Picture this: you’ve just spent your day at the greenhouse, picking out the perfect plants to add to your home garden collection. You get home, unload your new treasures, and realize… you don’t have any pots!
Don’t panic, there’s no need to spend a fortune on new flower pots. Chances are, you have the perfect planters laying around your house – and you might not even know it! Almost anything can make a great (and unique) pot or planter – here are 11 ideas for plants of all shapes and sizes!
- Rain boots: Step into nature by using too-small or worn-down rainboots for your next planter! They’ll bring a unique touch to your garden.
- Tires: Need to replace your tires? Don’t get rid of the old ones! Stack a few tires on top of each other and fill them with soil to make an easy upcycled planter.
- Kitchenware: Your kitchen is full of flower pot potential – teacups, pots, saucepans, muffin tins… you can’t go wrong. Try using a colander for a planter with pre-drilled drainage holes!
- Sandbox: If your kids have outgrown playing in the sandbox, repurpose it for your plants! Wooden sandboxes are essentially pre-made garden beds, and a plastic or decorative sandbox can add some charm to your garden.
- Cinderblocks: Bring your landscaping to life with some cinderblock planters! For a personal touch, you can use acrylic paint to decorate.
- Bird bath: If you have an old bird bath that’s not very popular with the local bird population, convert it into a planter! To add a whimsical touch, include some spillers or trailing plants that cascade out of your bird bath.
- Wheelbarrow: Have an old wheelbarrow you’re not using? Why not fill it with some flowers! It’ll be right at home in your garden.
- Old furniture: If you happen to be replacing your bathtub, vanity, or dresser anytime soon, consider using your old furnishings in your garden!
- Paint cans, tin cans, and jars: Don’t throw out your old cans and jars! They can be turned into rustic pots for your home garden.
- Cooler: If your current cooler just isn’t cutting it anymore, swap out the ice and beverages for your favorite plants! This upcycled planter will keep your garden looking pretty cool.
- Broken flower pots: Last but not least, sometimes the most unique DIY flower pot can be… broken flower pots? That’s right! You can layer and stack broken pieces of ceramic or terracotta pots to create an artistic succulent display. Just be careful of sharp edges!
P.S. Some of these planters would also be great for a water garden in a container!
While you don’t need a drainage hole in your pots and planters, drilling one can help prevent root rot and soggy soil. While some of these planters – like colanders, bathtubs, tires, and some coolers – might have built-in drainage, others might need a DIY touch. Make sure to research the best ways to drill a drainage hole into your upcycled planters!
Upcycling or DIY-ing plant pots isn’t only budget-friendly, but also sustainable! For other ways to reduce waste in your home garden, check out our blog post 7 Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste in your Home Garden.
