DIY Planter

Sometimes I dig in the garbage to pull out things that catch my eye… Anyone else? I mean, seriously, we (collective “we”) tend to recylcle or throw away a lot of things that could be repurposed in new, cool ways!

Have you ever noticed how expensive planters and pots for house plants can be? Not to mention if you want something with a colorful design or a decent size at all. So, I’ve been thinking of a way to make some from items I already have, making them an almost FREE project!

Since we’re all stuck at home during this time, considering Covid-19, I’ve been really looking through our house for pieces that I’ve been saving for projects or that could be repurposed in some way. I’m trying to do my part to “flatten the curve” and stay home. With so much time spent at home, though, I need projects to work on. My passion is decorating, so of course I’ve been on the hunt for makeover or home décor-themed projects to focus on.

I’ve been planning a plant hanger DIY project for quite a while, so I had all the items to make that. Once I got the plant hangers up that I’d made, though, I knew that I was going to need light-weight planters to go on top. I had originally wanted to use some terra cotta pots that I had already, but knew they were going to stretch out the clothesline cord I’d used on the hangers too much, so the hunt was on for something different.

It was apparently meant to be because a day or so before, I had emptied the container that our peanut butter powder comes in and saved it for a project. Bingo! I had an idea for it! Not only was this planter free, but it was reusing something that would have otherwise gone into the trash. I love when I can do that!

Again, I wanted to use what I already had at our house for this project, so I grabbed some spray paint from my stash, along with a bit of ribbon. I’d had bought the ribbon for another project, but I can always buy more…and this one worked perfectly with the colors of the spray paint I chose!

Shopping (Your House) List

-Plastic Container

-Paint

-Ribbon

-Razor Blade or X-Acto Knife

-Nail

-Hammer

-Soil

-Plant

The first thing I needed to do was cut the top off the container, as it was going to act as the drainage tray for the planter. The peanut butter powder container has the perfect “shoulder” or indentation to follow along to make a straight cut. I used a box cutter/razor blade to cut along the line—starting in one spot and following it all the way around until the two ends met. Once I had one container done, I did the same thing on the other one. (If you don’t have a blade set for detailed cutting on projects, an X-Acto brand basic knife set is good to have.

Once I was done cutting the tops off, I made sure to add drainage holes to the bottom of the container. For plastic, you can use a screwdriver and hammer or a nail and hammer. Hold the screwdriver steady on the bottom of the container and pound with the hammer until it goes through. On this container, I added 6 drainage holes, scattered around the bottom.

Spray painting was next. Remember, I used colors I already had on-hand. This is something that can always be changed out, once the quarantine is lifted and we’re all allowed to go shopping again! I started out spraying all the pieces the same color, but then realized that I wanted to do a bit of color-blocking, so I sprayed the drainage trays a different color. Also, I prefer a more eclectic design. If you like more muted colors or have a more farmhouse decorating style, you could choose different colors, or even paint them all black.

Once the paint dried, I turned the top of the container upside down—the lid became the “bottom” of the planter. Then, I placed the true bottom of the container inside the upturned top. They fit nicely together and were quite secure. I then added a piece of ribbon where on the seam of where the two pieces of the container met. I didn’t care if the two pieces come apart again—I’m careful when I water my house plants, so I shouldn’t need to drain any extra water out. If you wanted to have the option to do that, but still hide the seam, you could put the glue just on the top part of the ribbon and make sure it’s secured only above the seam.

After I got the pieces painted and added the ribbon, it was time to pot my plants! I had gotten a couple of larger plants (Rainbow Peacock Ferns) from Ted Lare Design Build and Garden Center, but they were too big to go in these planters. So, I divided one of the plants into two and they worked just perfectly! I love how they’re a little messy—with some branches sticking up in the air and others vining down.

If you love house plants, or are just getting into them, these easy DIY planters would be such a good project to try out! I know that we always have containers that get either recycled or thrown away—but that have so much FREE potential as something else! Use your imagination when you’re looking at items in your home…even at your trash…as there are a lot of projects you could use them for, that wouldn’t cost you anything. Budget-friendly projects are my favorite.

If you decide to try this project for yourself, I’d love for you to share it on Instagram and tag me! You can find me HERE.

*This post includes affiliate links, from which I make a small commission, but does not cost the purchaser anything extra.