5 Best Indoor Hanging Plants that Require Low light + Care Guide

Indoor Hanging Plant that Requires Low Light

So you are looking into creating your very own indoor vertical garden with some hanging plants (who doesn’t after seeing all these inspirational pictures to be honest)

(totaldecors)

But like many of us, you may be in a space that does not necessarily have a floor to ceiling window facing the north that can basically grow any plant. Or, you are looking to add some beautiful plants to decorate a corner of your house that has a lower light setting like the corner of the kitchen or your room. 

You have come to the right place as we want to share with you our favourite indoor plants that require low light to thrive and how to care for them. (Many of these are also know to be hard to kill which is perfect if you are a beginner to planting)

And of course, this list of our favourites will come with beautiful pictures of these plants to make sure you can be inspired on how to hang them.

In no particular order (we are pro plant equality), the following are our favourite low light hanging plants!

Philodendron

  • The Philodendron plant has very beautiful glossy deep green leaves that adds a canopy-like vibe into any room you place it in. And the best thing is, it does not require much light to produce these lush greens, conversely, the leaves will start to turn yellow in direct sunlight. 
    • There are many varieties of the Phildendron plant. And for our purpose of hanging the plant, we will focus on the P. scandens variety that is a climbing plant which gives this nice drooping effect when hung or placed on a high shelf like the pictures above.
  • Care
    • Light
      • As mentioned, the Philodendron does best when it is placed in a light shade. 
      • If its leaves starts to turn yellow at one goal, it is an indication that there is just a little too much sun (yes, there is such a thing)
    • Water
      • The Philodendron also does not require much water, just keep the moisture level of the soil at a medium level. A medium level moisture is when the top inch (2.5cm) of the soil is allowed to dry in between watering. 
      • If the leaves start to droop heavily, it can be an indication of either too much or too little water. But it is a very resilient plant and once you change up the watering, it should go back very quickly.
    • Soil & Fertilizer
      • Yet another wonderful aspect of the Philodendrons is it doesnt require much fertilizing. Just add a slow release palette to rich, loose potting soil that will drain well every season (twice during winter) and it will be great..
  • Toxicity
    • Unfortunately, the Philodendrons are high in calcium oxalate, which in simpler terms means that it is going to be nasty if humans or pets ingest it. So probably not if you have a baby or pet that eats everything it sees. 

Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)

  • The Pothos plant is famous for being hard to kill. But more importantly, it is how beautiful it looks as a hanging plant. While not being a climbing plant like Philodendron, its leaves creates a cascading effect downwards that is just gorgeous. And its leaves have variegation (irregular patches or streaks in different colors) that adds a whole new layer of texture and personality to it. And not to mention, it is an absolute adventure to hunt for the Pothos with your perfect variegation.
    • The color & pattern of the variegation of the Pothos plant depends on the variety and we have listed some of the more common ones.
      • Golden Pothos: Creamy Yellow splashes
      • Marble Queen Pothos:  Creamy White Streaks
      • Pearls and Jade Pothos: White and Silvery Edges

        (https://www.shoppigment.com/ )
  • Care
    • Light
      • As mentioned, the Pothos plant does not need much light. It can even survive on just fluorescent light, which makes it our top recommendation for hanging in the kitchen or even the toilet
      • If its leaves start to become much more variegated, it is an indication that there is just a little too much sun.
    • Water
      • The Pothos kind of have 2 extremes when it comes to watering. 
      • When planted in soil, it is best to let the soil completely dry out in between watering. If the leaves start to have dark spots, it is an indication of having too much water. While droopy leaves means it has too little water.
      • The other extreme is that the Pothos plant can actually be planted in a flask of water. Just change the water every 2 – 3 weeks. Though it looks beautiful in water, we do not recommend it if you intend to hang the plant or put it at a high spot.
    • Soil & Fertilizer
      • When planted in soil, Pothos plants do great in any ordinary, well-draining potting soil, preferably with a slightly acidic pH. And you just have to add balanced fertilizer once every few months.
      • When planted in water, add in a few drops of liquid fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks.
  • Toxicity
    • Unfortunately, the Pothos plant is also high in calcium oxalate, which means it is going to cause some harm when ingested. So please be careful especially with babies and pets in the house.

