Best Plants for a Plantable Pendant Light

Choosing a plant to put in a... light fixture? Here's some options for what works best.

You have a plantable pendant light. Or you are about to get one. Either way, the question arrives quickly: what exactly do you put in it?

The answer depends on the fixture, the light in your room and how much you enjoy watering things above head height. This guide covers all three, so your hanging garden looks intentional instead of improvised.

New to the idea? Start with What Is a Plantable Pendant Light? and come back.

First, a word about light

This is the part people skip, and then wonder why their basil looks sad.

A plantable pendant light is a lamp, and its light points down at your table, desk or counter. The Babylon Light, for example, offers 180° of natural downlighting. That is excellent for the people below and not much help for the plants above. Your plants still depend on daylight.

So hang the fixture where the plants will get plenty of window light, and treat the bulb as a bonus. Bright, indirect light from a nearby window suits most of the plants below. Dim hallways are better for the glow than for the growing.

Our fixtures are multifunctional designs to reduce clutter while creating atmosphere with hanging plants and illumination.

Second, a word about depth

These are shallow planters, and that shapes every choice. The Well Planter Light has a 4" deep basin, which comfortably holds herbs and cascading plants. The Babylon Light is shallower still, and suits succulents, ground-covering plants and air plants. A small root system is the whole game. Tall, deep-rooted plants belong on the floor.

Plants that suit each fixture

The shortlist

Succulents: the low-maintenance overachievers

Echeveria, sedum and crassula are happy with little soil and infrequent watering, which is ideal for a basin you cannot easily reach. Trailing succulents such as burro's tail (also called donkey's tail), or Curio rowleyanus aka String of Pearls drape over the edge and give you that hanging-garden look with very little effort. Mix in some spikes with Haworthia Zebra Succulents to add some volume.

Air plants: no soil, no problem

Tillandsias take their moisture from the air, so they need no potting mix. Tuck a few into a shallow basin for a sculptural, minimal look. Give them a weekly soak or mist and let them dry fully afterward. 

Herbs: the kitchen counter garden

The Well Planter Light was made to be a working garden over a kitchen counter. Thyme, oregano, chives and parsley are compact and forgiving. Basil is rewarding but wants lots of light, so give it your sunniest spot. Mint is delicious and also territorial, so keep it in its own planter.

Trailing foliage: the cascade

Pothos, heartleaf philodendron and tradescantia grow long, graceful strands that spill over the rim. They are the plants behind most of those lush, cascading photos. Trim them now and then so the strands do not reach the soup.

Want Zero Maintenance?

If you want no maintenance at all or it's being used in a commercial setting where real plants may otherwise get neglected — use faux plants! Same look, no hassle. Using a foam filler in the fixture will allow you to create arrangements by sticking the fake plants into to create a wide variety of looks. 

Watering a garden that hangs over the table

Here is the practical question nobody asks until the first drip. A few habits help.

• Water less, more carefully. A shallow basin holds a small amount of soil. It dries out faster than a deep pot, but overwatering is still the usual way to lose a plant.
• Take it down, or use a small can. A narrow-spout watering can lets you water slowly from a step stool. The basin on of the Well Planter Light is removable allowing it to be disconnected and maintained at lower level. 
• Check the installation manual. Each fixture has one, linked from its product page. Follow it for drainage and potting guidance for your specific model.
• Try not to overflow. Pour water slowly to make sure not to overflow onto anything below it, or just move the fruit bowl.

Bulbs and heat

Bulbs are not included with any of our plantable lights as this allows you to source the desired lumens and correct voltage for your location. The Babylon Light and Well Planter Light take an E26/E27 lampholder, and the Babylon has a 60 watt max. The Hemisphere Pendant Planter uses a G9 lamp. An LED bulb keeps things cool and efficient, which is kinder to anything growing nearby. All three are dimmable with a Triac-type dimmer. While the heat from LED bulbs will not burn the roots, they still produce heat and may dry out the soil faster when on.

A simple starting recipe

1. Pick the spot. A table or counter near a bright window.
2. Pick one plant family. Succulents, herbs or trailers. Do not mix thirsty and drought-loving plants in the same basin.
3. Start small. You can always add more. You cannot easily remove a plant that has decided to live there.
4. Add a second fixture. Once the first looks good, cluster. A Cluster Canopy lets several fixtures share one ceiling point.