out of materials like terra-cotta, concrete, plastic, fiberglass, polypropylene, weathered or galvanized steel, resin, silicon, fiberstone, wood, metal, and iron can often pull double duty and be used both indoors and out. Whereas materials like porcelain and ceramic should be saved for indoor hanging plants. She adds that you shouldn't feel limited by typical flowerpot materials when it comes to hanging plants in your home. Some plants can be potted and hung using materials like wood boards, or macrame to make a boho-chic statement like Theory Beyond Design's Maple Eclair Propogation Hanger ($65, thesill.com).
Securely Hang Your Pot
Before you begin hanging your flowerpot in or around your home, you should check the weight limits and confirm whether or not the area you want to hang it will support the weight and hardware needed. "The best thing to do is check with the manufacturer," says Wong.
To hang your pot, Vil-Young says you'll need to take into consideration the overall weight of the pot, (including the soil or moss), the hanging material such as macrame, rope, leather, wire, chain, and the type of hook you'll be using to hang it. "Ideally, one would use a stud finder to locate wall stud or ceiling joist at the area where the plant will be hung," she says. If you cannot find the stud in the area where you'd like to hang your flowerpot, you are likely better off moving to another area where you can, as drywall and other building materials are unlikely to be strong enough to support the weight of the hanging planter.