Mistletoe Cactus

  • The Mistletoe Cactus has an elegant trailing shape which grows out and down, making it yet another great plant to add to your hanging garden. Its thin and dense stem gives it a funky vibe and allows it to both stand alone or add contrast to other green friends. Plus it tends to bloom cute little white flowers in the fall which is something to look forward to!
    • The different varieties of the Mistletoe Cactus plant offer varied shapes of its stems to suit your space and taste. And we listed a few below to get those ideas going.
      • Capilliformis Mistletoe Cactus: It has small trailing stems that gives it a fluffy but strong look, adding a sense of vibrance anywhere.
      • Prismatica Mistletoe Cactus: This thin stem variety flows down while maintaining a structural look, adding natural clean lines to any space.
      • Micrantha Mistletoe Cactus: The stem of the Micrantha is flattened and fleshy, creating a peculiar and alluring aesthetic to the room.
  • Care
    • Light
      • Like others on the list, the Mistletoe Cactus is a hanging plant that survives very well in low light and can even thrive in artificial light. 
      • If the plant starts to shrivel, it is an indication of too much light.
    • Water
      • The Mistletoe Cactus grows best in moist soil where only the top layer soil is dried out before watering. But reduce watering further during fall and winter.
      • If the plant starts to become limp, it is an indication that it has too much water.
    • Soil & Fertilizer
      • Regular potting soil mixed with sand or other gritty material with general balanced fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks will allow it to grow beautifully. However, cut down on fertilizing during fall and winter as you would for water.
  • Toxicity
    • The Mistletoe Cactus is non toxic, hurray to our first pet + baby friendly plant in the list! But it’s never a good idea to put anything that is explicitly edible into your mouth so still be careful!

Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese Plant)

  • The Monstera Adansonii got its Swiss cheese plant nickname from its large, heart-shaped leaves with holes that obviously resemble Swiss cheese. This unique characteristic adds to a nice combination of large but delicate forage in your hanging garden. 
    • The Monstera Adansonii is a variety under the Monstera family that has the trailing characteristic we are looking for in hanging plants
  • Care
    • Light
      • With no surprise, the Monstera Adansonii grows best in indirect light. Unfortunately, it does not do well in artificial light so we will recommend to still be near some form of a window.
      • If the leaves and the edges start to turn brow, it is an indication of too much sunlight.
    • Water
      • The Monstera Adansonii has very similar watering needs as the Philodendron, which is to keep the top inch (2.5cm) of the soil dry in between watering. 
      • If the plant starts to become droopy or the leaves are turning yellow, it is an indication that it has too much water.
    • Soil & Fertilizer
      • This plant grows best with good drainage in the soil. We recommend peat-based potting soil which holds moisture in the soil without it to being waterlogged. Fertilize about once a month but stop during the winter.
  • Toxicity
    • This cheese is not edible as the Monstera Adansonii is moderately toxic to pets because of its insoluble calcium oxalates. It can cause swelling, vomiting, or burning in pets. 

Peperomia

  • The Peperomia plant has thick, fleshy & succulent leaves that allows it to give that textured look once it starts growing out and hang down from a high spot.
    • You are also able to get varied look depending on the variety of Peperomia which has many colors and leave shapes. As usual, we will introduce a few varieties to get going.
      • Peperomia Prostrata: It has round dark green to purple-colored leaves, patterned in white veins.
      • Belly Button Peperomia: This variety has beautiful dark green and velvet leaves that arches out of a hanging pot will add class to any space. I know we are not supposed to have favourites but if I had to choose, it would be this.
      • Cupid Peperomia: This variegated variety has light green leaves that are heart-shaped with creamy gold edges (awwww, ain’t it romantic?)

        (https://balconygardenweb.com/)
  • Care
    • Light
      • Needless to say, the Peperomia is a hanging plant can grow in low, shaded light and if that does not work, artificial light will do as well. 
    • Water
      • The Peperomia can thrive with low watering frequency. (Planting tip: plants with more succulent leaves usually require less watering). So let the soil dry out before watering and if you are unsure, its better to go too little than too much with the Peperomia.
      • If the plant starts to become limp or the leaves are discolored, it is an indication that it has too much water.
    • Soil & Fertilizer
      • Chunky, loose soil works while an orchid potting mix works the best. It does not require much fertilization, if you are using an orchid potting mix, you can even go a year without fertilization.
  • Toxicity
    • The Peperomia is a non toxic green, so it will be safe for babies and pets. But as usual, the reminder is that it is not meant for consumption so still do avoid that.

Now that you have seen some of the hanging plants that can grow in a low light environment, it’s time to start planning the space! 

Before we get into more pictures to potentially inspire some ideas for you, remember that though these hanging plants we recommended are low maintenance, it still requires watering and fertilizing, so do not get too aggressive with the placement of the plant that will make that too much of a chore. 

(poshpennies)

Now it’s time to just get your favourite plants, start hanging and inject that lively vibe that plants bring into your space. And get creative in mixing up the different types of plants to get that full and lush urban jungle environment.