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How to grow trailing house plants
Make sure you choose a trailing house plant that will thrive in the conditions you can provide. If choosing a hanging plant for your bathroom, make sure it can tolerate high humidity. If choosing a trailing plant for growing near a window, make sure it thrives in bright light.
We've chosen 15 trailing plants that can be grown in this way, listing them by their light and humidity requirements, so you can choose the perfect plant for each particular spot of your home.
More on growing house plants:
- House plants with large leaves
- 11 of the best house plants to grow
- Six scented house plants to grow
- Indoor plant pots
Browse our choice of trailing house plants, below.
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Best for a warm, humid spot, such as a bright bathroom
Golden pothos
Goldon pothos, Epipremnum aureum ‘Njoy’, is a twining vine that can be grown as a hanging plant or trained along a wire. It tolerates shade and is an ideal hanging bathroom plant for beginners, as it copes with neglect. Water when the compost surface is dry. Cuttings root easily in water. There are several varieties of pothos to explore.
Heart-leaf philodendron
A beautiful vine, heart-leaf philodendron, Philodendron scandens ‘Micans’ works well as an indoor hanging basket plant but can also be trained along a wire. Water when the surface of the compost is dry.
Orchid cactus
Orchid cactus is an easy plant to grow, as it copes with neglect. Disocactus x hybridus (often sold as D. ackermannii) produces big, red flowers on its long, fleshy, flattened stems in April. Plant it in an indoor hanging basket or pot hanging from the ceiling and let its leaves cascade over the sides. Water when the top 2cm of compost is dry.
Satin pothos
Satin pothos, Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’, is a twining vine with satiny leaves splashed with silver. Slow growing and perfect for beginners, it will take a bit of neglect. Plant in an indoor hanging basket or raised pot for a dramatic effect. Water when the top 2cm of compost is dry.
Red herringbone plant
Also known as the prayer plant, Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura closes up its attractive patterned leaves at night, as if in prayer. It makes an excellent indoor hanging plant. Water when the compost surface is dry. It’s quite particular about water and humidity, so is best for experienced growers.
Staghorn fern
A strange and magnificent plant, the staghorn fern, Platycerium bifurcatum, is usually mounted on a piece of wood or in an indoor hanging basket, with a small amount of compost or other organic matter piled up beneath it. Water when the organic matter is dry by dunking it into a bowl of tepid water. In summer, mist the shield- like circular fronds at the base several times a week. Give it a bright, humid spot out of direct sun. It’s best for more experienced growers.
For a very bright spot, but out of midday summer sun
String of pearls
Looking like delicate rows of peas or beads, the leaves of string of pearls or string of beads (Senecio rowleyanus) make a beautiful statement when grown in a pot on a shelf or an indoor hanging basket. Water when the top 2cm of compost is dry. This plant is fussy about water, so it’s best for experienced growers. Cuttings root easily when pinned to the surface of a pot of cactus compost.
Burro’s tail
This sensational succulent, Sedum morganianum, is easy to grow and simple to propagate. Its plump leaves root readily when laid on a pot of compost. Water when the first 2cm of compost is dry.
String of hearts
String of hearts or rosary vine Ceropegia woodii produces curious flowers like tiny, pink, pepper pots. It’s an ideal hanging plant for beginners, as it tolerates neglect. Water when the first 2cm of compost is dry.
Thrives in bright but indirect light
Fishbone cactus
The fishbone cactus, Epiphyllum anguliger (pictured behind the orchid cactus), bears large, scented, yellow and white flowers in autumn. Unlike most cacti, the fishbone cactus is native to forests, where it grows on trees or rocks in dappled light. Water freely in spring and summer, and mist in hot weather. In winter, water when the compost surface is dry.
Chain cactus
The chain cactus, Rhipsalis paradoxa minor, produces small, white flowers in spring, if given cooler temperatures over winter. Water freely in spring and summer and mist in hot weather. In winter, water when the compost surface is dry. Suitable for more experienced growers.
Coral cactus
The long, slender stems of coral cactus, Rhipsalis cereuscula, bear small, white, bell-shaped flowers in spring, followed by spherical, white fruits – which is why it’s sometimes called the mistletoe cactus. Water freely in spring and summer and mist in hot weather. In winter, let the compost dry out between waterings.
Wax plant
Wax plant, Hoya linearis, is a fantastic hanging plant, bearing clusters of small, white, scented flowers that look like Iced Gems. Keep the compost moist in spring and summer, and in winter let it dry out before watering. Best for more experienced growers.
Curly locks orchid cactus
The coiling stems of Epiphyllum hookeri subsp. guatemalense produce small, yellowy and white flowers in spring. Water when the top 2cm of compost is dry.
How to care for your hanging houseplants
Few house plants can tolerate waterlogged roots. Except when it’s really hot in summer, you shouldn’t need to water more than weekly – and more likely fortnightly in autumn, winter and spring, when reduced light and temperature levels mean your plants are hardly growing.
First, use your fingertips to assess whether the plant needs watering. If so, remove the inner plastic pot from the outer one and place in the sink, or over a bucket, where it can drain. Or, if your outer pot has holes in the base, the whole lot can go in the sink. Slowly pour water onto the compost until it reaches the rim of the pot and let it seep through. When the water stops dripping from the base, hang it back up.
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Always use tepid water and, if possible, rain water – tap water contains salts, which can make your plant unhappy.
Two ways to hang your house plants
When hanging plants indoors, the simplest way to display your trailing plant is to keep the plant in its plastic container and put it into a decorative outer pot at least 5cm wider in diameter. Slip plant and pot into a macramé or sling, carefully distributing the stems around the rim of the pot so that when you lift it into place, the taut cords don’t damage the plant.
Alternatively, pot your plant directly into a planter or indoor hanging basket with a hole in the base and integrated hanging cords. Remove the plant from the plastic pot and centre the rootball in your planter so that the trailing stems are distributed between the hanging cords. Back-fill with free-draining cactus or house plant compost and firm in, so the compost surface is about 3cm below the rim of the planter.
