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Hanging Around

If hanging plants seem like old news, think again. Here are a few key places where they work best.

In a window, a large hanging plant (of several smaller ones) will serve as a buffer between you and the outside world. This is especially useful when the view out the window is not the best. Hang the plants low enough to fill the window.

In an empty corner, hang a basket of neon pothos (Epipremnum aureum), spider plant (Chlorphytum comosum) or silver philodendron (Scindapsus pictus ‘Exotica’ ) for easy-care success.

Tip: Let the hanger itself provide as much of the impact as the plant. Macrame is back! To make life easy, choose a hanger with a basket attached so a saucer will easily fit below the plant. For a more casual look, a moss-covered basket lined with plastic brings the outdoors in and solves the dripping water problem.

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Collections

Coffee tables beg for a houseplant display. Here’s the place to let your plants shine up-close and personal. You might enjoy a single specimen, like a beautiful orchid or perhaps a trio of plants is more your style. Plants with beautifully patterned leaves are attention-getters in a display like this.

Keep pot size appropriate to the size of your table, and go from a larger one ( 6 inch diameter) to several smaller pots (4 inch diameter). Use stacked books to create a tiered “plant stand” so the display will have some dimension.

Put each plant in a decorative pot, noticing whether or not it has a drainage hole. Those with holes will require a saucer either inside the pot, or outside to protect your coffee table. Match the pots, or choose a more eclectic mix if that’s your style. Remember, indoor plants should remain in their original containers. Here’s a list of houseplants that don’t require drainage.

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Surprise!

It’s fun to tuck a plant into an unexpected spot, or display them in a unique way. Air plants (Tillandsias) and succulents offer opportunities to show off in unusual places.

Place a novel ceramic holder on a bathroom vanity or a fun air plant on your refrigerator door!

According to NASA’s Clean Air Study, these air-purifying plants—all of them very common and easy to find—are great at getting rid of the dangerous, cancer-causing toxins that you’re breathing in right inside your home.