If you feel like your apartment is looking both cramped and bare lately, there is one simple way you can breathe some life into it. And that is — low-light hanging plants!
These babies make for incredible decorations, for three reasons — they’re practical, thrive in low light conditions, and they create a beautiful cascade effect. Not only that, but caring for them is perfect practice if you plan on getting any future pets.
So, to give your apartment a natural makeover, here are 6 of the best low light hanging plants you should get today.
Plants: All the Benefits Listed
If you’re not into gardening then you might think the only advantage of owning a plant is the aesthetic appeal. You couldn’t be more wrong. Not only do plants brighten up your living space, but owning one has a plethora of physical and mental health benefits.
For starters, plants generate oxygen during the day. That is extremely beneficial since it keeps your living space refreshed and your energy levels steady.
What’s more, plants can filter harmful toxins that build up in closed spaces, while also generating humidity. All these features work great during the summer when you need to stay cool and refreshed to combat the stuffy heat.
Plants deliver on the mental health front, too. Research shows that an hour-long walk in the park has the power to boost our mood and drastically reduce stress.
Sadly, since the vast majority of us live hectic lives, we don’t have many chances to spend our free time outdoors. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has uncovered that over 90% of Americans spend most of their lives inside.
This isolation has a devastating impact on mental health, especially in an era where one in five adults in the US live with some kind of mental issue. The solution to this problem is to have a slice of nature indoors.
Granted, indoor plants aren’t a replacement for actually going outside. However, they do have the ability to drastically alter your mood. Even brief contact with foliage can generate a calming effect on the human body. This in turn can increase your overall well-being and productivity. That’s a lot of power in a small piece of green.
Hanging Plants vs Potted Plants: What’s the Difference?
In summary, having a few plants in your home has some pretty incredible benefits. However, not everyone can create their own garden, especially if the living space you’re currently occupying is barely larger than a shoe closet. But don’t think that means you have to give up on your dream of having an indoor park.
If your apartment can’t accommodate potted plants, you can always get a few hanging plants instead. But wait, aren’t these two completely different types of plants? Well, not exactly.
Hanging and potted plants don’t refer to different species of vegetation. Rather, they describe the casket you keep the plant in. You can plant the same type of flower or vine in either a pot or hanging basket, with no issues.
However, it’s worth noting that some types of plants won’t thrive in hanging baskets. Some, on the other hand, will grow even stronger if you put them in a hanging basket rather than a pot.
In addition, taking care of hanging plants differs from caring for potted ones. First off, since they’re suspended in the air, hanging plants don’t retain water very efficiently.
Consequently, you need to water them much more frequently than the standard potted variety. This constant watering also means the hanging container may get worn out much more quickly than a pot, especially if the hanging basket is low quality.
But on the upside, hanging plants are less vulnerable to pests. Since they hang well above ground level, crawling insects will find it difficult or even impossible to reach them. Not only that, but hanging plants also have higher quality soil.
Standard backyard soil isn’t always the best for planting a garden. It’s usually full of rocks, clay deposits, dried roots, and weeds. Overall, it’s not nutrient-dense enough to sustain most plant life.
In contrast, owning low-hanging plants means you don’t have to spend time digging up your garden to make it more suitable. All you have to do is buy a sack of quality soil from the market, and presto! You’re just one step away from your very own indoor paradise.
Things to Consider Before Buying Hanging Plants
So you’re sold on the idea of adding a few potted plants to your apartment. However, before you rush to your local shop to buy a few leafy pets of your own, first you need to consider a few things.
• The type of plant: As we’ve mentioned, some plants are more suited to hanging pots than others. It wouldn’t do well if you waste your money on a hanging ficus, only to see it wilt a month later. Therefore, before going plant shopping, figure out which type of plant is best suited for hanging pots.
• Placement: Just because hanging plants are convenient doesn’t mean you can leave them in any corner. Plants require sunlight to grow. Though low-light plants need much less of it to thrive, they still need their daily dose of UV light to stay alive. Therefore, where you hang your leaf baby will be crucial in determining how successful it will be.
• The pot: another vital part of plant installation is the type of pot you use. For low-light hanging plants, it’s always a smart idea to choose pots with drainage holes. This type of pot allows excess water to leak out, thus preventing root rot.
Secondly, you have to consider the size of your pot. Go for smaller pots only if you plan on planting small, slow-growing plants. Adding a fast-growing plant to small pots will result in the plant overgrowing the pot too quickly and shattering it.
6 Best Low Light Hanging Plants
Now that you’re up to date on the basics of plant ownership, it’s time to look at some potential candidates for your indoor garden. As mentioned, when choosing your plant, you firstly need to be mindful of the type of plant you get.
If you have a small, cramped apartment with minimal lighting then your best bet is to get something that requires little sunlight. The following candidates are the best low-light hanging plants you can use to brighten not just your home, but also your mood.
1. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron Hederaceum)
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If you want a plant to add some romance into your life, then the heartleaf philodendron is one of the best low-light hanging plants there is. This member of the philodendron family is best known for its iconic, glossy green leaves, which have a distinct heart shape.
