How to make mason jar floating plant holders

The thing is that you are fond of plants and your home design detests the concept of floor potting in your living room. Add the poor mason jar, a piece of cord, and a small miracle of engineering which slides between the window and your sanity. Mason jar floating plant holders turn thrift-store glass into eye-catching plant holders that look like they’re defying gravity and they’re shockingly simple to make.

Why mason jar floating plant holders work?

You have a light, inexpensive and attractive means of putting greenery on display without drilling into studs or taking up valuable shelf space. These floating plant holders are perfect for small apartments across the USA where renters want charm without damage. They’re also ideal for hanging plant holders for porches, sun rooms, or kitchen windows.

Suppose we had a row of transparent glass jars slightly raised on different levels, with their roots sticking out of damp earth, small ferns and succulents, and all. The appearance is old-fashioned-yet-chic, country-mixes-with-industrial. Use different jar sizes and mixed textures twine, leather straps, or thin metal wires and you’ve got a dynamic floating plant stand that doubles as art.

Materials and tools needed for this project

Materials needed (quick list)

• Mason jars (quart, pint, or even half-pint) – select some sizes.
• Potting mix depending on your plant (succulent mix to use with cacti, peat-based mix with ferns).
• Small plants: succulents, pothos cuttings, baby spider plants, air plants as low-care plants.
• Drill using small bit (glass bit preferable) or using strong screw/eye hook and metal lid adapter.
• Nylon rope, jute rope or leather strapping rope to suspend it on- 3 strands per jar to provide balance.
• Drainage pebbles or perlite that are small.
• Waterproof sealant (not mandatory if you are drilling lids).
• Tape measure, scissors, marker.

Tools needed

• Glass bit power drill (or metal punch used on lids).
• Needle-nose pliers.
• Hot-glue gun (optional).
• Sandpaper (to smooth around holes drilled).

Detailed step-by-step guidelines.

1. Ready the jars: rinse and wipe the mason jars. Choose whether you will either plant in or insert the jar or a small nursery pot within.
2. Make the lid: to create a sealed rim, drill three small holes evenly spaced around the outer edge of the lid or make a lid with a metal ring, with eye hooks. Sand rough edges. Seal with waterproof sealant briefly in case.
3. Install the cords: prepare three pieces of cord of the same length (2-3 feet depending on the height of the ceiling). Not everyone through every eye hook or hole and then bring them together and knot at the top, thus forming a hanger. Test the knot strength.
4. Add drainage: add 1 inch of pebbles or perlite in the jar. This helps to avoid root rot in a closed jar.
5. Planting: is done by adding potting mix but then placing the plant or nursery pot into the potting mix and then firmly pressing the soil. Water lightly.
6. Hang it: select a hook or strong rod having a ceiling. Hanged at varying heights to create a visual attraction. Check with a level to ensure that everything is level.
7. Last step: turn jars every now and then to have even light on the plants. Filter condenses when required.

The best tricks for making mason jar floating plant holders

• Pothos or snake plant cuttings can be used as low light rooms. They thrive in hanging plant holders and forgive inconsistent watering.
• Install an inner plastic liner so that the pots can be swapped easily; this way the plants can be changed without disturbing the hanger.
• When you are using glass lids, drill gradually, and keep the bit cool with drips of water so that it does not crack.
• In outdoor installations, select UV resistant cord, and metal components that are of exterior grade in coastal us conditions.
• To create a floating plant stand effect, stagger jar heights and vary jar sizes to lead the eye.

Mistakes not to make and corrections

Mistake: over watering enclosed jars – solutions: add water pebbles and water sparsely or use plants that can withstand moisture such as ferns.

Mistake: weak cord – solutions: check load bearing strength before planting; tie in two knots with three strands on jar to be on the safe side.

Mistake: unsupported drilling – solutions: clamp jar in a towel or jig to hold in place, drill slowly.

Mistake: hanging over too much sun on the hot southern windows – solutions: get to filtered light or use heat-resistant succulents.

Alternatives or types of design.

• Rustic twine appearance: replace nylon with natural jute to give the farmhouse appearance.
• Sleek modern: use leather straps and brass eye hooks for a refined floating plant stand.
• Cluster tier: arrange five jars on falling cords creating a living chandelier over a dining table.
• Air plant alternative: no soil is needed; instead, pebbles and air plants should be used to create almost no maintenance.
• Seasonal rotation: change the variety of plants according to the holidays – herbs in spring, mini evergreens in winter.

My experience of mason jar floating plant holders

My initial set was on a third-floor walk-up in boston with zero drill-friendly studs. The solution that rescued the project was the use of adhesive ceiling hooks that were supplemented to deal with outdoor lights and selecting predominantly pothos cuttings. One jar had condensed during winter; a replacement with a plastic liner and less frequent watering solved the problem. The neighbors inquired about the origin of the exhibition I replied thrift shops and sweat, which sounds better than distress that I had three charity shop jars and unwarranted optimism.

Final thoughts

If you try mason jar floating plant holders, expect compliments, a few questions about your wiring skills, and the quiet satisfaction of turning ordinary jars into plant holders that float like tiny, green islands in your home. They are cheap, versatile and a great method of adding vertical living to the American households where space is the most expensive commodity. Ready, set, suspend and see your plants lifted.