Gardening How to Make an Air Plant Frame Repurpose an old frame to display your favorite air plants. Just add chicken wire for the backing and use paper clips as plant hangers. By Jenny Krane Jenny Krane Jenny Krane graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Magazine Journalism and English in 2017, and has worked professionally in the magazine field for 5 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 23, 2022 Project Overview Working Time: 1 hour Total Time: 2 hours Skill Level: Beginner Air plants can make their home anywhere. Make your air plant collection the center of attention by displaying them on a DIY air plant frame. Chicken wire takes the place of glass to create the perfect hanging display to fit all of your plants. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools 1 Gloves 1 Tin snips 1 Handsaw 1 Staple gun 1 Drill and drill bit 1 Hammer Materials 1 Frame 1 Spray paint 1 3/4-inch square dowel 1 Chicken wire 1 1/4-inch staples 1 Wood glue 1 1-inch wood screws 1 Saw tooth picture hangers 1 Paper clips 1 Air plants Instructions Spray Paint Frame After you have found a frame, remove the glass and back panel. Lay the frame out on a drop cloth or piece of cardboard. Spray paint the frame with light, even strokes and cover the entire frame. Let dry according to manufacturer's instructions. Related: Tips for Using Spray Paint Cut And Attach Chicken Wire Measure the height and width of the frame. Cut a section of chicken wire slightly larger than the inside opening of frame, allowing 1-2 extra inches on top and bottom. Attach the wire to the frame with staples. Cut Dowel Mark and measure the width of the opening of the frame on the wood dowel. Cut two lengths of dowel to that measurement. Attach Dowels To Frame Use wood glue to attach the dowels to back frame on the top and bottom. Then secure each dowel piece with two screws. Set drill bit depth to same length as screw so you don't drill through the front of the frame. Attach Picture Hanger Attach a saw-tooth picture hanger to the top dowel. If the frame is heavy, place a hanger on either end of the top dowel. Create Plant Hangers Make plant hangers out of paper clips. Unwind paper clips, and bend to make a hook and a rounded base. You can use pliers to bend the metal if the paper clips are made of thick wire. Hang Frame and Air Plants Place a nail in the wall for each hanger and place frame on the wall. Then attach plant hangers from the chicken wire and place air plants. Spread the plants around the frame and try to disperse air plants by color, size, and type.