Ferns are a popular choice for indoor and outdoor spaces, admired for their lush, delicate foliage and tendency to cascade gracefully. Hanging these plants maximizes floor space and allows their long fronds to be fully displayed, adding vertical interest and natural texture to any environment. Successful cultivation relies on informed choices about the variety, placement, secure installation, and a specialized watering routine.
Selecting Fern Varieties for Hanging
Selecting the appropriate fern species is the first step toward a thriving hanging display, as different varieties have distinct growth habits. The Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is the classic choice, known for its elegant, arching fronds that naturally cascade. This variety is relatively tolerant of drying out compared to other ferns, making it a robust option for suspension.
Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum) offer a delicate aesthetic with fine, lacy foliage on thin, dark stems. This fern requires consistently high humidity and moisture, making it a challenging but rewarding choice. The Staghorn fern (Platycerium), an epiphytic species, is typically mounted onto a wooden board or bark rather than potted, mimicking its growth on tree trunks. This mounting method highlights its two distinct frond types: flat, shield-like base fronds and upright, antler-shaped fertile fronds.
Choosing the Ideal Hanging Spot
A fern’s placement is determined primarily by its need for bright, indirect light, which mimics the dappled shade of a forest floor. An east-facing window is often suitable, providing gentle morning sun. South or west-facing windows require the plant to be set back several feet or shielded by a sheer curtain to prevent scorching. Direct, intense sunlight will cause the foliage to quickly turn yellow or brown, leading to sunscald.
Humidity is a crucial environmental factor, as most ferns thrive in moisture levels above 50 percent, often higher than the average home environment. Placing the fern in a naturally steamy area, such as a well-lit bathroom or kitchen, can help meet this requirement. For other locations, increasing ambient moisture can be achieved by placing the hanging planter above a tray filled with pebbles and water, ensuring the pot does not sit directly in the water. Keep suspended ferns away from heating vents, air conditioning units, or exterior doorways, as these areas create drafts that rapidly strip moisture from the foliage and soil.
Essential Hardware and Secure Installation
Securing a hanging fern requires careful attention to the combined weight of the pot, soil, plant, and water, which can easily exceed twenty pounds for a mature plant. For maximum safety, the hardware must be anchored directly into a structural member, such as a ceiling joist or wooden beam. A stud finder is used to locate these joists, which typically run perpendicular to the main walls and are spaced sixteen or twenty-four inches apart.
Once a joist is located, a simple screw hook or an eye lag bolt is installed directly into the wood after drilling a pilot hole slightly smaller than the hook’s threads. If a joist is unavailable, a high-weight-capacity hollow-wall anchor, such as a metal toggle bolt, is necessary for securing the hook into drywall. Toggle bolts use a spring-loaded wing mechanism to distribute the weight across a larger area, providing significantly more support than simple plastic anchors. Choosing a lightweight container, such as plastic or glazed ceramic, is recommended over heavy terracotta, as these materials retain moisture better while reducing the overall load.
Ongoing Care and Watering Strategies for Suspended Ferns
Caring for a suspended fern presents unique challenges, primarily related to maintaining consistent soil moisture. Due to increased air circulation, hanging plants tend to dry out more quickly than floor-standing varieties. A long-spouted watering can or a squeeze bottle with an extended neck is useful for reaching the soil surface and directing water precisely to the root ball without soaking the foliage or spilling.
A more effective method for thorough watering is bottom-soaking, where the entire hanging basket is taken down and submerged in water for ten to fifteen minutes. This allows the soil to absorb water slowly and evenly from the drainage holes until the top layer is visibly moist, which is particularly helpful if the potting mix has become excessively dry and hydrophobic. Ferns are light feeders, so a balanced liquid fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula) should be applied sparingly, about once a month during the spring and summer growing season, to prevent leaf-tip burn. Rotating the fern a quarter-turn every week helps ensure that all sides receive equal light exposure, leading to uniform, symmetrical growth. Brown or damaged fronds should be trimmed close to the base to encourage new foliage.