Hanging baskets are a great way to add greenery and pops of color to any home. They can liven up outdoor spaces like patios and decks or add natural beauty to indoor spaces as well. With so many different types of hanging baskets and limitless ways to decorate them, it can be tricky deciding on the best ideas that suit your personal style and space.
Indoor Hanging Basket Ideas
Hanging indoor plants helps purify indoor air while adding vibrant greenery to brighten up living spaces. When styling indoor hanging baskets, consider the room’s purpose and style. Here are top ideas for indoor spaces:
Kitchen Herb Baskets
The kitchen is a perfect spot to hang a mini indoor garden. Fill baskets with edible herbs like basil oregano, thyme or mint to have fresh seasoning on hand while cooking. Opt for metal or wire baskets to allow ample drainage and airflow for the herbs to thrive. Hang near a bright window over the sink or island.
Macrame Plant Holders
Boho-chic woven macrame holders offer an earthy, textural backdrop for displaying trailing indoor plants like ivy or pothos. The natural fiber material compliments greenery beautifully. Macrame hangers come in various shapes like hoops, diamonds or teardrops. Hang in front of bright light sources near windows or skylights.
Hanging Plant Terrariums
For low maintenance greenery, create a mossy closed terrarium eco-system filled with air plants, small ferns and tropical plants. Glass terrariums retain moisture well so plants rarely need watering. The lush mini indoor garden makes an artistic display for shelves, countertops or hung using decorative ropes or macrame.
Geometric Woven Baskets
Textural baskets made from natural rattan, seagrass or woven woods have an earthy, casual style that works in most rooms. Line with moss and fill with thick trailing plants like philodendrons, spider plants or English ivy. The organic shapes contrast beautifully with geometric lined baskets for an elevated look.
Decorative Beaded Chandelier Baskets
Crystal beaded baskets add a glamorous touch, perfect for dressing up formal dining rooms or foyers. Counterbalance the opulence with full, leafy plants like ferns. Avoid delicate plants as the beaded baskets don’t hold much soil and dry out faster. Hang over console tables, kitchen islands or stair banisters for maximal visual impact.
Outdoor Hanging Basket Ideas
Outdoor hanging baskets bring gorgeous garden appeal to small spaces like apartments and patios. Planning outdoor container gardens starts with choosing durable all-weather baskets and well-suited plants. Consider sunlight access, climate and maintenance when deciding on plants.
Mixed Flower Baskets
A mixed flower basket overflowing with colorful blooms epitomizes cottage garden style. For the brightest pop, opt for complementary hues that contrast beautifully like reds with purples and oranges with blues or pinks. Some classic combinations include:
- Geraniums, petunias and verbena
- Marigolds, alyssum and impatiens
- Begonias, fuchsia and ivy
Succulent Baskets
Succulents are perfect for hot, dry outdoor conditions where they require minimal care. Choose hardy varieties that tolerate direct sunlight and won’t get overheated on patios. Combinations may include:
- Sedums, echeveria and sempervivum for form, texture and color contrasts
- Airy senecios and tall aloes to trail over basket edges
- Decorative hens-and-chicks, split rocks and agaves as sculptural accents
Edible Fruit and Vegetable Gardens
Self-watering baskets allow growing bountiful edible container gardens on patios and decks, using fruits like strawberries or veggies like kale, tomatoes and bush beans. Opt for compact, dwarfed cultivars that won’t outgrow hanging conditions.
Include fertilizer and replenish with nutrient-rich potting soil as needed. Pair shade lovers like greens and root crops with sun lovers like peppers and eggplants by adjusting sun exposure if hanging in mixed light conditions.
Year-Round Evergreen Basket Gardens
Conifers, hollies and dwarf spruces make stunning, low maintenance year-round garden baskets. Evergreen branches, fruits and colorful stems provide winter visual interest between snowfalls. Accent with winterberries, red and yellow twig dogwoods along with dried grasses.
Hanging Basket Materials & Shapes
Metal & Iron Baskets
Iron, copper and other metals make durable indoor/outdoor hanging planters that are decorative alone before adding any plants. Wrought iron cottage-style baskets have romantic Victorian appeal. Modern wire forms offer contemporary flair.
Opt for coated or galvanized metals if displaying indoor plants prone to mineral toxicity like dracaenas or palms. Rustproof aluminum baskets work well too. Match metals to existing accents and hardware for cohesive style.
Large Teardrop & Pod Shaped Baskets
For bold focal points, oversized teardrop, raindrop and pod shaped wire hanging baskets make a sculptural statement on their own before factoring in gorgeous plants. Giant fern balls, moss frames, succulent wreaths, air plant displays and mixed flowering baskets flourish wonderfully to trail over the dramatic silhouettes. Site them as standalone centerpieces on porches, patios or hall entryways.
