Hanging plants
Best way to hang plants in hangers when you donât have a stud finder? Do i need to hang them in a stud or should it just be alright with an anchor?
5
@princessparisss @Natural
Compliments from Bob Villa
Any time you hang something from the ceiling, be it a light fixture, ceiling fan, or potted plant, itâs crucial to keep safety in mind. Although a potted plant may seem harmless enough, many weigh upward of 10 to 15 pounds. At that weight, a hanging plant that falls will make a mess on the floor at best. At worst, it can injure an unsuspecting person standing underneath it. Thatâs why you need to pay attention to the installation guidelines and weight limits when choosing and installing a swag hook. If youâre not mounting the hook to a beam or stud, itâs imperative that you use a toggle bolt to secure the hook in hollow plaster or drywall to ensure that your plant stays aloft.
Itâs also important that you place your hook in a location that will provide enough sunlight for the plant you want to hang. If you havenât yet selected a plant, consider burroâs tail or string of pearls for full sun, creeping fig or nepenthes for indirect sunlight, or jade pothos for low light. These plant types will cascade over the sides of the pot as they grow, accentuating the hanging plantâs appeal. If youâre using your hanging plants for bug control, consider citronella or lantana.
To successfully hang a plant from the ceiling, you need the right tools for the job. In addition to selecting the proper hook, which weâll get to in a second, youâll also need a corded or cordless drill. If you plan on hanging the hook with a toggle bolt, make sure you have a 1/2-inch drill bit to drill a hole into the ceiling. If youâre mounting the hook directly into a stud or beam, youâll need a drill bit that is the same diameter as the shank of the pointed screw on the hook, not including its threads.
When youâre gathering your supplies, consider the container. Hanging plant containers come in lightweight plastic as well as heavier terra cotta. While both types will work, avoid pots with holes in the bottom because excess water draining out of the container will make a mess below. If you want your container to hang lower than permitted by the chain, rope, or rod that came with it, you may need to purchase a chain extender or S-hook to add length.
Swag hook kits are available at most home improvement stores. Before you head out to purchase one, itâs a good idea to pot your plant and weigh it, keeping in mind that freshly watered soil is heavier than dry soil. Be sure you purchase a hook with a weight capacity that meets or exceeds the requirements of your potted plant.
When selecting a hook, pay attention to how it mounts to the ceiling. If you plan on mounting the hook into a stud or exposed beam, choose a hook with a pointed screw tip that you can drive directly into the stud. If youâre mounting the hook to a hollow part of the ceiling, youâll need to use a swag hook with a toggle screw to ensure that it doesnât pull free from the ceiling.
PRO TIP: Never attempt to use a plastic anchor to mount a screw to the ceiling. While plastic anchors can support 10 to 25 pounds when used in a wall, depending on their size, they can handle only about a third of their weight capacity when mounted to a ceiling. Because most hanging plants weigh 7 to 20 pounds, a plastic anchor simply wonât do.
If youâre drilling into a stud, load a drill bit that matches the shank of the pointed screw into the drillâs chuck. Press the tip of the drill bit firmly against the ceiling and engage the drillâs drive. If youâre drilling into hollow drywall, youâll need to drill a hole thatâs large enough to allow you to fit the toggle bolt into the wall. Refer to the listed size of the toggle anchor to choose the right size bit to drill the hole. Most toggle bolts require a hole that is about Âœ inch in diameter.
Now that you have drilled a hole, itâs time to install the hook (available on Amazon). If youâre mounting the hook to hollow drywall, begin by inserting the toggle bolt into the hole by closing the âwingsâ of the toggle bolt flush against the bolt shaft, then pushing it into the hole. Tighten the hook by hand turning it clockwise. The bolt will create a vise-like grip on the drywall or plaster between the flange of the hook and the wings.
If youâre mounting the hook to a stud or beam, press the pointed tip of the hookâs threaded end against the pilot hole you drilled in the previous step, and turn it clockwise until the hookâs base is flush with the ceiling.
PRO TIP: If youâre struggling to turn the hook into the stud or beam with your fingers, wrap a rag around the hook, then attach vise-grip pliers to it. The pliers will give you the leverage you need to drive the hookâs pointed screw end into the stud, while the rag will prevent the pliersâ teeth from scratching the hook.
Once the hook has been installed, all thatâs left to do is hang your pot. Place the rope or chain of the hanging basket in the hook, and then step back to admire the effect. If the plant isnât hanging low enough, attach a chain extender or S-hook to bring it down to the desired height.
There are plenty of good reasons to hang plants from the ceiling. Maybe you donât want to give up valuable floor space for a plant, or youâre trying to keep your greenery away from a pet or small child that gets into everything, or you simply like the touch of nature a hanging plant adds. No matter the reason, if you follow the steps above, you can safely suspend a plant from your ceiling and remain confident that it wonât come crashing back down to earth.
