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Upcycling Household Items as Repurposed Planters

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Repurposing household items is a great way to save money and hold on to items with sentimental value. Take a look at these creative repurposed planters for inspiration.

Creative Repurposed Planters for your Home

​It is my favorite time of the month again.  Time for the International Bloggers Club Challenge.  We are a group of friends from all over the world who get together every month to share our projects and discuss how things are done in our countries. Last time we shared projects  with fabrics. And the month before it was projects that were new for us, I painted an abstract art piece.

This month we are going to work on gardening projects.  You know things that grow!

Do I hear you laughing?  I’m sure I do, because I am famous for my brown thumb. 

I am going to show you what household items I used for repurposed planters – for the plants, you know the ones that are supposed to grow!

Using household items as planters, and a ceramic elephant, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

​As many of you may know I am pretty hopeless when it comes to gardening. But for the sake of my good friends at the Int’l bloggers Club, I thought I’d give this a try.  

I also had another motive.  I wanted to do a vignette, cause there is no way I am going to grow anything and have it see the light of day.  And the vignette would have all sorts of repurposed items that were going to go bye-bye at a yard sale.  Since I believe in giving everybody and everything a second chance, they would instead get a new life as planters.​

What I used for my Repurposed Planters:

  • Various neglected ceramic items such as cups, a sugar and creamer set, and a ceramic swan
  • Plants that will not dies soon (fingers crossed on that one)
  • One vine plant because I’m feeling brave
  • ​One elephant ceramic
Household items, cup, gravy bowl, sugar and creamer set, ceramic swan, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

I got these succulents because they are kind of hard to kill although it can be done, I assure you.​

Succulents and a vine, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

And then I remembered this.  It was a clay pot that was used for baking food, but unfortunately it had a crack in it so instead I used it as a decorative piece.  But the ceramic color was too intense for my current look so what did I do?  Why I went over it with a decorative wax in white.​

Clay pot painted with decorative wax, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

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How It’s Done:

I just plunked that big fat succulent right in there. I’m hoping that it will grow eventually and balance out the pot.  I guess I should also add some pebbles on the bottom and then put more soil in?  Am I doing it right?

Succulent placed in clay pot, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

My lovely swan got a Vinca vine.  Hopefully this one will survive, if I don’t over water it.​

Vine placed in swan, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

​Should I also put it in a bigger pot after a while?  Any help is welcome.​

Vine planted in ceramic swan, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

Next up is the sugar bowl.  I added this succulent to it.​

Succulent planted in sugar bowl. How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

​And its’ other half, the creamer… another succulent but in a different color.​ If he doesn’t make it, I may just swap him out with these lovely potted felt succulents!

Succulent planted in creamer, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

And to add a bit of color to the vignette, some dried flowers.  Ha, I certainly can’t kill those!​

dried flower branches in glass vase, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

To finish off this unusual vignette I also added a ceramic elephant with gold tusks that I found keeping the swan company in the basement.​

Ceramic ivory elephant, How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

​Lastly, because we need balance I stuck a yellow daffodil in a spice jar.​

A plant vignette, #repurposedhouseholditems #planterideas #plantervignette #gardeningideas How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

You may have noticed that I didn’t use all of the household items I showed you in the first photo.  That’s okay, we don’t want to have too much going on here so we end up taking away from the beauty of the plants.  At least that is what I think.​​

A plant vignette, #repurposedhouseholditems #planterideas #plantervignette #gardeningideas How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

​See how easy that was?  I not only showed you my gardening “skills”… 

…but I also got to re-purpose all those ceramic containers that would certainly have ended up in my yard sale.​

A plant vignette, #repurposedhouseholditems #planterideas #plantervignette #gardeningideas How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

Let’s hope that the plants stay alive long enough so I can prove myself wrong.  I bought them a week ago and they are still green.  Now go into your stash and see what you can find from your household items that can be used as planter.  As please give me all the tips you can so that my plants will stay green!

Picture
A plant vignette created using household items as repurposed planters, #repurposedhouseholditems #planterideas #plantervignette #gardeningideas How to Re-Purpose Household Items as Planters, theboondocksblog

More Repurposing Ideas to Explore

A Breen for the Outdoors
Versatile Hanging Saucer

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Libbie

Tuesday 4th of June 2019

Mary, Love the timelyness of this post. You've given me some great inspiration. Thanks! Libbie

Mary

Wednesday 5th of June 2019

Thank you so much Libbie. It is so easy to put together a vignette with simple household items.

Doreen@foxdenrd

Monday 30th of April 2018

Good morning Mary, and I have to say your planters are adorable! One thing I would like to add is anytime I’ve planted something without proper drainage it never really did that well. It seems to be the most important thing (after water and sun). Adding pebbles to the bottom helps, but it doesn’t quite cut it I have found. I would suggest drilling holes in the bottom, but the problem with that is when you water the plants the dirt and water seep out at the bottom. Ugh. Since these are succulents it may be fine though as they need very little water. Anyway, good luck with them! xxx

Mary

Wednesday 2nd of May 2018

Doreen you are so right. I may have to look for some more appropriate planters. The swan is just to pretty to put holes in. :( This gardening business is just too hard.

Linda

Wednesday 9th of May 2018

I have found for indoor planters with holes, to keep dirt from seeping out of the holes, I use coffee filters in the bottom of the planter. Then cover the filters with pebbles to hold in place. Then add the dirt. If you don't have coffee filters, heavy duty paper towels also work. By the time they have broke down, it's usually time to re-pot the plant. And to keep water from running all over, I use pretty dishes or tea cup saucers under the planter. Even plain white looks nice and easy to find at thrift stores. For things I don't want to drill holes in, I plant cactus since they don't need much water.

Katrin

Monday 30th of April 2018

Mary, I love using unusual items as planters. Yours are all so cute and the swan really cool. Succulents are such a great addition to any decor too!

Mary

Wednesday 2nd of May 2018

Katrin I hope they grow a bit so I can put them out in the front entrance.

Michelle Leslie

Monday 30th of April 2018

Oh Mary, they all look so lovely together. I'm sure they'll survive as long as they've got the right drainage and get lots of light, they'll do good. Succulents are so rewarding. Promise me you'll talk to them in Greek too. I think they like that, since all their names have their roots in Latin.

Mary

Wednesday 2nd of May 2018

That is why I chose the succulents Michelle. I knew I would have a hard time with this. Now as for the talking I certainly can do that , and even play a bit of Mozart!

Pili

Monday 30th of April 2018

I really like using old household items as planters, but I'm not as brave as you and go on the faux plants way just in case. They look great together and also they will look lovely on different parts of the house.

Mary

Wednesday 2nd of May 2018

Pili I am only doing this because I have a back up plan. I will give them to my dad to take care of if I see they are not happy with my care. See I know what I'm doing! Haha!!

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