Macrame Plant Hangers & Indoor Plant Care

Macrame plant hangers are the perfect complement to your indoor plants. Keeping houseplants in a "happy spot" for optimal health and growth can sometimes be a challenge; the use of macramé hangers gives you more natural choices to work with. In my opinion, natural jute cord and hemp give the plant hangers the most attractive finish without taking any glory from healthy, happy and beautiful plants.

Depending on the other décor in your room you may want to choose a natural hanger without much color to simply blend in naturally, or a brightly colored wooden or glass beaded hanger may be the perfect match.

Corners of a room near windows are a great place for plants that just need partial sun. Smaller macramé hangers and plants can look great in front of a kitchen or bathroom window. My African Violets, for example, like to hang in a southern exposure window that has a blind for filtered sunlight. Macramé plant hangers also give you more space, especially if you have a smaller home or apartment. They can also help to fill up those lonely corners of a room.

The craft of knotting a diversity of geometric patterns without availing the use of hooks, needles, or hoops is the art recognized as macramé.

The skill of macramé dates back to the thirteenth century. The word macramé is Arabic in origin meaning "fringe". It's thought that Arabian weavers began the skill by knotting the additional material at the edges of loamed material. From these origins it eventually made it to Italy and France in the early fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Sailors commenced with the skill as it was a favored way to pass some of the long hours out at sea. The basic knots that the sailors utilized are the basic knots of macramé today...the half knot, square knot, and the half hitch knot. The sailors passed on their craft to the Chinese who adapted the skill to their own particular civilization and culture. The skill became fashionable with the British during the nineteenth century.

As time passed the skill fell to neglect. It was revived in the 1960s and '70s, which brought revitalization to the ancient skill. Its popularity waned some in the '80s and '90s, but the beginning of the 21st century has seen the return of its popularity into full swing, with an unlimited number of creative possibilities for the hobbyist, artist, and appreciator of the many diverse macramé products.

These days the hobby and skill of macramé means different things to different people. For many the skill is good in many ways. Tying the variety of knots can strengthen hands and arms. Creating a macramé project can be quite calming to the mind, body, and spirit! Macramé projects require few instruments and require supplies without any chemicals or fumes; it is definitely an earth-friendly, natural skill.

Examples of macramé projects vary from jewelry to plant hangers to home decorations to wall hangers to purses and to belts. The various colors and textures of macramé make for a a broad variety to select from. Materials range from various thickness of jute and hemp, to twine, colored nylon and polyester fibers. Not only do you have wooden beads in projects, but glass and ceramic beads are also being incorporated into projects these days as well.

Macrameé has developed...yes it's all a part of the imaginative process continuing on different levels. Novice macramé crafters, as well as experts, find it therapeutic, fun, creative, and satisfying. There are more and more choices for great macrame to complement the décor of your home, wardrobe and personal style for those who just desire to use and enjoy the finished products.

See my latest macrame creations below!

This macrame hanger was inspired by my many African Violets that love to be put on display. The hanger is a simple combination of crown, square and half-twist knots.

The Violet is lightweight and just right for displaying Violets or any other small potted plant. The three-ply natural jute cord blends in well with any decor. Finished length: 24 inches.

Recommended pot size: 3-4 inch diameter.

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This hanger is similar to The Violet (shown above), except it has wooden or glass beads to accent the hanger, and is made of hemp instead of jute. Both are inspired by my many African Violets that love to showcase their continual blooming flowers.

The Violet With Beads is perfect for displaying Violets or any other small plant. It's very sturdy, made of four-ply hemp cord with a finished length of 24 inches.

Recommended pot size: 3-4 inch diameter.

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This simple, well-crafted macrame hanger is perfect for displaying your favorite Christmas Cactus, as shown in the picture.

The Natural is made of three-ply jute that is knotted with half-knot twists, x patterns, and Josephine knots. Finished length: 30 inches.

Recommended pot size: 4-5 inch diameter.

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Get back to basics with The Simplicity With Wooden Beads. The sleek and stylish plant hanger includes four earth-tone wooden beads to give it a subtle contrast.

Made of three-ply natural jute with Josephine knots, half knots, knot twists, and square knots.

Finished length: 4 feet.

Recommended pot size: 8-10 inch diameter.

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This hanger is the same as the one shown above (The Simplicity With Wooden Beads), except it has glass beads instead of wooden.

The Simplicity With Glass Beads is also three-ply natural jute and includes your choice of aquamarine, cobalt, crystal, emerald, or violet glass beads.

Finished length: 4 feet.

Recommended pot size: 8-10 inch diameter.

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This is my basic four-ply hemp cord, heavy-duty macrame plant hanger for larger plants and pots.

