13 Air Plant Container Ideas (Simple and Effective)

When displaying air plants, the choice of containers plays a crucial role in the overall aesthetics and the plant’s health.

Before jumping into the deep end and browsing our container ideas, here are some important points to consider when choosing the right containers for your air plants.

Quick Guide

Drainage

Air plants are prone to rot if they sit in water for prolonged periods. Containers with proper drainage holes or those that allow for adequate air circulation are essential to prevent water from accumulating around the base of your plants.

Aesthetics

The right container can enhance the beauty of your air plants and complement your interior design. From minimalist glass terrariums to rustic wooden frames, there are countless options to suit different styles and preferences.

Size and Space

Containers should be proportionate to the size of your air plants. They should provide enough room for the plants to grow and maintain good air circulation without overcrowding.

Another point to consider is you may already have suitable containers in your home. Look around you, you might find an empty vase or pot that will do just fine.

Types of Containers Suitable for Air Plants

You can use practically any type of container for air plants as long as it does not collect water and allows for good airflow. Here are four popular ideas to get you started, followed by some beautiful examples below.

Glass Terrariums, Globes and Teardrops

Clear glass containers such as globes, teardrops, and geometric shapes make stunning containers for air plants. They allow ample light to reach the plants, and the plants can be easily removed for watering and maintenance.

They can be placed on a table or shelf or hung from a wall or ceiling for a more dynamic effect.

Ceramic and Porcelain Bowls, Pots and Figurines

Decorative ceramic and porcelain containers with holes or slits for ventilation are another popular choice. They come in various colors, patterns, and designs to match different decor styles so take your time when choosing the right style for your home.

Shallow bowls work well as they can hold multiple plants and figurines can introduce fun into your displays.

Natural Materials

Containers made from natural materials like wood, seashells, and coconut husks can add a rustic, organic touch to air plant displays. However, make sure these types of containers have proper drainage and are not treated with harmful chemicals such as pesticides and varnishes.

Wire and Mesh

Suspended wire or mesh containers allow for excellent air circulation and create a unique floating appearance for air plants. They are lightweight and can be easily hung from ceilings or mounted on walls.

Many species of air plants cluster (grow in clumps) naturally which can look very attractive when hung by wire or mesh.

These air plant container ideas should give you lots of inspiration …

Ordinary Plant Pots

There’s no reason why you can’t use ordinary plant pots as containers for air plants. Yes, you can buy dedicated air plant pots that have holes or slits for ventilation. However, standard plant pots will work just fine as long as you do not overcrowd your plants and maintain good air circulation.

The following display looks awesome and includes six species of contrasting air plants.

Plant pots come in various shapes, colors, patterns, and designs so finding a match to suit your home decor should be quite easy.

Crystal Planters

Crystals are known for their aesthetic beauty and are believed by some to possess healing properties and positive energies so it’s no wonder they’re also used by air plant enthusiasts as containers/planters to showcase their plants.

Crystals are often used in meditation, Feng Shui, and Reiki practices, and some people believe that the energy of crystals can positively influence the growth and well-being of air plants. I’m not sure about that but this display looks fantastic.

Combining crystals and air plants in terrariums or decorative arrangements is popular due to their complementary aesthetics. The Tillandsia in the bottom left corner of the above photo has similar colors to the crystal it’s placed on. Very cool!

Clay Pots and Plates

Clay pots and air plants make a great combination for indoor gardening and home decor. You can also use clay plates or shallow bowls to display your Tillandsias, there are so many different styles and designs to choose from.

It doesn’t matter if the pots and plates are glazed or not they make good containers either way. These South America-styled pouches are fantastic. I wish I had the skills to craft items like this. I love the colors of these clay pots.

They’re suitable for displaying a wide range of air plants including smaller species and younger plants.

I recommend placing your air plants directly into containers like these rather than plastic containers first. Air plants do not need soil to live, so they don’t need internal containers.

Air Plant Jellyfish Containers

Surely everyone loves an air plant jellyfish? This has to be one of the best air plant container ideas I’ve ever seen. They look so impressive and have a unique and eye-catching manner. They combine the beauty of air plants with the unusual appearance of jellyfish.

They are easy to make. All you need is a sea urchin shell or a similar bowl-shaped object, a clear fishing line, wire, or thread, and a hook. You can either tie your plants to the shells or use waterproof glue.

Air plants will grow upside down as they sometimes do in nature so don’t worry about having to select specific species. An old favorite for making air-plant jellyfish is Spanish Moss, also known as Tillandsia Usneoides.

Ceramic Cone Containers

These wall-mounted ceramic cone-shaped containers are ideal for holding air plants as many Tillandsia species have partially coned-shaped bases. Popping your plants in and out for watering is very easy.

