When the knotted net is tall enough to come two-thirds up the side of the pot, gather all 16 strands together and tie a large wrapping knot, known as a gathering wrap, to secure the base. Cut a separate 50-centimetre piece of cord, form a loop with it pointing upward, and wind it tightly around the bundle at least ten times before passing the tail through the loop and pulling the top cord to draw it into the wrap. Trim the ends to your desired length – a fringe of around 20 centimetres looks balanced – and unravel the individual plys of the cord tails for a soft, brushed-out finish. Comb through the fringe gently with your fingers and give it a final trim to even out the lengths.
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Mounting the hanger properly ensures both safety and beauty. Use a hook anchored into a ceiling joist or a solid wall bracket; a standard plastic adhesive hook is unlikely to hold the weight of a watered pot, soil, and the cord itself. Position the plant hanger near bright, indirect light, away from heating vents, and at a height that allows you to water thoroughly without a step ladder. When you slip the pot into the cradle, arrange the cords so they sit evenly around the pot’s curve. A terracotta or glazed ceramic pot works well because its weight stabilises the hanger; if using a lightweight plastic nursery pot, drop a few clean stones into the base for balance. Water your plant in the sink, let it drain fully, then return it to the hanger to avoid moisture damage to the cord.
This project offers more than a place to hang a devil’s ivy or a Boston fern. The repetitive rhythm of knotting is deeply soothing, almost meditative, and the tangible result – a unique, handcrafted object – provides a sense of accomplishment that mass-produced decor rarely delivers. Once you have mastered the basic plant hanger, you can experiment with coloured cords, wooden beads threaded onto the filler strands, or more complex knotting patterns. The finished piece sways gently in the breeze from an open window, adding movement and life to a corner that might otherwise go unnoticed. Gifting one to a friend, perhaps with a home-propagated plant tucked inside, spreads both greenery and the quiet message of slow, deliberate craft in a fast-paced world.
