Top 10 trailing plants to transform your shelves, baskets, or garden walls

Homes and gardens are now smaller and many people struggle with how to add greenery that will flourish in the space they have available. The hanging plants are the best when it comes to trailing plants, because they can be grown in small spaces like shelves, baskets and garden walls, so great for use in apartments or anywhere where there is limited space to work with. They are also lower maintenance plants thereby a preferred choice for people who want to beautify their spaces without much trouble.

It depends on the light, temperature and the look of the space to choose the right trailing plant. Some plants flourish in low light which is perfect for an indoor setting while others need all the sun and have been found to be optimal for wall gardens. This article looks at the best 10 easy care trailing plants and will include details on how to grow and care for each. It helps to find the ideal plant for the needs whether that means something small in an apartment or a larger plant in a garden.

Trailing Plants: A Beautiful Addition to Any Space

Trailing plants, also known as cascading or vining plants, are a type of plant group that grows by extending their stems or vines along the ground up supports or down from hanging baskets and containers. Mostly, these plants have long stems or vines that grow by “trailing”, creating a waterfall-like effect. Trailing plants will climb if given supports (such as a trellis or wall) or otherwise spill over the sides of containers and hanging baskets.

Characteristics

Here are a few characteristics of trailing plants.

• Vining Growth: Most trailing plants will have flexible stems that grow to cover large areas in very short periods.
• Cascading Effect: The most obvious virtue of trailing plants is that their vines tend to flow over edges, allowing for an eye striking downward cascade. Hang this from a basket or shelf, or window box.
• Self-Supporting or Climbing: Some trailing plants cling to a background using aerial roots, while others require external support when growing vertically.

Benefits

Cascading plants for planters is the best way to bring the small space together and add that natural element with just a little bit of effort and maximum beauty.

• Space-Saving for Small Areas: Vining and trailing plants take little horizontal space, growing in a crowded windowsill or dangling from ceiling hooks or tucked into a bookshelf. Good for small-space gardeners and lovely additions to any apartment dwelling or existing patio, they convert corners from boring to blossoming without taking up the floor space.
• Versatility in Design: These plants allow for infinite design flexibility. From cascading in baskets to climbing a trellis, trailing plants are ideal for adding impact both indoors and outside. They come in so many colors, textures and growth habits that they are suitable for every design style from modern to traditional.
• Low Maintenance Requirements: A lot of the best trailing houseplants such as pothos and ivy can cope well with intermittent lack of care as they're not high-maintenance plants. Some like a string of pearls, require little water and are drought-tolerant. Not only that, but many trailing plants are simple to propagate; they grow from cuttings quickly, hence are always on a budget and are simple to care for.

Top 10 Trailing Plants to Transform Your Space

Trailing plants can turn even the most sterile shelves, empty hanging baskets, or bare garden walls into lush green spaces. Not only are they aesthetic but they can be grown in multiple ways. But also, succulents are low on maintenance, making them the perfect choice both for novice gardeners and experienced ones. So, here is a list of the top 10 trailing plants to adorn the spaces effortlessly.

1. Pothos

Pothos plant is well-known for its heart-shaped leaves and trailing vines. It's a tougher low-maintenance species. This plant is a common favorite for indoor areas for its versatility and low-maintenance nature.

Ideal For: Indoor shelves, hanging baskets, and as a decorative vine for wall installations.

Care Tips:

• Light: Pothos prefers low to bright indirect light.
• Water: Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. It can even endure a little occasional neglect.
• Maintenance: This plant is great for beginners because of its ability to tolerate spotty watering.

2. String of Pearls

String of Pearls succulent displays bead-like foliage cascading from the edge of the pot. It is an excellent option for anyone wanting to add a touch of imagination to their space.

Ideal For: Hanging baskets and indoor shelves.

Care Tips:

• Light: Requires bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will burn its tender leaves.
• Water: Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Excess water causes root rot.
• Maintenance: This plant is drought tolerant, but likes fast draining soil to avoid water retention.

3. Trailing Petunia

Petunias are amongst the most colorfully trailing of plants due to their vivacious blooms. Their vibrant flowers are an immediate mood booster. 

Ideal For: Growing in hanging baskets or on garden walls outdoors.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal blooming.
• Water: Maintain evenly moist but well-drained soil. Water regularly, especially during hot weather.
• Maintenance: Deadhead spent flowers to promote continuous blooming and encourage new flowers.

4. Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa, also known as Million Bells, is a small plant with petunia-like flowers in just about every color of the rainbow. With a thick and trailing habit, it makes an excellent hanging basket or container specimen.

Ideal For: Hanging baskets, containers, and as an ornamental filler plant in garden beds.

Care Tips:

• Light: Full sun, at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
• Water: Water regularly to maintain the soil moist, but not saturated. It benefits from consistent moisture.
• Maintenance: Deadhead regularly to ensure multiple flushes and overall health of the plant.

5. Creeping Jenny

For a ground cover, Creeping Jenny has rounded green leaves. A good ground cover, they can also be trained along garden walls and into hanging baskets.

Ideal For: Garden walls, ground cover, and containers.

Care Tips:

• Light: Partial shade but not full sun as too much light will burn the plant.
• Water: The soil should still be consistent and watered regularly. It prefers slightly more humid conditions than other plants.
• Maintenance: Creeping Jenny is also beneficial for its erosion control, a major bonus for sloped garden areas.

6. Dichondra 'Silver Falls'

Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ is well known for its fast growing silvery-green leaves and it makes the perfect cascading plant for planters over the edges of baskets and containers.

Ideal For: Garden walls, containers, and hanging baskets.

Care Tips:

• Light: Best grown in full sun to partial shade.
• Water: Tolerant of drought once established. Watering consistently during dry spells leads to cascades of lush leaves.
• Maintenance: It grows quickly and can be trimmed to maintain a compact shape if necessary.

7. Ivy

Ivy is a common evergreen vine. It features lobed leaves and has the ability to climb or trail, both indoors and outdoors. It is commonly grown on walls, fences or as a hanging plant. 

Ideal For: Indoor shelves, garden walls and near the sidewalks.

Care Tips:

• Light: Medium to high indirect light. It also tolerates low light but can become leggy.
• Water: Keep the soil moist at all times, but not soggy. Make sure the drainage area is not waterlogged.
• Maintenance: Prune regularly to maintain its desirable shape and promote dense, robust growth.

8. Sweet Potato Vine

The sweet potato vine is a fast grower with pretty green, purple and copper leaves that trail attractively. It is ideal for both decorative and edible uses.

Ideal For: Hanging baskets, containers, and garden beds.

Care Tips:

• Light: Thrives in full sun but can tolerate some shade.
• Water: Water weekly to maintain moist soil. This plant grows best in a higher moisture environment, especially during the summer months.
• Maintenance: This plant can be trained to climb if supported, or allowed to trail freely for a cascading effect.

9. Tradescantia Zebrina

The Tradescantia Zebrina or Wandering Jew has beautiful purple and silver striped leaves that cascade from shelves and baskets. It is great for adding some color and dimension to your home. 

Ideal For: Indoor shelves, hanging baskets, and as a decorative filler plant.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers bright, indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves.
• Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch as it is a drought tolerant plant.
• Maintenance: Tradescantias are readily propagated from cuttings easily and it's beginner-friendly.

10. Boston Fern

There are many varieties and subspecies of the Boston Fern, but in general, its distinguishing attributes are its feathery fronds and arching limbs. A great hanging or shelving addition to any home or outdoor decor that brings a rustic and classy look.

Ideal For: Indoor shelves and hanging baskets.

Care Tips:

• Light: Thrives in indirect light but can tolerate low light.
• Water: Provide consistently moist soil; requires high humidity. Regular misting helps to maintain humidity.
• Maintenance: Regular misting benefits the plant, helping it thrive in dry indoor air.

How to Choose the Right Trailing Plant for Your Space

If choosing hanging plants, remember that they need specific conditions of the indoor or outdoor space. If the environment is a good match for the plant, the plant won't need much attention in order to thrive.

1. Indoor Spaces

The biggest considerations for indoor trailing houseplants are adjusting to lighting, humidity, and temperature. Having the correct lighting is essential. Lighting is a basic drive for plant growth.