Choose ceramic containers that are appropriately sized for your air plants. The containers should be large enough to accommodate the plant’s growth but not too large that it looks disproportionate.

Cone containers come in various colors and glazes so choose one that complements your home decor. You can group multiple containers like the display above to create a visually appealing collection.

Glass Globes and Teardrops

Glass globes and teardrops are beautiful and versatile containers for displaying air plants. They add a touch of elegance to any space and look stunning in both bright and low light.

Reflections of light hitting the glass in low-light conditions can create a warm and glowing environment.

They often come with a loop or a hole in the top of the terrarium, making them perfect for hanging. It’s easy to make a stunning display by hanging several globes and teardrops at various heights.

In addition to air plants, you can fill your glass terrariums with other decorative items like sand, gravel, moss, shells, lichens, and small pebbles. You can also insert fairy lights to create unique, reflective, and eye-catching displays.

Home Decor and Tillandsias

Air plants have undoubtedly become increasingly popular in home decor in recent years due to their unique appearance, versatility, and low-maintenance nature. There are so many different ways to display air plants, you are only limited by your imagination and their basic care requirements.

The options are endless, from a centerpiece for your dining or coffee table to simple decorative containers like a shallow bowl or a wooden tray. Tillandsias have also become increasingly popular as Wedding decor and are used in bouquets, wreaths, and table displays.

These small snake holders/containers are adorable …

When incorporating air plants into your home decor remember to provide them with indirect bright light, good air circulation, and weekly watering. With proper care and attention, these versatile plants will thrive and add a natural element to your living spaces.

Air Plant Baskets

Shallow baskets are ideal for displaying small or large groups of air plants. Choosing the right basket depends on your personal preference. However, I recommend open weave baskets with large holes if you’re displaying larger Tillandsias to help with air circulation.

When displaying smaller air plants you can use more tightly woven baskets without any airflow issues as long as you don’t overcrowd your plants.

Natural materials like willow, reed, rattan, and bamboo baskets look the best in my opinion.

You can always add decorative items like shells, lichens, pebbles, and even small ornaments to your baskets to enhance your displays and make them more visually appealing.

Sea Urchin Planters

I mentioned air plant jellyfish containers above. This time we’re turning the sea urchins upside down and using them as planters. Sea urchins come in a range of colors and sizes, though they’re mostly suitable for displaying smaller air plants due to their compact size.

Sea urchin planters can add a touch of coastal charm to your decor while providing an interesting way to display your favorite air plants. Be careful when handling these types of shells though as they can be fragile and delicate.

You’ll also need to be careful not to damage your air plant’s leaves when inserting and removing your plants. Sea urchin shells can be abrasive and sharp so be careful.

Terrarium Containers

You’ll find lots of information on air plant terrariums on this website. Using terrariums as containers is fine as long as you use open terrariums such as globes, teardrops, jars, or vases like the one below.

If you’re feeling creative you could add a layer of sand or pebbles to the bottom of your terrarium for decoration or other elements like lichens, seashells, driftwood, and even miniature figurines …

If you’re not feeling creative you could go for the minimalist look. Hanging globe and teardrop terrariums look awesome even if they only contain one or two air plants, and you could always add some mini fairy lights to jazz up the display.

Mini Concrete Containers

Mini concrete containers are a great way to display air plants in a modern and minimalist style. Tillandsias are unique in that they don’t require soil to grow so they are perfect for small decorative containers.

When it comes to choosing shapes for your concrete containers the possibilities are endless. The shapes you select will depend on your personal preference and the overall style of your displays.

I find circular or multi-faceted containers, like the ones above, are better at supporting air plants rather than rectangles and squares. They tend to support more of the plant’s leaves and distribute the weight.

Snail Shells for Air Plants

Using snail shells as containers for air plants is a unique and creative idea that combines natural elements to create beautiful and organic displays. They also look rather funky if you ask me.

This display includes several shells of different colors with Tillandsia Caput Medusas emerging like sea creatures. They remind me of cuttlefish and squid.

Snail shell containers can be displayed on shelves, tables, walls, or even hung from ceilings with a fishing line to create aerial displays. This unique combination of snail shells and air plants will surely be a conversation starter and a delightful addition to your home or office space.

Wall-mounted Containers

Wall-mounted containers are an excellent way to display air plants and save space. They can add a vertical element to your decor and be arranged in various patterns to create eye-catching feature walls.

These containers look great and contain several species of Tillandsias including the wonderfully draping Spanish Moss (Tillandsia Usneoides).

Wall-mounted containers range from wooden frames and ceramic containers to hanging globes and mounted driftwood. Mounting your plants to pieces of driftwood can look spectacular and is one of my favorite ways to display air plants.