The Hemp Aries is "ram-tough" with crown knots at the top and alternating half-knots and square-knot sections throughout the rest of the hanger. It comes with either brown or red beads.

Finished length: 3 1/2 feet.

Recommended pot size: 10 inch diameter.

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Similar to the macrame hanger shown above (The Hemp Aries), except features four-ply natural jute cord with red or brown beads.

Finished length: 4 feet.

Recommended pot size: 10-12 inch diameter.

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Four-ply hemp cord with wooden beads (glass beads no longer available). The Double Decker holds not 1 but 2 plants!

Finished length: 3 1/2 feet.

Recommended pot sizes: 6 inch diameter (top) and 8-10 inch diameter (bottom).

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Four-ply natural jute with 2 sets of wooden beads. The Grand Michelle is my biggest macrame plant hanger and bring any lonely corner to life!

Finished Length: 6 feet.

Recommended pot size: 11-14 inch diameter.

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Four-ply natural jute cord with a driftwood perch.

Even if you don't have a plant to show off, you can still enjoy macrame with The Driftwood Owl hanger.

Finished length: 24-30 inches.

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Springtime is usually considered a period of fresh starts and rebirth. For plants it is a very active stage as they rise from their winter nap. For horticulturists this is a very active time for not only outdoor plants but our house plants as well. Springtime is the best period for house plant maintenance.

Fertilizing plants in the spring and summer periods will render the optimal results. A beneficial rule of thumb to remember when fertilizing is that less really is more. Don't fertilize a plant that has just been re-potted for a few months or a new plant just brought home from the nursery. The fertilizer nutrients are already in a nursery plant and the fresh soil of a re-potted plant.

I also assess my plants in the spring to see if they require re-potting. There are three standard ways to determine if your house plant requires re-potting:

1 - If the roots are protruding out of the drainage hole.

2 - If the roots have completely filled the pot and are spreading around in circles.

3 - If, after adding water, it immediately leaks out the bottom. This is a problem of either the soil thoroughly drying out, or the roots so completely filling the pot that they are self-strangling and can't take up any water at all.

After re-potting, it is a ideal chance to consider showing off your plant in a handsome, natural-looking macrame plant hanger.

Macrame plant hangers are also a good way to move that plant that requires more or less light into a better place to receive its needed light. Typically plants are accompanied by a guideline on the amount of light that is ideal for them. During the winter, less sun comes inside than in the spring and summer. It is good to know which windows have the less to more sunlight that comes through on any given sunny day. The north window has the least amount of light. The east window has the next brightest; the west window is the next brightest with the south window being the brightest of all.

Pruning a plant to improve its shape and increase more even budding throughout the plant is also optimally completed in the early spring or late summer.

During this spring I am loving the blossoms of my many African Violets and the spring flowering of my Christmas Cacti. I also have various macrame plant hangers in my home so they can all have their individual showplace. It is enjoyable pampering your plants...they live for it!

The craft of macrame is environmentally compatible. It does not require electricity, chemicals or any severe products. A lot of people these days are becoming increasingly concerned about buying natural, safe products. Macrame is absolutely a step in that direction and always has been, especially if you are a plant lover who is looking for various options to display your plants. Macramenia has numerous hangers for many plants and pot sizes.

The process of macrame is also beneficial for the crafter. While doing macrame, my hand, arm, and shoulder muscles are strengthened. Just as my upper body is sturdy from the macrame crafting, my plant hangers are also strong and stand up to the test of time. I pay close attention to my "wraps" at the start of my project and at the bottom of the hangers where the precious potted plant will be placed. These wraps give the hanger its strength. I have a large plant hanger that I made in the 1980s that still looks fabulous and holds a large plant without a problem.

When you buy macrame plant hangers or wall owl hangings, you are receiving sturdy, well-crafted, natural products that are also good for the environment. As stated, the art requires no electricity, unless the macrame is done at night. Personally, I like to macrame with the natural light of the day. I recently endured a five-day electricity outage on the North Coast of California. This electricity outage did not stop me from the art of macrame, which I thoroughly enjoy.

As I have stated in other articles, I see that macrame is making a come back. Its simple, beautiful way to display plants and "back to basics" crafting style are two of the reasons, along with its eye-pleasing, natural good looks. There are numerous styles and sizes for practically every need. At Macramenia, we have used glass beads in some petite hangers for a more evolved look that can complement the pot that holds the plant, the flowers of a plant, or even a stained glass sun catcher. Remember to be checking my site for the 2008 announcement of my stained glass site. I will have sun catchers to complement some of my plant hangers!

Add some natural beauty while being eco-friendly, and consider macrame plant hangers and wall hangings to accent your residence.