Lighting Conditions

There are different light requirements for trailing plants.

• Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and Ivy (Hedera helix) are great options for low-light environments. These plants can survive even in the darkest of corners and offices.
• For medium to bright indirect light, opt for plants such as Tradescantia (Wandering Jew) or Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), which will do well in the brighter environment without direct light.

Humidity and Temperature

Tropical plants can struggle to survive in the low humidity air found inside many homes, especially during winter.

• For higher humidity, Boston Ferns do well in kitchens or bathrooms, where moisture levels are naturally higher. Regular misting can help maintain humidity for other plants. 
• It can also get a bit chilly inside, so make sure to pick plants that are used to some temperature fluctuations, such as pothos (pictured above), or some styles of tradescantia.

2. Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor spaces provide a greater amount of natural light and offer more simulations from higher UV sunlight ranges but may also present a wider array of adversarial environmental factors such as direct extreme sunshine and temperature extremes. For outdoor trailing vines, consider where people want them to grow in terms of sunlight exposure and climate.

Sunlight Exposure

• If the outdoor area gets full sun, plants like Trailing Petunia (Petunia spp.) and Calibrachoa (Million Bells) will thrive. These plants love bright, direct sunlight and produce vibrant blooms throughout the growing season.
• For areas that are partly shaded, Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) and Dichondra 'Silver Falls' are both great. These plants are able to survive in shade and when hanging, provide a beautiful cascade effect.

Climate and Seasonal Changes

Always remember that those outdoors are more exposed to the extremes in temperature, so choose the varieties accordingly. Trailing Petunia and Calibrachoa work well in the warmer climates, while Creeping Jenny and some varieties of Ivy can withstand cooler temperatures.

Vibrant Displays

Trailing Petunia and Calibrachoa provide stunning blooms in a variety of colors for vibrant, eye catching displays while Sweet Potato Vine offers an array of foliage color choices. These plants do best in full sunlight and are easy to arrange into color spectrums that shift with the seasons.

Care and Maintenance Tips

If you want the trailing plants to thrive and beautify the space, you will need to care for them properly. Some key things to highlight:

Watering

All plants have different watering requirements. The majority of hanging plants want to be watered when the top inch or so of soil is dry. But be prepared to adjust for the plant.

For example, Pothos can survive long droughts, while Boston Ferns need constant watering to keep their soil moist.

Fertilization

Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season, usually spring and summer as long as the plant is actively growing.

• Feeding every 4–6 weeks will give them the nutrients they need to grow and bloom well.
• Over-fertilizing can hurt the plant more than under-fertilizing, which leads to nutrient imbalances or root burning.
• Stick to the fertilizer dose rate as recommended on the packaging, and ease off feeding during dormancy (typically fall and winter).

Pruning and Training

Regularly pruning trailing plants will keep them dense rather than leggy and weak- stemmed, as well as remove dead or damaged stems.

• Trimming off overgrown vines will help in keeping a strict shape, preventing them from turning too leggy for plants like Ivy or Tradescantia.
• Trailing plants include Pothos or Sweet Potato Vine which are vining and can be trained to grow on supports like trellises or arbors.

Tie them loosely to support or gently guide them where you want them to go.

Pest Management

Trailing plants are often infested with common pests, such as aphids and spider mites, especially in indoor environments.

• Check the leaves often for damage or pests.
• If you find pests, deal with them right away with organic insecticidal soap or, if it's really bad, use chemical pesticide.
• Without harming the plant, follow the manufacturer's protocol.

Summary

Hanging plants can make a lot of impact in small spaces with little horizontal space, and they pack a visual impact indoors or outside. Their cascading, trailing vines can instantly fill in small spaces like shelves, baskets and garden walls with bright green color.

With minimal maintenance and diligent care through timely watering, the occasional prune, and vigilance against pests, these plants will grow to create a lush look in any area. Growcycle marketplace offers a lot of advice and tips about how to care for growing different types of plants including trailing flowers for balconies and more, with the ambition to help gardeners make the best choice depending on where users want to place them.

Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for legal, medical, financial, or any other form of professional advice.