Plant Care

7 Best Hanging Planters for Pothos (2025 Reviews)

Last updated: October 30, 2025
Discover the best hanging planters for pothos with weight capacity tests, drainage reviews, and style comparisons perfect for apartments.
HHelen Cho
October 30, 2025
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Golden pothos in macrame hanging planter with trailing vines in bright apartment window

Image © PlantReference.org 2026
Quick Answer
Mkono Macrame Plant Hanger ($9-14) handles 12-pound wet pots with excellent drainage and bohemian style. Ceramic options provide superior water control.
TL;DR
After testing weight capacity, drainage, and style across multiple hanging planters, the Mkono Macrame Plant Hanger ($9-14) offers the best combination of durability and aesthetic appeal for most pothos owners. For modern apartments, the Mkono Ceramic Hanging Planter Set ($28-35) provides superior drainage with style, while busy plant parents love the Fielda Self-Watering Hanging Planter ($20-28) for worry-free care.
Frequently Asked Questions

How much weight can macrame plant hangers hold safely?

Quality cotton rope macrame hangers typically support 8-12 pounds safely, which accommodates most pothos in 6-8 inch pots with wet soil. Always check manufacturer specifications and test with equivalent weight before hanging your plant. Cheaper synthetic rope options often fail at lower weights, so invest in cotton construction for reliability. Consider your plant's growth potential—a small pothos today may become a heavy trailing specimen in 2-3 years.

What's the best hanging height for pothos to get proper light?

Hang pothos 3-4 feet (91-122 cm) from windows to provide bright indirect light without direct sun damage. The planter should be positioned so trailing vines have 4-6 feet (122-183 cm) of cascade space below. In low-light apartments, hanging closer to windows (2-3 feet) helps variegated varieties maintain their patterns. Avoid hanging directly in window frames where temperature fluctuations can stress plants.

Do hanging planters need drainage holes for pothos?

Yes, drainage holes are essential for pothos in hanging planters. Pothos are extremely prone to root rot from overwatering, and hanging positions often create more water retention than floor pots. Look for planters with multiple drainage holes and included saucers to protect floors. If you find a beautiful planter without drainage, drill holes yourself rather than risk your plant's health.

How often should I water pothos in hanging planters?

Water hanging pothos every 7-10 days in summer, 10-14 days in winter when the top 2 inches (5 cm) of soil feel dry. Hanging positions often dry out faster due to increased air circulation, so check soil moisture more frequently than floor plants. Self-watering planters extend this to 7-10 days consistently. Use a moisture meter if you're unsure—pothos prefer slightly dry conditions over wet soil.

Can I use ceiling fan hooks for hanging plant planters?

Only for very small pothos under 5 pounds total weight. Most ceiling fan electrical boxes aren't rated for the dynamic weight of swinging planters plus plant growth over time. For safety, install dedicated plant hooks anchored into ceiling joists that can handle 15-20 pounds safely. The small additional cost prevents potentially dangerous failures and plant loss disasters.
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Written By
H

Helen Cho

Helen is an interior plant stylist in Los Angeles who works with restaurants, offices, and residential clients to select and maintain indoor plants. She studied design in college and got into plants when a client asked her to "green up" a mid-century modern home. Helen's expertise sits at the intersection of design and plant care—she thinks about light, scale, texture, and color, but she also knows which plants will actually survive in a given space. She's killed enough fiddle leaf figs in dark corners to know better. Helen maintains her own collection of over 80 houseplants in her apartment and writes about indoor plant selection, styling, and the practical side of keeping plants alive in interior environments.

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