Green and flowering hanging plants can create unusual delicate effects at heights where you wouldn’t expect to find greenery. That’s why they’re Flower Council Holland’s plant of the month this coming September.
Originating from tropical rainforests where they grow as climbers, their flowers catch the eye and their hanging nature adds an air of mystery to them. A hanging planter can be ideal as a living flower curtain or flowering room divider, their intricate and unusual shape makes them perfect for any trendy home owner.
When buying hanging plants it’s important to remember these essential tips:
- Always check the pot size, the length of the tendrils and the plant’s shape and thickness and whether the plant is nice and full. For flowering hanging plants the stage of ripeness, the bud distribution and the number of potential flowering buds and flowers are also important. Also check the leaf distribution and the shape of the plant.
- Different species of green and flowering hanging plants are affected by different pests and diseases. Look particularly for infestation with scale insects, brown scale or mealybugs. These are tricky for both the florist and the customer to deal with. These foliage plants can also be affected by red spider mite. This can be identified by a dull grey discolouration of the leaves.
- Green and flowering hanging plants must be free of brown spots on the leaves, often caused by leaving the soil standing in water for too long. There can also be lime scale marks or water residue on the leaf, which detracts from the decorative value but does no further harm.
- Green and flowering hanging plants are often tricky to transport and are therefore sometimes supplied in special packaging. The temperature for most plants must be at least 12 degrees Celsius or higher during transportation and storage. At lower temperatures it’s important to protect the plants from the cold by placing them in a sleeve.
Green and flowering hanging plants are available all year round. The most notable are Cissus, Columnea, Ceropegie woodii, Tradescantia, Rhipsalis, Asparagus, Aeschynanthus, Codonanthe, Hoya and Tillandsia.
Not convinced? Remember hanging plants are already enjoying a big revival, many of the plants have air-purifying properties and fit well with natural shape trends whilst bringing greenery into the home.
But they’re not just for the home, thinking creatively you could keep them in offices, student rooms, as natural themed wedding decorations, really anywhere! Flowering hanging plants can create green partitions or form part of a greenery wall. Remember these plants can also climb if they have something to hold on to; a flowering hanging plant doesn’t just grow down, but also upwards.
Hanging plants work in both traditional and modern settings. A unique way to enhance your interior is to display them horizontally, with the tendrils draped in a bowl.
