Containers from Found Items

Items found around your home, yard or garage

I started by going through the garage and garden shed out back. I couldn't believe how many items I found that could be used as plant containers. I used the moss stuffed suet bird feeder for planting succulent cuttings, a square version of a living wreath. I used parts from a shell necklace to hang a painted tin can. I found two small containers with holes all around the sides. The terra cotta container is a candle holder, the blue one is an orchid pot. I can plant them both as succulent containers with tiny cuttings and offsets planted in each hole.

 I even found an old piece of wood in the wood pile that I sunk into the soil of one of my raised beds. This fall when rains come I will plant some small succulents in the crevasses. It will give them plenty of time to form healthy root systems. They will form wonderful colonies by next summer. By then they will be able to withstand our harsh late summer drought season with just an occasional spray of water.

I found an old teapot with enamel missing in places, a pair of my old pink Croc shoes, some tin cans (from fruit and peppers), and an old wire basket. The old tea kettle that I no longer used, was stored in a box in the garage for a number of years, soon to be sent to Goodwill.  After drilling a few holes in the bottom, I filled it with potting mix and planted a Sedum ‘Tri-Color’ in it. Inside the pink Croc I placed moss against the holes so the soil would not fall out, then packed soil in behind the moss and planted the top. After that, I poked holes through the moss where the shoe holes are, and planted succulents through the moss.  Since the Croc already had holes, I didn't need to make any more for drainage. All that is left to do is water and hang it, or place it in my garden for a bit of whimsy.

Start looking around, do you have an old wire or wicker basket, decorative tins, or even vegetable/fruit cans of different sizes? The cans are easy to use as free standing containers, hanging containers or attached to backing and hung from a fence or wall. Just remove labels, wash and dry. I use Krylon spray paint that doesn't need a primer undercoat, and it comes in a wide range of colors. Before painting punch holes in the bottom for drainage, and holes you may need around the top for hanging or attaching to a board for use on a fence or wall.

Yard/Garage and Estate Sales

There is a 'Gardener's Goldmine' at yard/garage sales, thrift stores and estate sales. This is a great way to find plant containers at very low prices. I bought this group of small pots at yard sales and paid from 10¢ to 50¢ each for them. One is even a collector's item (McCoy). It was the most expensive item in the group at 50¢. I did have to use a masonry bit to drill a hole in both the green container and the orange pot. I found a wonderful vintage wall hanging letter/memo holder made of tin. I could have left it with the original finish, but I chose to paint it a wonderful blue color. With just a little potting mix and a few plants it was ready to hang. If you click on the photo you will see the painted chili can hanging from the bottom of the letter holder. I have used things like old mop buckets, items made of brass, rocks with holes or pockets in them, an old wooden tool box and even a small ceramic ring box as containers for plants.

Ceramic ring box with hole drilled for drainage	Free standing candle holder by Boopaints

I just recently learned of another item that makes a wonderful plant container, lamp or ceiling shades made of glass or other materials that will hold up under gardening conditions. There are items of many types in this category at yard and garage sales for almost nothing. Here are a couple of wonderful examples provided by Boopaints (Becky) and dahtzu (Faye). I fell in love with both of these. You could even use them as hanging planters.

 Don't Forget the Bits of Whimsy

These are the little fun items to add to your plantings, whether in containers or beds. They can be prominent, or tucked away among the plants waiting to be discovered. They can be subtle or off the charts funny. I love adding amusing things for my grandchildren to find in the flower beds, raised beds and in my small woodland. Even on the deck there are things to catch their attention. I am keeping my eye open for a crocodile to put in the creek, partially hidden by the weeds and grasses that grow there. I can visualize the excitement when they spot it.

Take a look around, see what you can find!

I would love to see where your imagination takes you.