Low maintenance does not mean no maintenance.
There is always some level of work to be done, whether it’s planting the plant and having the responsibility of watering it on a regular basis or maintaining it on a daily basis.
Fortunately, there are many hanging plant options that don’t require much effort. They will give you that lush and green look without requiring too much attention from you.
Here we have compiled a list made up of ten different plants which we’re pretty sure will be of low maintenance to you.
1). Garden Mum
Garden mum is a perennial flowering plant that belongs to the genus Chrysanthemum. The flowers of this plant are a favorite amongst florists and great for outdoor decorating too.
They come in a vast array of different colors and have a long-lasting blooming period of 4-6 weeks. Also, they don’t require much care or maintenance so they will last many years without any problems if planted in the right soil environment.
How To Grow And Care For Them?
If you want to grow garden mums then get your hands on some good gardening soil that’s rich in organic matter and contains some nutrients as well.
Then add one or two fertilizer pellets at the time of planting and mix them with soil.
Garden mums like full sun exposure so plant them in an area where you get 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Also, make sure that the soil is moist but not wet otherwise they will start to rot.
You can provide water when the surface feels dry. Once established, garden mums don’t require too much maintenance except deadheading if needed.
If you want continuous blooms throughout the year then consider deadheading every 4-5 days for best results.
2). Coleus Plants
Another great outdoor hanging plant which doesn’t need too much care is coleus plants. Even beginners can grow these easy to maintain foliage plants without any problem.
Just give them a regular watering and you are good to go. Coleus plants grow well when planted next to ornamental grasses or perennials.
So if you have an area where either of the two grows then add some coleus shrubs there for maximum beauty. Also, they work great as a ground cover.
When To Plant?
If you want to buy coleus plants, make sure that they appear fresh and healthy. They should be free from any kind of insect damage or disease otherwise it’s better to not plant them at all.
Also, check the soil quality before planting because most of the times they come with root-bound soil. If that’s the case then plant them in amended soil to make sure they get the nourishment they require for optimal growth.
The best time to buy coleus plants is spring because it’s their active growing season. Make sure you purchase them after all danger of frost has passed and weather conditions are sunny.
You can also get your hands on some great deals during summer clearance just before fall arrives.
3). Maidenhair Ferns
Maidenhair ferns are evergreen ever-blooming perennials that add just enough greenery to fill up natural spaces but don’t require much care or maintenance.
They adapt really well to their surroundings so you don’t have to worry about placement at all.
They make great indoor plants too. They are low-growing and work well as ground cover or in hanging baskets.
You can also plant maidenhair ferns near porch areas where they will get partial sun exposure for most part of the day. Plus, maidenhairs rarely require deadheading.
When To Plant And Care?
Maidenhair ferns like moist soil conditions but not soggy wet. If their roots start to rot then it means that drainage is poor so correct it before planting them again.
Also, planting them in a shady area will lead to slow growth because they need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight daily to flourish well.
However, maidenhair ferns are deer resistant so if you have some in your garden then you don’t have to worry about plant-munching deer.
4). Moss Phlox
Moss phlox is a great flowering plant that doesn’t need much care or maintenance because it adapts well to the growing conditions of its surroundings.
It works awesome as ground cover especially under trees and shrubs. But make sure you purchase them after all danger of frost has passed because they don’t tolerate cold very well.
Also, moss phlox needs constant moisture for optimal growth but not soggy wet soil conditions. If there’s too much rain or humidity then the blooms will start to rot so take care of that too.
When To Plant?
The best time to plant moss phlox is in spring around early May when soil temperatures are still cold but warm up nicely after a couple of weeks.
You can also buy them in late summer or early fall because their active growing season starts in these months.
Make sure you purchase healthy-looking plants without any insect damage or disease otherwise they won’t grow well.
Also, ensure that their roots aren’t wrapped with plastic bags because it restricts nutrient uptake and reduces growth rate.
5). Painted Ferns
Painted ferns are indigenous to North America and adapt to most soil types except soggy wet.
They grow naturally in shady areas so perfect for planting under trees or shrubs. Also, they are deer resistant so you don’t have to worry about plant-munching animals.
When To Plant?
You can plant painted ferns anytime during the spring months when weather conditions are cold but starting to warm up. Painted ferns like partial shade exposure so place them accordingly after planting.
