{Pinterest Project} Animal Air Planter

My aunt is one of the most clever and creative people I know, and happens to be a voracious blog reader. Which is quite handy for me since she finds the best ideas and sends them my way! I know everytime I open an email she’s sent from her iPad, it’s going to be something really good. For instance, this image.

My latest obsession she’s introduced me to is Air Plants (aka Tillandsia). These hardy little guys resemble succulents, but don’t require soil or water submersion! Which means you can essentially stick them anywhere with bright light. TWSS. I found mine at a local nursery for just a few dollars, and have them in various sea shells around the house (you can also order them here and here). When I spied this image on Pinterest, I knew what my next {Pinterest Project} would be!
 

elephant planter

 Remember this guy, that started out like this?

100_7010

And became a ‘Brass Figurine’ in my newly-painted Kitchen (along with a giraffe and horse head).

Since I’d gotten a wee bit carried away in the brass animal department, I decided to make the elephant in to my air plant planter. Mr. Sugarplum drilled a hole in the top to accommodate my plant of choice (there are over 400 varieties)

drill hole

And I gave her an updated paint job before popping the plant in the opening. Air plants absorb water and nutrients through their leaves (there’s no root system), thus they don’t require soil, and can’t live in a container of water. To care for it, simply submerge in water overnight every two weeks. Dry the air plant upside down to be sure no water is trapped before placing it back in whatever (dry) vessel you choose.

planter

I couldn’t bear to cover the brass completely, so she has fancy feet.

elephant planter

I’m fairly obsessed and haven’t found a permanent home for it yet, but right now she’s residing on my bedside table.

planter 3
planter2

Thank you to my fabulous aunt for introducing me to these little tropical treasures, and thanks to Annette for the fun planter idea! Do you have any air plants? Pinterest has the coolest examples of how to display them…you could even hot glue them to driftwood!

And since I found my inspiration on Pinterest, I’m sharing this with the Pinterest Challenge Summer Edition, over at Michelle, Kate, Sherry and Katie’s.

Leave a Comment

29 Comments

  1. Laurie wrote:

    OMG – fabulous!!! love that you kept the gold feet too.

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  2. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. i love it!!!!!!!! i am pinning yours because it is perfect.

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  3. Love the elephant – it turned out gorgeous! Those air plants sure are popular, I'm seeing them everywhere (except at my house – must get some!)

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  4. That is the coolest! I don't have any airplants…..yet!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  5. Eeee!!! What a stylish little elephant! Looks like that might be the only plant I wouldn't be able to kill 😀

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  6. oh my geniousness Cassie. This is brilliant!!!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  7. LOVE this- how have I never heard of air plants before? Your ele is the business with his plant and gold feet!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  8. That is super awesome! I love him!!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  9. Pamela R wrote:

    Love this! What an amazing kind of plant, I had never heard of them before either!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  10. So cute! I love his gold boots. Great idea!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  11. Love the gold boots as well. How sweet of your aunt to keep ideas coming. I have the matching gray and white tray {oh, and forgot to mention that s's twin has the same pillow pet!}

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  12. Amy wrote:

    Oh i love it! 🙂
    Great idea!
    I've been seeing air plants EVERYWHERE lately, i think its such a cute and really attractive trend!
    Amy
    takingstepshome.blogspot.com

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  13. You've just inspired me to want to brass/gold up some furniture legs! I love this little guy's brass evolution. Them are some sexy gams!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  14. Love the air plants and the elephant too! I love his brass boots!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  15. This turned out amazing !!!!!!! love love love it. Seriously well done. I've seen those on Pinterest and every time I go my a toy store I always think about doing this. Turned out so lovely!

    Posted 5.8.12 Reply
  16. My friend you are a genius with paint and elephants. Love the idea of a tiny plant in the elephant. The plant helps detract from his trunk:)

    Posted 5.9.12 Reply
  17. emily wrote:

    Look how cute his gold tail is!

    Posted 5.9.12 Reply
  18. Looks so neat! And I love that you kept her feet fancy. 😉

    Posted 5.9.12 Reply
  19. I don't have any air plants … yet. But I will by the end of the week. Love love love it!

    Posted 5.9.12 Reply
  20. Who'd a thunk it?!? :)…… turned out really great!

    Posted 5.9.12 Reply
  21. Oh my Gosh, I want that little elephant and leafy thing. I'm so bad at that stuff. You should sell them, I'd buy! Seriously.

    Posted 5.9.12 Reply
  22. Brooke wrote:

    I am obsessed with this elephant! 🙂
    Gold, turq, gold feet…love it all! What a cute idea! I'm not the best indoor plant keeper, so this seems like a great idea!

    xo,
    Brooke

    Posted 5.10.12 Reply
  23. this is so cool!

    Posted 7.10.12 Reply
  24. This is so cute! I just pinned it to my 'elephant love' board on pinterest!

    Posted 7.10.12 Reply
  25. Helena wrote:

    I LOVE it! So clever!

    Posted 7.10.12 Reply
  26. No freaking way….you've done it again with the adorable animals. This is too flipping cool!!! You're a serious genius. Thanks to you my kids are going to have no toys left.

    Posted 7.10.12 Reply
  27. Tamsyn wrote:

    I love him!! He's so gorgeous with his gold feet 🙂

    Posted 7.10.12 Reply
  28. Kelli Helm wrote:

    Loving it! Going to have to look for some of them plants around here, I have a black thumb, but maybe with something this low maintenance, I could succeed!

    Posted 7.11.12 Reply
  29. what fun… definitely more colorful than my Pinterest challenge entry> a DIY compost bin 🙂

    Posted 7.14.12 Reply