From classic spider plant to heart-shaped pothos, take your indoor garden to new heights with these easy-to-grow hanging houseplants.
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Philodendron
Philodendron
Known for being very easy to grow, philodendrons have green or variegated heart-shaped leaves. They are tolerant of almost any type of light, including low-light areas, and humidity. Although stems trail down, their aerial roots enable them to climb up poles.
Why we love it: Stem cuttings of philodendrons root easily in water and can be inserted in outdoor floral containers as “spillers” or in hanging baskets in the garden for the summer.
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String of Frogs Ficus
Ficus pumila ‘quercifolia’
String of Frogs ficus has woody vines and small leaves, creating a flat appearance. This plant needs well-draining soil and indirect light, but it’s not as drought tolerant as other houseplants, so keep an eye on the soil. It is perfect for terrariums and small containers, or use it to cover wire-shaped figures and topiaries.
Why we love it: It works well as a ground cover to other houseplants, spilling over the container’s edges.
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Satin Pothos
Scindapsus pictus
Satin pothos is not a true pothos but requires similar conditions: bright, indirect light and moist, well-draining soil. Its silver markings on gray-green heart-shaped leaves create a velvety appearance. The green stems hang gracefully over pots.
Why we love it: Easy to grow, satin pothos can be used to light up any dark corner as a hanging basket or trailing container plant.
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Burro’s Tail
Sedum morganianum
A burro’s tail succulent needs bright light but not a lot of water. Although it is grown for its blue-green foliage, it does bloom small red star-shaped blossoms.
Why we love it: The stems can get long and fragile, so if a piece breaks off, pot it up to root and produce another plant.
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Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plants have solid green or variegated spiky foliage that spills outward like a fountain. They are adaptable but prefer bright, indirect light and infrequent watering. If the roots escape the drainage holes, you’ll have to repot.
Why we love it: Cut off the baby plants to produce new plants to give away or grow yourself, or grow to put in summer outdoor hanging baskets.
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String of Hearts
Ceropegia woodii
String of hearts features small heart-shaped green leaves with silver markings and purple undersides and long wiry stems. Grow this succulent in bright, indirect light, and water it when the soil is dry. The purplish tubular flowers are a fun surprise!
Why we love it: It produces aerial tubers on the vines that can root in soil and produce more plants for you or your friends.
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String of Dolphins
Senecio peregrinus
This cute succulent resembles jumping dolphins. It is not grown for flowers, but it may bloom small white flowers with a cinnamonlike scent. For best results, place string of dolphins in a south-facing window—it prefers more sun than many other houseplants.
Why we love it: Because the stems are lightweight and long, they can drape down credenzas, bookcases and shelves, in addition to spilling over hanging baskets.
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String of Pearls
Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus)
The pearl-shaped leaves conserve moisture, and the dark striations allow light to enter for photosynthesis. Grow these succulents in bright, indirect light.
Why we love it: It makes for a seriously cool succulent houseplant and doubles as a low-growing ground cover under taller indoor specimens.
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Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Pothos’s heart-shaped leaves come in yellow and green, white and green, solid green or chartreuse colors. Although it can withstand dry soil, it can also be grown in a glass of water.
Why we love it: Pothos is a long-lived pass-along plant. It’s easy to root and share with friends and family.
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Strawberry Begonia
Saxifraga stolonifera
With fuzzy begonia-like foliage, this plant spreads via strawberry-like runners that produce tiny plants at the ends. These begonias like bright, indirect light and moist, well-draining soil.
Why we love it: Easy to cut off and root, the tiny plants can be added to outdoor flower containers in the summer or gifted to friends.
Sources
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, “Yard and Garden: Growing Philodendrons“
- North Carolina State Extension, “Ficus pumila,” “Scindapsus pictus“
- Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension, “Burro’s Tail, Sedum morganianum“
