Hanging planters use the one part of a small balcony or flat that is usually empty: the air. A basket of surfinias at eye level or a pothos trailing past a window changes a room more than another pot on the floor. They do ask for two things in return, a fixing that can take the weight and more watering than any other container.
Most problems with hanging baskets come down to those two points. A 30 cm basket is light when you buy it and surprisingly heavy after a soaking. Hung in sun and wind, it can dry out in a single July afternoon.
Below we cover the plants that do well, the materials, how much a wet planter weighs, how to fix it safely, also in a rented flat, and how hanging pots compare with window boxes and a vertical garden.
For a sunny balcony, hanging planters suit petunias, surfinias, trailing geraniums, everbearing strawberries and the cherry tomato Tumbling Tom; fuchsias prefer partial shade. Indoors, pothos, spider plant, tradescantia, hoya and string of pearls trail well. A wet 30 cm basket weighs 7 to 10 kg, so use a hook rated for at least twice that, and expect to water daily in summer.
Which plants are best for hanging planters on a balcony?
The best basket plants trail rather than climb, flower for months and tolerate a container that dries quickly. Plant out after the last frost, which in most of the UK means mid to late May, and harden off nursery plants for a week first.
- Petunias and surfinias. Surfinias are vigorous trailing petunias that can hang 60 cm or more by August. Both need at least six hours of sun and are hungry feeders.
- Fuchsias. Choose trailing varieties for baskets. They are the best choice for an east or north-facing balcony and dislike hot afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves and drops the buds.
- Trailing geraniums. Ivy-leaved pelargoniums (Pelargonium peltatum) cope with heat and the odd missed watering better than petunias, which makes them good for south-facing balconies.
- Strawberries. Everbearing varieties fruit from early summer into autumn. In a basket the fruit hangs clean and out of reach of slugs. Three plants fit a 30 cm basket.
- Cherry tomato Tumbling Tom. A compact trailing tomato bred for baskets, in red and yellow. One plant per 30 cm basket is enough, as it needs a lot of water once fruit sets.
Which houseplants grow well in hanging pots?
Indoors, hanging pots suit plants with long, flexible stems. Remember that warm air rises: a pot near the ceiling sits in warmer, drier air than one on the sill, especially above a radiator.
- Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) tolerates medium light and grows long stems quickly. Let the top few centimetres dry between waterings. It is toxic to cats and dogs.
- String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) needs a bright window with some direct sun and very sparing watering. Its fine roots rot easily in wet compost.
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is forgiving and sends out plantlets on long runners, which look best from above. It is considered safe for pets.
- Tradescantia grows fast in bright light. Pinch the tips every few weeks, otherwise the stems become bare near the pot.
- Hoya likes bright light and drying out between waterings. Do not cut off the short flower spurs after flowering, as new flowers form on the same spurs.
Which material is best for a hanging planter?
- Wire basket with a coir or moss liner. Light and traditional, but it dries fastest because water evaporates through the sides. A plastic sheet with a few drainage holes, placed inside the liner, slows this down.
- Plastic. Lightest and keeps moisture longest. Many models have a built-in saucer or a small water reservoir at the bottom.
- Terracotta and ceramic. Attractive indoors, but heavy before you add any compost. Terracotta also draws moisture from the soil.
- Macramé, rattan or fabric. Only a holder. Put a plastic pot with a saucer inside, so water does not drip onto the floor.
How heavy is a hanging planter when wet?
A 30 cm basket holds about 7 litres of compost and, with plants and a full soaking, weighs roughly 7 to 10 kg. A 40 cm basket can reach 15 kg or more.
A swinging basket also puts extra load on the fixing when wind catches it or when you pull it down to water. Choose a hook and anchor rated for at least twice the wet weight.
How do you hang a planter safely from the ceiling?
- Find out what the ceiling is made of. A concrete balcony slab or a solid timber beam can carry a basket. Plasterboard on its own cannot, unless you hit a joist.
- Check for cables and pipes with a detector before drilling.