Geometric Glass Terrariums
Modern enclosed glass teardrops or globes with metal hangers create unique terrariums to artfully display miniature cacti, succulents, bonsai plants or exotic tropicals even in cold climates. Hang geometric concrete planters and glass boxes using macrame or hemp ropes for on trend, urban jungle appeal. Site near bright light to prevent mold.
Vintage & Galvanized Metal Buckets, Cans & Crates
Repurposed buckets, watering cans, drums and storage crates give new life as charming vintage-chic hanging container gardens. Fun finds might include old wooden nail kegs, deep metal tins, enameled pots or industrial gear like pulleys and chains styled into plant holders. Line with plastic to prevent toxic zinc leaching before filling with soils and plants.
Natural Fiber & Textural Baskets
Natural textures like rattan, bamboo, jute, coconut fiber/coir, rice paper, reed/wicker, banana leaf, sea grass, water hyacinth and more make eco-friendly biodegradable planter choices both indoors and out. Layer liners to retain moisture in fiberous vessels prone to drying. Macrame hangers offer bohemian style.
Coco Husk Liner Baskets & Moss Poles
For sustainable green gardens, felt-like coco liners woven from coconut fibers serve as moisture retaining, biodegradable basket guts. Stuff preformed natural fiber basket shapes with coco chips, then plant directly. The liner prevents soils from leaching while improving hydration. Add moss poles for climbing vines or epiphytic plants to attach aerial roots. Site in partial shade.
Creative & Unexpected Hanging Planter Ideas
Looking for unique DIY alternatives to basic gardening pots? Before splurging on plants, scout home, thrift and hardware stores for inspiration dangling from ceilings. Repurpose everyday items with drainage holes added to function as creative plant vessels.
Teapots & Teacups
Vintage porcelain teapots and dainty teacups make sweet hanging herb gardens or fairy gardens. Opt for chipped finds no longer functional for dining to hold mini greenery like trailing rosemary, pansies or ivy. Add pebbles below for drainage before filling with light potting mix suited for containers. Site in protected areas to prevent cracking fragile planters.
Glass Bottles & Jars
Recycle glass juice, wine or mason jars to create boho bottle gardens. Clean thoroughly then add layers of pebbles, activated charcoal and light airy potting soils to fill 1/3 depth. Good plant options include delicate ferns like maidenhair or small vining plants like creeping Jenny and ivies. Hang with jute, hemp or iron wires and site out of direct sun to prevent overheating.
Galvanized Buckets, Tubs & Stock Tanks
Large metal tubs, buckets, watering cans, bins and stock tank planters spawn lush gardens with a farmhouse or industrial edge. Paint exterior or let metal age naturally. Use coco liners for moisture retention since metal may dry out fast. Good plants include trailing succulents, vining vegetables like bush beans, peas or cucamelon or small fruit shrubs suited for containers like dwarf blueberries.
Wooden Crates & Boxes
Sturdy wooden delivery crates, fruit boxes, small chests and drawer organizers serve wonderfully as heavy duty hanging garden planters safe for growing large plants, veggies and vining flowers. Opt for untreated pine, cedar or redwood that resist decay. Include drainage holes and line with landscape fabric to keep soil contained while allowing excess moisture to percolate freely.
Recycled Plastic Bottles & Containers
Upcycle plastic by converting empty beverage bottles, food tubs like yogurt and bins into hanging vertical gardens. Clean thoroughly then add activated charcoal for filtration and orchid mixes or fast draining bonsai soils. Good plant options include bromeliads like air plants and Spanish moss plus staghorn and birds nest ferns.
Unexpected Found Object Planters
Embrace fun randomness and use wildly creative found objects as design-worthy hanging planters to spark smiles. Quirky vintage kitchenware like cheese graters, colanders, cake pans, water jugs, dairy churns or supermarket shopping baskets upholstered in coco liner transform into planters sure to inspire happy conversations amongst guests.
