subject: Gardening Information - Hanging A Potted Plant [print this page] Hanging a potted plant Hanging a potted plant
Sometimes the urge to garden can come upon a person like a cat springing from the shadows. What can you do if you don't have have a big yard? Container gardening is an easy way to garden using whatever space you may have, even if it's just a window sill. If you have a window you can also put a hook in the ceiling to hang a plant.
When choosing a spot for the hook take a hammer and tap the ceiling to see if there are differences in sound the harder sound is where the ceiling joist is. You want to find a ceiling joist so that the potted plant you hang will not tear through the sheetrock of your ceiling. At your local superstore you can by a "stud-finder" a device that finds the nails or screws used to attach the sheetrock to the ceiling joist or wall stud. They don't cost too much and can maybe take some of the guesswork out of finding a stud.
If you are hanging a pot that will weigh less than three pounds you should be able to hang it in the ceiling without finding a stud because the sheetrock should hold it just fine. However you must have a screw with a "course" grain than will "bite" into the sheet rock. A "fine" grain means the ridges or "threads" on the screw shank are close together and smoother than a "course" grain. The course grain screws threads are spread out a little more and are higher. An example of a "course" grain is on the inside of any plastic pop bottle lid, you see the threads are high and wide.
You should have drill and a 1/16 inch drill bit to make pilot hole for you hook to screw into. You can also chase the stud this way, that is drill little holes in the ceiling 1/2 inch from one another in a line parallel with the window until you hit a ceiling joist. Take caulking on the end of your finger and fill the holes, use a damp rag to wipe of the excess. If you have a white ceiling the holes won't be noticeable, if you need to you can touch up the paint.
Once you have your pilot hole you can start turning the hook into the hole with your fingers. Once the screw becomes to hard to turn you can set a screwdriver shank into the hook for leverage and finish screwing it in. Be careful to stop when the screw is snug some decorative hooks are made of soft metal and will break off leaving only the screw shank if you apply to much pressure.
Hanging plants are wonderful, cheerful additions to any room and help to create a welcome and comfortable environment. Nor are you limited to the types of plants you hang. The spider plant is a favorite of course but any plant that you like can be hung in a pot from the ceiling near the window. The green foliage and the blossoms are soothing and inviting. Deep in our psychological make up is a kinship with plants, afterall we are surrounded by plants in our world and an indoor environment without plants is an unnatural environment for us.
My life yield and abundant harvest of joy for you today.