- In concrete use a wall plug and a screw-in ceiling hook made for loads, usually 8 to 10 mm. In timber screw the hook at least 4 to 5 cm into solid wood.
- Use a closed hook or a hook with a safety catch, so wind cannot lift the chain off.
- On a balcony, do not hang heavy planters above a path or a neighbour’s terrace, and take them down before storms.
Hanging planters in a rented flat
Drilling into a ceiling usually needs the landlord’s agreement, and in a block of flats the balcony slab may belong to the building rather than the flat. Ask first, or use fixings that need no holes: railing brackets that hook over the balustrade, a freestanding basket stand, or a floor-to-ceiling pole.
How often should you water hanging baskets?
Hanging baskets dry out faster than any other container. They hold little compost and sit in sun and wind on all sides. In summer a sunny basket needs water every day, and in a heatwave morning and evening. Water until it drips from the bottom.
If the compost has shrunk away from the sides, water simply runs past it. Take the basket down and stand it in a bucket of water for 20 to 30 minutes. Indoor hanging pots usually need water every 7 to 14 days; the basics are in our guide on how to water houseplants.
- Long-spout watering can or hose lance. Lets you reach baskets at head height without a ladder.
- Pulley or lowering system. Brings the basket down to eye level for watering and deadheading, then back up.
- Basket with a reservoir. Keeps a little water in the base and buys a day or two in hot weather.
- Indoors. Take the pot down and water it in the sink or shower, then let it drain before hanging it back.
How and when should you feed hanging baskets?
Frequent watering washes nutrients out, so baskets need more feeding than borders. Mix controlled-release fertiliser granules into the compost at planting. From about six weeks later, or from July, add a liquid feed every week.
For petunias, surfinias, fuchsias, strawberries and tomatoes use a high-potash feed such as tomato fertiliser, which supports flowering and fruit. Feed houseplants every two to four weeks from spring to late summer at half strength, and not at all in winter.
Hanging planters, window boxes or a vertical garden?
| Hanging planters | Window boxes | Vertical garden | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space used | air above head height | railing or sill | less than 1 m² of floor |
| Fixing | ceiling hook or bracket | railing brackets | pole clamped floor to ceiling, no drilling |
| Watering | daily in summer, dries fastest | every 1 to 2 days in summer | once or twice a week (300 ml reservoir per pot) |
| Best for | trailing flowers and houseplants | herbs, upright flowers, salad | herbs, houseplants, small plants, up to 9 |
| Weak points | weight, hard to reach, wind | limited by railing length | takes some floor, pots too small for large tomatoes |
If the main problem is watering or a ceiling you cannot drill, a vertical garden without drilling solves both. A telescopic pole clamps between floor and ceiling, adjustable up to 285 cm, and carries nine pots, each with a 300 ml reservoir. It works on a balcony or indoors by a window. The Urban Planty Vertical Garden costs €149 with free shipping. More ideas are in our vertical garden guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which flowers are best for hanging baskets in full sun?
Petunias, surfinias and trailing ivy-leaved geraniums are the most reliable hanging basket flowers for full sun. Trailing geraniums tolerate a missed watering better than petunias.
What can I grow in a hanging basket on a shady balcony?
Trailing fuchsias are the classic choice for a shady or east-facing balcony. They flower all summer in partial shade and suffer in hot afternoon sun.
How much weight can a ceiling hook hold for a hanging planter?
It depends on the hook, the anchor and the ceiling, so check the rating on the packaging. A wet 30 cm hanging basket weighs 7 to 10 kg, so choose a hook rated for at least 20 kg.
How often should a hanging basket be watered in summer?
A hanging basket in sun usually needs water every day in summer, and twice a day in a heatwave. Baskets with a reservoir or a plastic liner can stretch this a little.
Can you put hanging planters up in a rented flat?
Drilling a ceiling hook in a rented flat normally needs the landlord’s permission. Railing brackets, freestanding basket stands or a floor-to-ceiling pole avoid drilling altogether.
