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If you’ve been reading my blog long enough, you know how much I enjoy growing succulents. These desert plants come in many varieties, especially here in Southern California. Here are some highly popular hanging succulents you can add to your collection this year.
When I first started gardening, I use to think succulents were like cacti, all green and spiky. Succulents are as diverse as many other plants available out there.
Right now, I have more succulents than any other plant in my urban container garden. I’m planning on adding more, since I still have some empty pots from moving at the beginning of the year. We also have more room in our new patio for more plants, and succulents are great plants to add!
These hanging succulents will look great growing from hanging containers, pots on the ground, and wall planters. Grow them by themselves or mix and match with other succulents.
String of Pearls
String of Pearls look like small, green pearls hanging from a long, green thread. I have to cut mine from time to time since they grow so long so fast.
I bought my string of pearls at a farmer’s market several years ago and have it in a container with other succulents. They look great spilling out of their container.
I have to trim them throughout the year so that they don’t get too long. My pearls also bloom small, white flowers throughout the year that look similar to the wispy seeds of dandelion flowers.
String of Bananas
String of bananas look similar to string of beads. These succulents grow from thin strings as well. The leaves grow in a curve, similar to the shape of bananas.
Add of mix of these and pearls in a container for a unique look to your urban garden. If you enjoy saving money on your succulents, you can easily propagate your string of bananas to produce even more to spread around your garden or to give away to friends and family.
Burros Tail
The burro’s tail succulent is similar to a donkey’s tail. These succulents grow thick, green leaves in bunches.
The leaves tend to fall when moved around, but you can easily grow many more by keeping these leaves while they produce babies for you to spread throughout your garden.
The ones above look great spilling out of the container with the string of pearls.
Fish Hooks
Fish hooks are known by several names, such as string of fish hooks, senecio fish hooks, and fish hooks plant.
Fish hooks can be mistaken for string of bananas, since they almost look the same at a glance. The fish hooks’ curved leaves are thinner than the ones on the string of bananas.
These hanging succulents can grow up to four feet long. Find a high place to hang your container so they can grow long, or be ready to cut back your fish hook periodically throughout the year.
Elephant Bush
The elephant bush goes by several names, such as elephant food and elephant plant. Some varieties include solid green and variegated. My elephant bush is growing with other succulents in a vertical cloth planter.
Elephant bush can change color based on the time of year and how much sun it has. The stems and leaves are both thick, making this a hardy succulent.
String of Dolphins
String of dolphins look almost the same as fish hooks and string of bananas. The leaves grow in a curved shape from the vine, except there is an additional “fin” that sticks out from the top, making the leaves look like miniature, green dolphins.
String of dolphins also grow additional color by blooming beautiful white and pink flowers. These will look great spilling out of a pot that is hanging on the side of a wall in your garden.
Baby Necklace Crassula
The crassula baby necklace is also known by the names worm plant, Chinese jade, and vine baby necklace. There are more than 200 different crassulas that you can grow.
This type of crassula succulent grows leaves that are thick and in the shape of discs that hang down in pots. The small crassula also make great ground cover plants when you need an empty space filled with some green outside.
These succulents grow to only 12 inches long and bloom pretty white flowers during their blooming season. They prefer morning sun compared to the afternoon sun, which is too harsh.
Ruby Necklace
This hanging succulent is also known by the name, string of rubies. The ruby necklace grow stems that are purple or red, with small, green leaves that stick out.
It blooms yellow flowers that look like daisies in the winter and spring. The leaves are thick, creating a nice design when combined with the flowers.
The leaves look similar to beads and grow on stems that usually grow up to two inches before they start hanging down. The leaves are usually green, red, or purple, making an interesting-looking succulent.
Trailing Jade
There are different types of jade. The one I have grows straight up and seems to be doing well indoors. It was a dumpster find that has been thriving for the past year.
Trailing jade, also known as hanging jade, has thick leaves that hang on a stem that can reach several feet in length.
Caring for Hanging Succulents
Caring for your succulents correctly will help them last a long time for you to enjoy in your home and garden.
Pick a standing or hanging pot that is large enough to hold your hanging succulent. Adding a hanging succulent to a wall container will look beautiful, too. Make sure the pot is larger than your succulent so that it has room to grow.
Speaking of pots, check the bottom to see if there is a hole or place to drill one to several holes in the bottom. Most plants need a container with holes at the bottom to drain the remaining water.
A plant with a wet bottom can rot and die, so make sure to purchase a pot with holes on the bottom or one where you can drill holes in the bottom with a drill. You don’t want to kill your new plant if you can help it!
If you are making an arrangement, a larger pot is a great idea, although succulents do not need too much room to grow. Just have a container large enough for the succulents you plan to grow in it.
Succulent Soil
Succulents grow best in well-draining, sandy soil that is porous. Miracle-Gro has a Cactus, Palm, and Citrus potting mix that works well. If you prefer organic soil, there is one made by Dr Earth.
You can also make your own succulent soil by mixing two parts sand, two parts garden soil, and one parts pumice or perlite together.
Sun and Watering
Most succulents prefer to grow in full sun, although they can do fine in some shade. Some varieties might turn dark or light if left in the sun. Study your succulents to see what they prefer to grow in over time.
These plants don’t need much water to survive and are great for drier climates, such as here in Southern California. During the warmer months you will want to water your succulents once every few days.
In the colder months and times of year when your plants are dormant, you can water them once every few weeks. Since watering can vary between each plant, keep an eye out to see how your succulents react to too little or too much water.
A general rule of thumb is to water your succulents when the soil is dry. Don’t just rely on the soil at the top for this. Stick your finger a few inches down to make sure the bottom layers are not moist with water, before adding some water.
Succulent Pests
While succulents are generally easy to grow with little maintenance, sometimes pests come along to eat them.
If you grow your succulents indoors, mealy bugs may appear on them. You can wash these white bugs off with water.
Succulent Arrangements
Hanging succulents will make a great addition to an arrangement in a pot, since these will spill out once they grow large enough to do so. Do some research and add succulents that grow straight up, as well as ones that grow outward for a beautiful arrangement.
You can get more ideas in my succulent arrangements post. Adding several of these plants in different colors and sizes will look beautiful in a pot.
Succulents as Houseplants
These succulents, and others in general, can make great houseplants with the right care. If you were growing your succulents outside in your garden, repot them in a container that won’t drain, or place them two containers so that water can drain out into the second one and not ruin your furniture.
Succulents grown indoors prefer high light with little water. This means that they need to grow in a west-facing window, but not in direct sunlight.
Poisonous Plants
Be mindful that some of these can be harmful to both humans and animals if consumed. Keep an eye out for children and animals when outside.
If you enjoy growing house plants, keep your succulents high enough so that small children and animals cannot reach your plants to ingest them. You can also move your succulent house plants outside for peace of mind.
Popular Hanging Succulents
Add some of these popular hanging succulents to your garden if you haven’t already. Which ones are your favorite to grow? Let me know in the comments section below!
Happy gardening!
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