Compliments from Bob Villa
Any time you hang something from the ceiling, be it a light fixture, ceiling fan, or potted plant, itâs crucial to keep safety in mind. Although a potted plant may seem harmless enough, many weigh upward of 10 to 15 pounds. At that weight, a hanging plant that falls will make a mess on the floor at best. At worst, it can injure an unsuspecting person standing underneath it. Thatâs why you need to pay attention to the installation guidelines and weight limits when choosing and installing a swag hook. If youâre not mounting the hook to a beam or stud, itâs imperative that you use a toggle bolt to secure the hook in hollow plaster or drywall to ensure that your plant stays aloft.
Itâs also important that you place your hook in a location that will provide enough sunlight for the plant you want to hang. If you havenât yet selected a plant, consider burroâs tail or string of pearls for full sun, creeping fig or nepenthes for indirect sunlight, or jade pothos for low light. These plant types will cascade over the sides of the pot as they grow, accentuating the hanging plantâs appeal. If youâre using your hanging plants for bug control, consider citronella or lantana.
To successfully hang a plant from the ceiling, you need the right tools for the job. In addition to selecting the proper hook, which weâll get to in a second, youâll also need a corded or cordless drill. If you plan on hanging the hook with a toggle bolt, make sure you have a 1/2-inch drill bit to drill a hole into the ceiling. If youâre mounting the hook directly into a stud or beam, youâll need a drill bit that is the same diameter as the shank of the pointed screw on the hook, not including its threads.
When youâre gathering your supplies, consider the container. Hanging plant containers come in lightweight plastic as well as heavier terra cotta. While both types will work, avoid pots with holes in the bottom because excess water draining out of the container will make a mess below. If you want your container to hang lower than permitted by the chain, rope, or rod that came with it, you may need to purchase a chain extender or S-hook to add length.
Swag hook kits are available at most home improvement stores. Before you head out to purchase one, itâs a good idea to pot your plant and weigh it, keeping in mind that freshly watered soil is heavier than dry soil. Be sure you purchase a hook with a weight capacity that meets or exceeds the requirements of your potted plant.
When selecting a hook, pay attention to how it mounts to the ceiling. If you plan on mounting the hook into a stud or exposed beam, choose a hook with a pointed screw tip that you can drive directly into the stud. If youâre mounting the hook to a hollow part of the ceiling, youâll need to use a swag hook with a toggle screw to ensure that it doesnât pull free from the ceiling.
PRO TIP: Never attempt to use a plastic anchor to mount a screw to the ceiling. While plastic anchors can support 10 to 25 pounds when used in a wall, depending on their size, they can handle only about a third of their weight capacity when mounted to a ceiling. Because most hanging plants weigh 7 to 20 pounds, a plastic anchor simply wonât do.
If youâre drilling into a stud, load a drill bit that matches the shank of the pointed screw into the drillâs chuck. Press the tip of the drill bit firmly against the ceiling and engage the drillâs drive. If youâre drilling into hollow drywall, youâll need to drill a hole thatâs large enough to allow you to fit the toggle bolt into the wall. Refer to the listed size of the toggle anchor to choose the right size bit to drill the hole. Most toggle bolts require a hole that is about Âœ inch in diameter.
Now that you have drilled a hole, itâs time to install the hook (available on Amazon). If youâre mounting the hook to hollow drywall, begin by inserting the toggle bolt into the hole by closing the âwingsâ of the toggle bolt flush against the bolt shaft, then pushing it into the hole. Tighten the hook by hand turning it clockwise. The bolt will create a vise-like grip on the drywall or plaster between the flange of the hook and the wings.
If youâre mounting the hook to a stud or beam, press the pointed tip of the hookâs threaded end against the pilot hole you drilled in the previous step, and turn it clockwise until the hookâs base is flush with the ceiling.
PRO TIP: If youâre struggling to turn the hook into the stud or beam with your fingers, wrap a rag around the hook, then attach vise-grip pliers to it. The pliers will give you the leverage you need to drive the hookâs pointed screw end into the stud, while the rag will prevent the pliersâ teeth from scratching the hook.
Once the hook has been installed, all thatâs left to do is hang your pot. Place the rope or chain of the hanging basket in the hook, and then step back to admire the effect. If the plant isnât hanging low enough, attach a chain extender or S-hook to bring it down to the desired height.
There are plenty of good reasons to hang plants from the ceiling. Maybe you donât want to give up valuable floor space for a plant, or youâre trying to keep your greenery away from a pet or small child that gets into everything, or you simply like the touch of nature a hanging plant adds. No matter the reason, if you follow the steps above, you can safely suspend a plant from your ceiling and remain confident that it wonât come crashing back down to earth.
Ok well Mr. Villa said it but I'm throwing my 2 cents in.....from the ceiling I always use toggle hooks. They go in like a butterfly with its wings closed then the wings open once through the hole. It gives weight distribution to all sides of the hole.
For wall hanging I use either a stud or an anchor đ
For wall hanging I use either a stud or an anchor đ
If you donât have a stud finder you can also use a magnet. Grab the strongest one you have and run it across the ceiling and if it catches you know thereâs a stud there because itâs attaching to the nail. However they are also correct about a toggle anchor. I attached a picture for you so you know what it looks like. This one is rated for up to 100 lbs so it would work fine too.
You can use your curtain rod! Get hanging pots and hooks and ba bam!