One of the most popular ways to display air plants is by hanging them from a ceiling or any object that can support their weight. This gives your plants a unique and visually stunning appearance and also frees up surface space, making hanging plants ideal for small or cluttered spaces.
There are so many different ways you can hang your air plants from a single hook and wire to purpose-built hanging planters. There are lots of options to choose from or you could try making DIY hangers if you’re feeling creative.
If you’re looking to display your air plants creatively and stylishly you need to know how to hang them properly. In this article, I provide you with 9 simple ideas you can use to hang your air plants in your garden and home.
How to Hang Air Plants With Wire
Hanging air plants with wire is a common method, it’s easy to do and long-lasting. I find bonsai wire works very well, is flexible, and comes in a wide range of colors and gauges. You’ll probably find that most types of garden wire are suitable.
I tie one end of the bonsai wire around the base of my plant, judge the right length, cut it, and then wrap the other end around a hook or frame depending on the display I’m creating.
As you can see from the hangers below it doesn’t matter what you use to hang your air plants. Whether you use wire, twine, or rope your display will look awesome like this one …
It’s a good idea to check how large your species of air plant will eventually grow so you can plan accordingly for the right size hook, strength of wire, and other supporting objects.
Hanging Air Plants With String, Rope, or Twine
Another popular method for hanging air plants is to use string, twine, or rope. This method works well for larger air plants and allows you to create a more natural and rustic look.
To hang your air plants this way simply tie the string or twine to the base of the plant and hang it from a ceiling, wall, or other objects. This method is quick and easy to install.
You can of course go a step further and create unique and eye-catching displays like this one ….
For larger Tillandsias, using a thick rustic rope can look very attractive, particularly when hanging from a porch, lean-to, or balcony.
Hanging Glass Globes
One of the simplest and most popular ways to hang small air plants is to use hanging glass globes. Many globes are designed specifically for air plants and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including teardrop globes.
Teardrop and round spheres are popular, easy to install, and simply require you to place your air plants inside the globe and then hang them from a wall or ceiling. Air plant gardeners sometimes add moss, sand, and gravel to their globes to make them look even more attractive.
This method is perfect for small air plants and creates a stunning display that is sure to grab the attention of anyone who enters the room, yard, or garden.
Macrame Plant Hangers
Macrame plant hangers are an awesome and stylish way to hang air plants. They come in a variety of styles, designs, and colors. This method is another good option for hanging larger air plants, however, macrame hangers come in many sizes so you can hang smaller Tillandsias too.
I like macrame hangers that can hold multiple plants in a verticle offset column. These look very attractive and it’s possible to find ones that can hold as many as 6-7 plants. Alternatively, you could try making this type of hanger yourself.
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Using a Wall Planter / Frame
Wall planters are a great way to hang air plants in your home and garden. They come in a variety of styles and designs and are relatively easy to install. If you have any leftover pieces of wood in your shed or garage you could always try making a wall planter/frame yourself.
All you need is two verticle pieces of wood for the main frame and around 4-5 cross pieces to hold your plants. It’s a good idea to tie and secure your Tillandsias to the planter with bonsai wire or fishing line, and you’re done.
A simple wireframe or grid like the one below can also look attractive …
This type of wall planter/frame is perfect for all sizes of air plants and provides a simple yet elegant display. You can of course insert a wire grid into a basic wooden frame to achieve a more modern look.
Rustic and DIY Air Plant Hangers
This beautifully made rustic hanger is a real show-stopper. It is a wonderful frame for a truly beautiful air plant – I highly recommend you check out Dave’s Instagram account – he sells 100+ species of Tillandsias and has many stunning photos.
Mason Jars make attractive, rustic DIY hangers. Wrap the neck of a jar with twine or rope, creating a loop for hanging. Then create a smaller loop at the other end of the twine or rope to enable hanging from a hook or another object. Fill the jar with decorative sand, stones, or moss, and pop your air plants inside.
The combination of glass and natural materials gives a charming rustic feel.
Wooden-mounted Hangers
I love this option. Wooden-mounted hangers are a great way to display air plants. This looks natural and is another easy solution. You can glue your plants to the wood, or use my preferred method of tieing plants with either bonsai wire or fishing line.
A wooden mount can of course be attached directly to a wall. However, hanging a wooden mount can look more effective and adds rustic charm. This can be achieved with twine, rope, or a strand of wire, and a hook or nail as shown in the above photo.
Hanging Geometric Shapes
Hanging geometric shapes for air plants have become very popular in recent years and they’re now widely available online. They look modern and come in a range of styles, sizes, and colors.
Generally, I prefer black-framed geometric air plant hangers rather than white ones. However, green and red frames can look attractive depending on the color of your Tillandsias.
Green frames show well with white air plant species and red frames with dark green plants. Black and gold frames tend to work well with any color plants.
Hanging With Tillandsia Fridge Magnets
If you are looking for a simple, fun, and discreet way to hang small air plants you can use fridge magnets. Tillandsia fridge magnets are easy to install and can be attached to any metal surface.
This method only really works for small air plants like the Ionantha varieties. However, it does provide a discreet and low-maintenance display, as long as you purchase good-quality magnets.
This option is also great for displaying new pups (young plants) before they grow into larger mature plants. Because they’re attached to the fridge in my home I’m able to keep a close eye on them during the early stages of their life and won’t forget to water them, which makes for happier plants.
