Wondering how to hang multiple plants from the ceiling? Learn how to set up a DIY hanging plant rod to avoid drilling lots of hole in your ceiling—it requires only two!
How to set up a DIY hanging plant rod to hang lots of plants
Hey guys! Quick and pretty simple DIY today that I never got around to doing this winter…so I decided to make it an outdoor project instead! I’m making a hanging plant rod so that I can hang multiple plants without having to hang a bunch of different hooks, thus making a bunch of different holes.
With a hanging plant rod, all you really need to do is make two holes for two hooks. Though you might need a middle-support hook if your rod is super long and your plants are super heavy. It all depends. I’m using two hooks.
When you have a hanging plant rod instead of different hooks, you can also move the plants around based on their size. A hook placement isn’t always perfect for every plant, so this gives you some more flexibility. Plus it just looks cool.
I wanted to hang this in my dining room in front of my sunniest window, but I never got around to it. And since I want to bring a lot of my houseplants outdoors for the summer, this method seemed the best. They all like bright indirect light and would be scorched by too much direct sun, so under the deck it is!
Here’s what I used:
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- 5-foot pine dowel
- Outdoor stain and sealer—I used leftovers from refinishing the deck posts last summer. It’s super convenient because it’s a stain and sealer in one. If this is the only thing you need the stain and sealer for, go on their website and buy a sample pack!
- Hooks rated for the appropriate amount of weight (make sure to choose hooks with toggle bolts as appropriate)
- Black chain—max load of this one is 45 lbs
- Hanging plants
And here’s how I made my DIY hanging plant rod!
Always take the proper precautions and safety measures before working with any tools or materials. Wear safety equipment and work with a professional to complete projects when necessary. Read my full terms of use and disclosure for more. Happy making and stay safe!
Step 1: Finish the wooden plant rod
I didn’t need to cut my rod down, so all I needed to do was finish it. This is an optional step, but it will help protect the wood since it will be outdoors. You don’t need to do it if you are setting up your hanging plant rod indoors.
I used a one-step stain-and-sealer that I loved using on our fence last summer. It’s a Readyseal transparent stain and sealer. If you don’t want to use wood, you can also use a pipe or an old curtain rod.
Step 2: Measure and install the hooks
I am installing my hanging plant rod outside under the deck, so I have plenty of easy spots to put the hooks on all of the deck rafters. However, if you’re hanging your hooks indoors, make sure you know whether you’re hanging in just drywall or drywall with a ceiling joist on the other side.
How do you install hooks in the ceiling?
If this is your first time hanging something from the ceiling, you’ll want to check out my post about the two different ways to hang things from the ceiling. It’s super important that you choose the right one based on whether you’re screwing into a ceiling joist or just plain old drywall. (Don’t worry, it only sounds complicated.)
In a nutshell, if you’re screwing directly into a ceiling joist behind the drywall, you can predrill a hole using a drill bit and then screw a screw hook in. If you’re hanging in just drywall, you’ll need to buy a screw hook with a toggle bolt attached to it.
Whichever method you’re using, measure and mark where you want your hooks to be based on the size of your rod. I chose two deck rafters that were about 4.5 feet apart. After pre-drilling pilot holes with a bit, I screwed the hooks in.
Step 3: Cut and hang the chain for the plant rod
You can use something like black paracord for this step if you don’t like chain, but chain is a lot easier. I don’t mind the look, and it’s very sturdy. I cut two pieces of chain that were double the length I wanted the bar to hang. I just used pliers to pry open one of the links.
Then I looped both ends of the chain pieces onto the hooks. This creates an area that you can just set the rod into instead of having to deal with additional hooks on the rod.
Step 4: Load up the DIY hanging plant rod!
The next step is to just slide the rod through the chain loops. If you’re using chain with an appropriate weight rating, you don’t need to worry about it being too flimsy. Once all the plants are hanging on it, it’s plenty secure and isn’t going anywhere.
Load it up with plants, and remember to be mindful of the weight limits of your hooks, dowel, and chain. For my purposes, a few hanging plants is totally fine! And I get to sit under all of them in my swing, too. Lucky for me. 🙂 Also pictured here are my hanging globe string lights.
For my hanging plant rod, I’m planning to bring out a big pothos plant, two heart-leaf philodendrons that are already trailing nicely, a hoya carnosa, a smaller string of pearls, a prayer plant that is currently in Ramona’s room, and my favorite little scindapsus treubii moonlight!
Can you hang plants from a curtain rod?
Yes! You can hang plants from a curtain rod. I have several plants hanging from curtain rods that I have mounted for actual curtains, not for plants. Two for one. 🙂 You can even use a curtain rod to make a hanging plant rod—I just chose not to because they are more expensive than a large wooden dowel or a pipe.
There are three things to remember when using a curtain rod to hang plants—whether you’re using it for curtains with plants added in or just for plants! Here they are.
1. Weight rating of the curtain rod
Check to see if your curtain rod has a weight rating. Many thinner curtain rods aren’t really meant to hold a ton of weight. If you notice your curtain rod starting to bow at all where you have your plants hanging, it’s probably best to upgrade to something that can handle a bit more weight.
2. Strength of the curtain rod
Many curtain rods are extendable. However, when they reach maximum extension, the middle area of the rod can get weak. If your curtain rod is extendable try to avoid using it on its maximum extension. If you want to use the full extended rod, add a third curtain bracket in the middle of the rod for support.
3. Mounting hardware and mechanism
Speaking of curtain brackets, the mounting hardware and mechanism you use to mount the curtain rod also play a role. For example, make sure you’re using sturdy brackets, and if you’re mounting them in drywall, make sure you are using drywall anchors that are weighted for an appropriate amount of weight.
The best solution is to mount the brackets directly into studs, which isn’t always practical. So if you can, that’s great. If you can’t, just make sure you’re using good drywall anchors with your screws.
How can I install a DIY hanging plant rod without drilling any holes?
Yes! If you live in a rental and can’t drill holes in your ceiling, or if you just simply don’t want to drill a bunch of holes in your ceiling, you may be able to use a tension rod. However, tension rods generally aren’t rated to hold a lot of weight. I did some quick research on Amazon, and this one can hold a few pounds. But that’s not a lot.
You can check out this project from Probably This using a tension rod in their window frame. Since most tension rods mounted solely on tension don’t hold that much, you can check out this piece on a tension rod apparatus that goes both vertically and horizontally. This can hold much more weight!
Pin my quick and easy DIY hanging plant rod!
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