Best Plants for Hanging Baskets
Trailing Flowers & Foliage
- Ivy geraniums – Unfussy, sun loving bursts of flower color
- Million bells/Calibrachoa – Prolific bloomer even in heat
- Sweet potato vine – Brilliant chartreuse or purple trailing foliage
- Lobelia – Violet blue cascading flowers thrive in cool weather
- English ivy varieties– Evergreen vining foliage plant
- String of pearls/bananas – Fast trailing succulent groundcovers
Cascading Vegetables & Berries
- Strawberries – Tuck small white basket varieties amongst ornamentals
- Cucamelons – Fun ornamental edible gherkin cucumbers
- Bush beans & peas – High yielding edible vines
- Mini cucumber & patty pan squash vines
- Patio baby eggplants – Purple fruits on compact plants
- Hot peppers – Spicy dash of color
Vertical Foliage Plants & Tropical Vines
- Philodendrons – Vining aroids like heartleaf, Brazil and split leaf
- Pothos varieties – Variegated devil’s ivy for low light areas
- Monsteras – Tropical Swiss cheese plants with fenestrated leaves
- Ferns like rabbits foot & maidenhair – Lacy delicate fronds
- Arrowhead and butterfly syngoniums – Climbing aroids with patterned leaves
Cascading Orchids & Bromeliads
- Moth orchids/phalaenopsis– Elegant long lasting blooms
- Lady slipper orchids – Vibrant, prolific flowering plants
- Air plants like xerographica – Sculptural epiphytic tillandsias
- Earth stars bromeliad – Whimsical green/pink striped leaves
Mixed Succulent Gardens
- Trailing jade plants – Lush sun loving succulent groundcover
- Burro’s tail sedum – Plump water storing trailing stems
- Echeveria – Rosette shapes like Graptoveria ‘Opalina’
- Senecio radicans/string of bananas – Rapid growing succulent vines
Mossy Tropical Terrariums
- Selaginella spikemoss & tropical mosses
- Peperomia watermelon/raindrop plants
- Nerve plants – Bright chartreuse trailing Fittonia stems
- Small staghorn and birds nest ferns
Best Brands to Buy From
| Brand | Description | Price Range | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardeners Supply Company | High quality steel, coir and coco fiber hanging baskets and macrame holders made in Vermont | $20 – $100 | Direct from company website |
| Gardener’s Supply Co. | Natural fiber baskets and planters constructed with coco liners and coir for improved water retention | $30 – $150 | Independent garden centers or direct |
| Bloem | Affordable assortment of small to large iron wire and poly resin hanging planters | $10 – $50 | Amazon, hardware chains |
| Mkono | Boho chic macrame hanging baskets handmade from cotton rope with wooden ring frames | $13 – $26 | Amazon, Etsy |
| Flower Power Garden | Vintage style metal and coir hanging baskets suited for indoors and outdoors | $25-$70 | Flower Power website |
| La Jolie Muse | Elegant beaded and gemstone chandelier indoor plant hangers | $30 – $70 | Company site, Amazon, Etsy |
| Evergreen Enterprises | Cedar wood window boxes, coconut basket liners and fiber hanging planters | $30 – $100 | Independent garden stores |
| RootPouch | Fabric smart pots & bags that mount vertically for walls, fences or rails | $20 – $40 | RootPouch site, Amazon |
| Pahal Design | Contemporary embroidered cotton macrame hangers for modern boho style | $25 – $190 | Wayfair, Overstock |
| The Sill | Modern sculptural shaped baskets like ovals, arcs, teardrops offered in concrete, terracotta, glass | $30 – $98 | The Sill website |
FAQs
Trailing geraniums, petunias, verbena, ivy, sweet potato vine, creeping jenny and succulents like sedums and senecios thrive in direct sunlight.
Impatiens, begonias, fuchsia, torenia, ivy, ferns, atemoya and some orchids and bromeliads prefer partial shade to full shade areas for hanging baskets.
Check the soil moisture daily. Most flowering and foliage hanging basket plants require daily watering especially in hot, dry weather. Succulents and cacti may only need water weekly.
Minimum depth is 8-12” but larger with coco liners aid moisture retention. Choose compact everbearing variety strawberries suited to containers and hanging conditions.
Use light, well-draining potting mixes like an all-purpose mix blended with perlite or coco coir to retain some moisture and nutrients. Time-release fertilizer optional.
Trim back long vines and re-pot root bound plants in slightly larger containers with fresh potting mix to store indoors over winter nearby bright windows. Reduce watering for plants dormant in winter.
Conclution
Hanging baskets offer endless possibilities to incorporate gorgeous gardens in small indoor and outdoor spaces that lack traditional in-ground planting beds.
When planning hanging container gardens, first consider the light exposure, climate and décor style of the space before selecting complementary basket materials and well-suited plants.
Outdoors, focus on all-weather baskets and vibrant flowering mixes or low maintenance succulents. Indoors, highlight rooms’ functions with kitchen herb gardens, relaxing bedrooms plants or air-purifying tropicals in macrame hangers.
Look beyond basic gardening pots to repurposed vintage, geometric or naturally woven baskets as artful plant vessels. Unexpected found objects like colanders, whiskey barrels and recycled containers also spawn lush vertical gardens brimming with charm and creativity.
Aim for visual balance by mixing trailing vines, cascading blooms and sculptural foliage textures into stunning living basket centerpieces. Proper planning for sun, space, water and nutrient needs ensures the displays flourish hassle-free.
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