15 Easy to Make and Sell Upcycled Planters

Are you a gardening enthusiast seeking strategies to cut costs on planters? Perhaps you enjoy crafts and the DIY lifestyle and seek new methods to upcycle home things or even start your own small business? You can turn any old item into an upcycled planter, no matter what kind of old trash you have laying around – or what you locate at a local flea market or thrift store.

What Can You Use to Make a Planter?

What can you use to make a planter out of? What can’t be turned into a planter? Practically everything may be recycled as upcycled planters, from domestic garbage like old soda bottles and discarded eggshells to used furniture like chairs and drawers.

When it comes to upcycling planters, your ingenuity and favorite flowers are truly the only limitations. You can construct large or tiny planters, herb gardens, hanging planters, and planters of any shape to fit any decorative scheme. And this opens up a lot of business prospects, so learn how to establish an upcycling business so you can make the most of your creativity.

How Do You Make a Planter Out of a Container?

How do you make a planter out of a container? Planters can be built out of anything from coffee cans to dresser drawers. Thus the answer may vary depending on the container. Some pots will come pre-filled with soil, plants, and water, while others will require further work. Even so, the following fundamental steps apply to the majority of upcycled containers:

Gather your materials: You’ll need the containers or other household items you’ll reuse. Collect any basic tools, paint, hardware, or decor you’ll need to make your upcycled planters. Small rocks, potting soil, water, and plants or seeds are required.

Prepare the container: Some containers may require minor drainage holes, while others will require holes to create a hanging planter.

Customize the containers: You may decorate household goods to match any indoor or outdoor location, whether you’re painting coffee cans or adding glitter to an old candle jar. If you’re going to hang your pots, make sure you get some rope.

Line porous containers with plastic sheeting or coco liner if the containers can’t be exposed to water.

Add small rocks or pebbles to the bottom of the container to let the water drain more easily.

Fill the upcycled planters with planting soil and seeds or flowers after the paint has dried fully. Place your upcycled planters where your plants will receive adequate sunlight.

15 Repurposed Planters

Almost any old home item can be used to build an upcycled planter. By simply looking around your house, you can find a plethora of containers just ready to be upcycled, from gift baskets to repurposing what would otherwise be trash.

Do you want to upcycle old containers and household items for your garden as a gift or perhaps establish a small business? You could get some inspiration from the following 15 upcycled planters:

1. Paint Cans That Have Been Repurposed

image: Tower Hill Botanic GardenOld paint cans can be transformed into beautiful planters with a little colorful paint. Fill your empty paint cans with craft paint and make any designs you choose to match your outdoor decor. You may also decorate the cans with images or messages, fill them with plants, and give them as one-of-a-kind and memorable gifts.

2. Hanging Planters in Colanders

image: Kalyn BrookeWhether old or new, Colanders are excellent hanging planters because they have their drainage holes. If you’re worried about some dirt spilling out, line the colander, and suspend your planter from the ceiling by tying some rope to the handles.

3. Tires that have been repurposed

image: Addicted 2 DIYWhat may used tires be used for? With just a little paint and rope, you can turn something that would otherwise wind up in a landfill into a lovely garden planter. You can stack many tires to make elevated planters, use a single upcycled tire planter on your patio, or even line your sidewalk or garden path with a series of matching tire planters

4. Rain Boots that have been upcycled

image: Wonderful DIYHas your child outgrown his or her rain boots? Do you want to add some gorgeous upcycled planters to your backyard? Old boots are tough and equipped to carry a stash of posies. Use a single boot, a pair of boots, or an entire row of multi-colored boots to create a distinctive garden scape.

5. Gift Baskets Made from Recycled Materials

image: Sadie SeasongoodsWhat do you do with the baskets that remain after receiving flowers, soaps, or food as gifts? It’s already well-suited to a second life as a repurposed planter. You can line the basket and paint lovely decorations on the outside. Gift baskets made from upcycled materials are also fantastic!

6. Repurposed Coffee Tins

image: Creative Ramblings BlogCoffee tins are the ideal size and shape for upcycling into planters. Kids enjoy painting coffee cans for art projects, and the containers can be decorated in any way they want. Do you like to deliver a gift bouquet to friends or family in a distinctive container? Simply paint a one-of-a-kind design on an old coffee tin.