Also, they need at least 4 hours of direct sun exposure every day to flourish well. If not then the leaves may start turning yellow because it indicates a lack of sunlight.
6). Zinnias
Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) is a beautiful flowering annual plant which requires very less care and maintenance.
They are drought tolerant so they don’t need much water to grow well. In fact, over watering or too much moisture can lead to root rot so correct drainage is a must before planting them.
Also, since they’re annual plants you have to plant new ones every year because once it’s done flowering then it dies naturally.
However, started plants often go on sale in spring so keep a look out for that if you don’t want to spend a lot on buying plants each time.
When To Plant?
The best time to plant zinnias is after the last frost of spring because this is when soil temperature rises enough to support their growth.
However, they’re pretty hardy and can grow well even in hot summer months because of high heat tolerance.
Plus, zinnias planted under full sun exposure get more blooms than those planted in partial shade.
7). Foxgloves
Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are another low-maintenance flowering plant that doesn’t require much care or attention.
They adapt to almost any soil type as long as drainage is good so correct it before planting them again.
As annual flowers, foxgloves die out after flowering. It should be replaced with new ones every year.
One thing to keep in mind is that the replacement plants should be purchased from a nursery.
This is because garden-grown or started plants may carry diseases that might harm the original plant.
When To Plant?
Foxgloves can be planted in early spring when soil temperatures are still cold. They grow well during the late summer months but require partial shade exposure to look their best.
If they’re placed in full sun then their blooms burn because of too much heat. However, you could also purchase started plants in winter because foxgloves are one of the few perennials which bloom heavily in springtime.
This gives them enough time to settle down and grow strong by the time hot summer weather comes around.
8). Dianthus
Dianthus (Dianthus barbatus) is a beautiful flowering annual which needs little care or maintenance because it’s very easy to grow.
It works great as filler plant or border edging for flower beds and require just about any soil type as long as it drains well.
When To Plant?
Dianthus can be planted anytime during spring months after last frost. This is when soil temperatures are cold enough to support dianthus’ growth. However, dianthus will grow fine even in summer but blooms less because of high heat exposure.
If you don’t mind buying started plants then place them in full sun exposure. Those who prefer using drought tolerant flowers won’t have any issues growing dianthus during summers. This is because they adapt very well to both partial shade and hot weather.
9). Knock Out Roses
Knock out roses also known as ‘Monte Carlo Rose’ (Rosa Rugosa) is a beautiful flowering deciduous shrub which needs very little care and maintenance.
It adapts to any soil type as long as it drains well so correct drainage before planting them.
Since they’re deciduous, their leaves change color during fall but you don’t have to rake those leaves away because the fallen ones actually help in preventing weeds from growing which saves time.
Plus, they produce bright red flowers that fill the garden with amazing scent throughout springtime.
And since they’re shrubs, knock out roses grow pretty fast and can reach up to 10 feet tall and wide after a few years.
When To Plant?
Knock out roses should be planted in late fall once the first frost have passed and soil temperature have cooled down because they’re very sensitive to cold.
However, you can purchase started plants at any time of the year since these are one of the few shrubs which blooms heavily during springtime too.
10). Coreopsis grandiflora
Coreopsis grandiflora is an easy to grow perennial plant that requires little care or maintenance. It’s hardy and doesn’t wilt easily even after several waterings so over watering isn’t something you need to worry about.
Coreopsis tolerates all soil types as long as it drains well but keeps in mind that coreopsis prefers dry soil so correct drainage before planting them.
It flowers non-stop from spring until autumn but it should be cut back after the flower has dropped because this way the plant will grow many blooms again the following season.
When To Plant?
Coreopsis can be planted in early fall when soil temperature has cooled down but started plants can be purchased at any time of the year.
Also, coreopsis doesn’t require full sun exposure and can tolerate some shade, especially during hot weather.
That’s why gardeners who want to avoid using drought-tolerant flowers often choose coreopsis because they adapt very well to both partial shade and indirect sunlight.
This way, one could get a beautiful garden that requires little care and attention without having to sacrifice beauty.
In addition, coreopsis requires little to no maintenance and spreads easily which is another reason why it’s a favorite among gardeners.
Conclusion
There are plenty of options for low-maintenance hanging plants. What could be better than having your hanging basket look good all summer long with very little effort?
Some things to consider if you are looking for low-maintenance hanging plants are the zone you live in, the length of day or light exposure, and whether or not your plant requires full sun.
