Trailing houseplants are a great way to fit more greenery into the home, since they can be dangled from the ceiling in hanging pots or plonked atop a shelf. Tender plants that creep or climb and many epiphytes (plants that grow on trees) are suitable. In the right conditions, they will produce long tumbling manes of evergreen foliage and sometimes flowers, creating an indoor hanging garden that looks good all year.
For sun
Some houseplants like to sunbathe and a few can tolerate the direct light of a south-facing sill.
This South African succulent forms a tumble of fleshy green pearls in a bright position. It likes warmth in summer. Water when compost feels dry; feed in spring and summer; water less in winter. Temperature: 10 to 27°C.
A Mexican succulent that grows in dense tails of leathery blue-green leaves and produces pink summer flowers in a sunny position. Let the compost dry out between waterings; water less in winter. Temperature: 10 to 27°C.
The green foliage of this trailing South African succulent blushes attractive shades of red and purple when subjected to direct sunlight; blooms yellow daisies in summer. Let compost dry between waterings. Temperature: 15 to 26°C.
For shade
For low light conditions, such as north and east-facing rooms, opt for shade-tolerant plants.
The golden pothos is one of the few houseplants that tolerates low light and this yellow-lime form of it is the most vibrant. Water when the top of the compost feels dry; feed in summer. Temperature: 10 to 24°C.
From the damp forests of Panama, this raspberry and green-leaved climber thrives in the semi-shade of a north or east-facing bathroom. Water when the upper compost is dry; feed in summer. Temperature: 12 to 26°C.
A sweet trailing plant formed of a tangle of round glossy green leaves with copper undersides. Sit in low to bright indirect light. Allow the compost to dry out between waterings; feed in summer. Temperature: 10 to 24°C.
For chilly houses
In unheated rooms and draughty hallways, choose the stalwart trailing houseplants that tolerate low temperatures.
This bulletproof African evergreen has ribbons of ivory and apple leaves and produces trails of baby plants. Sit in low to bright indirect light; water when the compost feels dry. Temperature: 7 to 27°C.
The lax stems of this Indian perennial will trail from a hanging planter. In bright, indirect light, it can withstand drops in temperature. Sit in a humid room and keep the compost moist (but not saturated). Temperature 8 to 25°C.
Good old ivy is one of the toughest plants for draughty rooms, low light, and low temperatures. In summer, water when the top of the compost is dry and feed monthly; water sparingly in winter. Temperature: -10 to 21°C.
For bathrooms
Plants that hail from damp tropical and subtropical forest thrive in the humidity of a bathroom.
This characterful Australian epiphyte has grey-green fronds that resemble antlers. Hang him in medium indirect light in a cool bathroom and keep the soil moist (but not waterlogged). Temperature: 10-24°C.
An epiphyte with marbled leaves from the damp tropical forests of Vietnam and Malaysia. Place in indirect light. Water when the top of the compost is dry; feed in spring and summer. Temperature: 13 to 27°C.
A wax plant from the Philippines with dark-green oval leaves and fragrant maroon summer flowers. Sit in bright indirect or medium light. Keep compost moist (not saturated) in summer; water less in winter. Temperature: 10-28°C.
For flowers
In the right conditions, with sufficient indirect light, flowering indoor plants will bloom every year.
Vivid-red flowers bloom at the end of trails of curly emerald leaves. Sit this epiphyte in bright indirect light in a humid room. Keep the soil consistently moist (but not saturated) and feed in summer. Temperature: 18 to 23°C.
Red blooms adorn the tails of this cactus in summer, if it is given a period of dry, cool winter dormancy in a spare room. The rest of the year, sit in sunny indirect light and water sparingly. Temperature: 5 to 28°C.
An epiphyte with arching leaves and pink and green flowers. Likes indirect light and humidity. Water into the well of foliage, after tipping out any water in there. Produces baby plants before dying. Temperature: 10 to 24°C.
For foliage
Brighten the house with a leafy mass of foliage, with different shapes, colours, and textures side by side.
A mane of wiry, long stems with small grey-green leaves. Sit in bright indirect light, and let it dry out between waterings; never leave it waterlogged; feed monthly in summer. Temperature: 8 to 24°C.
This South African succulent produces long caterpillars of fleshy leaves. A sunny, light room with low humidity is ideal, but keep it out of south-facing hot midday sun. Water sparingly. Temperature: 15 to 24°C.
A vigorous climber from the forests of South America, this is a dangling mass of rich-green palmate leaves in indirect light and humid air. Water when the upper layer of compost feels dry. Temperature: 15 to 25°C.
