The Best Outdoor Hanging Plants for Spring

Do you want a quick and easy way to dress up a dull porch, deck or patio? Try hanging plants outdoors. Big, lush ferns are good choices for a large area, while small baskets of flowering begonias or variegated pothos make nice accents for nooks and niches.

To find the best outdoor hanging plants for your space, think about your growing conditions. For a shady porch, consider staghorn ferns, impatiens or trailing fuchsias. If your deck gets full sun, kalanchoes, geraniums and various types of ornamental grasses should thrive for you. Add bright, bold color to your pool, patio or backyard with bougainvilleas, mandevillas and other tropical hanging plants. Not sure how to start? Learn how to plant hanging baskets and make your own hanging planters.

The key to keeping jade plants healthy is allowing plenty of drying time between waterings. Check the soil every three days — if it's moderately dry, the plant is doing okay, and if the soil is very dry, it needs water. When a jade plant isn't receiving adequate water, its leaves will shed and may develop brown spots.

Tassel ferns are perfect for filling large spaces on porches or patios, and they work great in multiples. Since tassel ferns need shade, hang them in areas that never receive direct sunlight, and water them two to three times per week.

'Marble Queen' pothos is the most common houseplant, both for its ability to help clean indoor air and for its low-maintenance needs. These plants need very little water and you can let them dry out during the fall and winter months. If the soil feels completely dry, use a spray bottle to water the soil and leaves.