7. Planters made of shells

image: Love of DirtAre you looking for a unique way to recycle organic products? Upcycle empty coconut shells into a tropical or natural-themed hanging planter! You’ll need to open up the top and drill holes to hang rope with the right equipment. You may also make a one-of-a-kind herb garden out of discarded eggshells or lovely seashells..

8. Tea Tins from the Past

image: Homestead BrooklynTea consumers can quickly amass a large number of old tea tins. It’s difficult to throw away the metal containers because they’re so cute! Instead, turn the tea tins into lovely plants for your home. You can paint the tin or wrap it in fancy fabric if you don’t like the design. Don’t forget to drill drainage holes in the bottom of the container!

9. Wheelbarrow that has been repurposed

image: Backyard BossDo you have an old wheelbarrow in your backyard taking up space? Wheelbarrows are easy to transport and make excellent mobile gardens! You can use it to create a beautiful garden. You can paint the wheelbarrow to match your garden design and then fill it with soil, plants, and flowers

10. repurposed coffee tables

image: Savvy GardeningUpcycling an old coffee table into a raised planter may already be possible. In the example above, the adept upcycle spotted an old table at a flea market with its glass top already removed. In other circumstances, minimal alterations are required to make a container for small plants such as herbs and lettuce.

11. Candle Jars that have been used

image: Tommy BahamaAfter you’ve finished burning the candle inside the jar, what do you do with it? Most people throw discarded candle jars in the trash, but they can be reused in various ways. They can be painted or left unpainted to be used as recycled planters packed with lovely plants or little herbs.

12. Troll Dolls Made from Recycled Materials

image: Kelly ElkoDo you recall how popular troll dolls were? You’ve certainly seen these once-popular dolls crowding shelves at yard sales and flea markets, whether you can remember them or not. You may add soil and small plants to the doll by removing its hair and the top of its plastic head. Other dolls’ heads made of similar materials can also be upcycled.

13. Laundry Baskets 

image: Elizabeth Joan DesignsUpcycling laundry baskets and hampers into gardening pots can be done in various ways. You might keep the basket in its original state and simply paint it a bright color. You can also wrap the basket in fabric, as shown in the image above. Laundry baskets are an affordable resource that may be used to build a huge planter.

14. Antique Chairs

image: Sustain My Craft HabitTry upcycling furniture into stunning flower pots if you’re searching for a unique planter for your backyard or garden. Keep an eye on your flowers as they grow and bloom through the chair’s seat! By removing the seat and replacing it with a suitably sized flower pot, an old chair may be transformed into an upcycled planter.

15. Upcycled Soda Bottles

image: Pillar Box BlueWhy not upcycle plastic beverage bottles that would otherwise be thrown away instead of sending them to the landfill? It’s easy to upcycle soda bottles:

Simply remove the tops.

Drill drainage holes in the bottoms.

Decorate to your heart’s content.

The possibilities for repurposing old Coke bottles are practically limitless.

Where Can You Sell Your Repurposed Planters?

Are you an expert at upcycling planters and are ready to start a small business selling them? Upcycled planters can be offered in various places, including internet marketplaces. You can sell your planters locally by opening a shop, renting a booth at a flea market, or setting up a booth at craft fairs and festivals. Create by learning how to sell on Amazon Handmade, then move on to Etsy to learn how to start a small business. At the same time, don’t forget to inquire about where you can sell handcrafted products in your area.

What’s the best way to recycle plastic plant pots?

What’s the best way to recycle plastic plant pots? There are many techniques to upcycle old planters rather than throwing them away. Old worn-out pots can be transformed into wonderful floral containers by painting new designs. Plastic plant pots can store flowers, herbs, succulents, or vegetables both outdoors and indoors.

Which upcycled planter is the best for herb gardening?

There isn’t a single reused planter that is ideal for growing herbs. Whether you like to use shells, jars, cans, or even teacups, a range of old containers are suitable for creating a herb garden. Most of these containers can be brightened up with a splash of color, and they’re already a good size for planting a few seeds.

Photo credit: Depositphotos

Small Business Trends first published this story, “15 Upcycled Planters to Make and Sell.”