Hang a plant from a lath and plaster ceiling

Find the ceiling joist behind the lath and plaster, then fix a hook straight into solid timber to hang your plant safely.

PL-01Clear the space and set up your ladderMove any furniture out from under the work area and lay a dust sheet on the floor. Set your steps up on firm, level ground directly under the spot you want to use. Lath and plaster dust is fine and gets everywhere, so keep the area below clear.

1 each · Dust sheet

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

PL-02Find the joist above the ceilingLath and plaster ceilings are always fixed to timber joists, never metal, so you're only checking for timber here. Run a stud/joist detector or a magnet across the ceiling looking for a line of nail heads, which mark where the laths are nailed to a joist below. You can also tap along the ceiling: a dull, solid sound means joist, a hollow sound means you're between joists over bare laths.

1 each · Stud/joist detector

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

PL-03Confirm the joist and check for cables and pipesBefore you drill anything, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut the water off fast if you ever hit a pipe. A detector can miss cables or pipes, especially near a ceiling rose, so if there's any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling. Drill a small pilot hole at your marked spot: fine timber dust means you've found the joist, but crumbly white or grey dust means you're still in the plaster and laths and need to shift your hole slightly.

1 each · Cordless drill

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Pilot drill bit, 3mm

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

PL-04Fit a screw eye into the joistNever fix into the lath and plaster alone, it's too weak to hold any weight and will pull away. Once you've confirmed solid timber, widen the pilot hole slightly if needed, then drive a screw eye or hook by hand into the joist. You need enough length to pass through the plaster and laths, roughly 20-25mm, plus 25-30mm gripping into solid timber, so a 65mm screw eye is usually right.

1 each · Screw eye/ceiling hook, 65mm

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

PL-05Test the fixing before hanging your plantHang a bag of something roughly the same weight as your plant, or a bit heavier, from the hook and leave it for a minute. Check the hook hasn't moved or pulled at the plaster around it. If it feels solid, hang your plant using a hanging bracket or plant hanger of your choice.

PL-06Tidy upFold up the dust sheet and check the floor and any surfaces below for plaster dust. If your first pilot hole missed the joist, fill the small hole with a dab of ready-mixed filler and let it dry before touching up with matching paint. Put your tools away.

1 each · Ready-mixed filler, small tub

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides