Indoor plants are quite popular. They have been rising in popularity for more than several years now. It is understandable. More and more people are trying to find a way to introduce more greenery to their apartments. And indoor plants are one way to do it.
As an easy way to brighten your space and improve the air quality of your home, indoor plants are something you need to consider. Now, what happens when you have little room to operate? This is where hanging plants can help you.
Today, we will talk about hanging plants from a curtain rod. How to do it? What are the benefits? How much weight can the curtain rod handle?
Are you wondering how to hang plants from the ceiling? We have a couple of ways to set up a DIY hanging plant rod. Let’s discuss.
What is a tension rod?
Before we talk about hanging plants from curtain rod, let’s discuss what a tension rod actually is. Some of you might be wondering about it. It is a rod that we place between two walls or windowsills, or any two hard surfaces. It is secured by the tension.
Many people use these tension rods because they do not leave marks on the surface. But is it strong enough to hold plants? What about curtain rods? Is there a difference?
Tension rods are a cheap and easy solution for hanging curtains. They can be installed in a snap and will save you from putting holes in your walls.
Are Curtain rods strong enough?
Now, this is the main question. How much weight can your tension curtain rod hold? Before you try to hang anything on a tension rod, check the weight limit. Usually, a good-quality tension rod can hold up to 30 pounds.
But if you have more than 30 pounds of plants to hang, you should get creative. This is where you can stack multiple rods behind or atop one another.
Tension rods can hold up even the heaviest curtains and many more items. But you still have to be careful with their weight limit when you want to use them for plants.
How to hang plants from curtain rods?
Now let’s talk about a couple of ways for hanging plants from curtain rods. Here is what you can do.
Use the existing curtain rod
This is the simplest way to hang plants. Just use the existing rod and get creative with macramé plant hangers, s-hooks, or other home decor. Fasten them onto the existing curtain rod and you are ready to go.
Use a tension rod
We talked about these rods. They are great when you are in a place that is not your own. Tension rods are a retail-friendly and no-drill option that you can install. Where? In the window frame. While they do not support heavy weight, tension rods can be used to hang multiple plants.
Mesh shopping bags
It is all about recycling and reusing in today’s world. Mesh bags are a fun and functional way to hang plants from curtain rods. If you do not have some bags in your home, you can easily order from Amazon or similar websites.
Place a potted plant in a mesh bag and slide the handles onto the curtain rod. That is all you need to do for this method. Great for hanging leaves and branches, it is a unique and low-cost way to add greenery to your home.
Make Your Own Hanging Curtain Rod
Now let’s talk about how you can make your own hanging curtain rod. That is if you have a few DIY skills. For this method, you will need:
- 5-foot pine dowel rod
- Outdoor stain and sealer
- Hooks for the appropriate amount of weight
- Black chain
- Hanging plants
- Start by finishing the wooden plant rod. You might not need to cut it, but you need to finish it. It is an optional step, but it will definitely protect the wood.
- Measure and install the hooks on your hanging plant rod. When you are putting it inside, make sure to know whether you are hanging them in just drywall or drywall with a ceiling joist on the other side
- If you are screwing directly into a ceiling joist behind the drywall, predrill a hole using a drill and then a screw to screw hook in. If you are hanging in just drywall, buy a screw hook with a toggle bolt attached to it. Measure and mark where you want to place the hooks, based on the size of your rod
- Cut and hang the chain for the plant rood
- Slide the rod through the chain loops. Once all the plants are hanging on it, it will be secure and is not going anywhere. Load it up with plants, but be mindful of the weight limit of the hooks, dowel, and chain
Things to remember
Before you install a curtain rod for hanging plants, you always have to check the weight rating. Check to see if the curtain rod has a weight rating. Thinner curtain rods are not meant to hold a lot of weight. If your curtain rod starts to bow when you have hanging plants from the curtain rod, it is best to upgrade to something that can handle the weight.
Also, be mindful of the strength of the curtain rod. Many of these are extendable. But when they reach maximum extension, the middle area of the rod can get weak. If you have an extendable curtain rod, do not use it on maximum extension. If you do it, make sure to add a third curtain bracket in the middle for support.
If you live in a rental and cannot drill holes in the ceiling or walls, use a tension rod. Yet, remember, they generally are not rated for a lot of weight. Hopefully, we answered all of your questions about hanging plants from curtain rods.