Moreover, it’s quite a resistant type of vegetation, capable of growing some very impressive appendages. This is fantastic news if you live in a place with high ceilings.
When it comes to care, there are a few things you should remember:
• Light — It doesn’t need direct light to thrive. So feel free to stick it in a bright room with shady spots or a room with consistent low light levels.
• Water — Regular watering is mandatory. Be sure to always keep the soil damp, but don’t go overboard, since you don’t want to risk root rot.
• Temperature — A good tip on heartleaf philodendron care is: if it’s warm enough for a human, it’s good enough for the heartleaf. Therefore, keep the pot in an area that’s between 60‒75°F (16‒24°C).
• Soil — No special soil requirements, other than regular fertilization during spring and summer.
2. Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum Aureum)
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The dalmatian of plants, the Devil’s Ivy is best known for two things — its green and yellow leaves with white speckles and its low maintenance status. It’s one of the easiest plants to care for, especially if you’re a beginner. Therefore, it’s not surprising that it’s one of the most owned houseplants.
As for how you care for it, here are a few tips:
• Light — Medium-light conditions, but it also does well in the shade.
• Water — Needs constant moisture and humidity.
• Temperature — Thrives best in temperatures between 50‒75°F (10‒24°C).
• Soil — A soilless mix with good drainage is a must here. It also requires a very weak mix of fertilizer during the growing season.
3. English Ivy (Hedera Helix)
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One of the best low-light hanging plants is hands down the English ivy. This bad boy is perfect if you’re looking for a plant that’s going to get big, fast. In the wild, English Ivy can reach anywhere between 66‒98 feet in height, if the conditions are right.
While their spade-shaped leaves are poisonous if ingested, they’re undeniably beautiful to look at. That is why this plant makes for an excellent addition to any home. But, bear in mind that the evergreen English Ivy is a climber and can get out of control in its natural environment as it’s able to grow on almost anything, anywhere.
English Ivy caring tips are as follows:
• Light — the plant lives in woodland areas in the wild. Therefore, it’s best if you place it in indirect or filtered light.
• Water — high levels of moisture are a must, but you shouldn’t overwater the ivy either.
• Temperature — Fairly resistant, and can thrive in temperatures between 65‒85°F (18‒29°C).
• Soil — Requires an organic soil mix.
4. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
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Another favorite among plant-owners everywhere, the Spider Plant is one of the best low-light hanging plants you can own. It’s easy to grow, can withstand almost any conditions, and has a long train of ribbon-like leaves.
All in all, it looks like a miniature palm tree, which is especially cute if you want to add some tropical beauty to your apartment.
In terms of care, the Spider Plant is very low-maintenance:
• Light — Thrives best in moderate, indirect light.
• Water — Requires water once every 10 days during its first year. After that, you need to start watering it once a week.
• Temperature — The plant is very resistant to temperature fluctuations. It prefers a temp range of 55‒80°F (13‒27°C)
• Soil — Doesn’t usually need fertilizer: However, if it starts to wilt, you may need to add a weak mix during the summer months.
5. String of Coins (Peperomia Pepperspot)
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Hailing from the Amazon, this little leafy gem is anything but a tough, scary root. In fact, it’s actually a very delicate plant that the locals believe brings good fortune. The reason why they relate it to luck is because its leaves resemble different types of pocket change.
In short, it’s exactly the kind of foliage you need in your life if you want to sort out your finances.
When it comes to maintenance this baby is a walk in the park:
• Light — Prefers low light, so best not to hang it near direct light sources, like glass doors or windows.
• Water — Water it regularly every week or so. But make sure to let the soil dry out between waterings to avoid root rot.
• Temperature — A bit more sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Usually, it will thrive best in temps between 65–75ºF (18–24°C).
• Soil — Spring of Coins requires rich, organic soil with additives. You should fertilize it with slow-release feed during growing seasons to make sure it propagates.
6. Adanson’s Monstera (Monstera Adansonii)
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Do you like Swiss Cheese? Well, did you know you can get it in plant form? Adanson Monstera is a unique flowering plant, known for the characteristic holes in its leaves. This is what earned it the nickname of the Swiss Cheese Plant.
However, unlike the decadent milk product, this baby has a fairly neutral smell, making it one of the best low-light hanging plants. What’s more, since it’s a vine, it can both hang and climb. Therefore, when you’re hanging it, be sure to do so as far away from any curtains as possible.
When it comes to care 101, this plant is easy to keep:
• Light — Keep the plant in low-light areas, since direct light can dry it out.
• Water — Needs high levels of humidity to thrive. When watering, be sure to do it from below, right after the top layer of soil has dried out.
• Temperature — Prefers temperatures between 60‒80°F (15‒26°C). So if your bathroom has a window, you’re free to add it in there.
• Soil — Adanson’s monstera requires a mix of soil and bark to thrive. During the spring and summer seasons, you will also need to fertilize it with a weak mix so that it can propagate.