Asked on Mar 23, 2014

I am wondering what has been used for a planter that is not a planter?

I want to place some artsy and/or unusual planters around our patio, and am looking for suggestions of items that have been used or made into planters. I have an old collander, a hat and some boots already...but would like to have more! Thanks from NW Ohio!
  8 answers
  • Carole Carole on Mar 23, 2014
    Rusty wheelbarrow, vintage seed spreader,discarded double drawer dishwasher - use in the same way some people plant up an old chest of drawers they may have painted, olive oil cans - great for geraniums (pelargoniums) an old bath or trough, bird bath - great for succulents or any plants that don't need too much root space, hollow logs - again, great for succulents, painted plastic gutter piping made into wall features or arbours, old kitchen pans or woks (always ensure to drill holes for drainage), unusual metal fruit bowls (you can put a plastic inner plant pot in there or coir hanging basket matting material to hold the soil and plant) two hanging baskets wired together to make a round succulent orb, old chairs, place a container in the space where the seat would go or grow a climber over an old chair frame - spray paint the frame first. There are plenty more - too many to mention here! Have fun!
  • Paula Garcia Paula Garcia on Mar 23, 2014
    I have an old roasting pan full of geraniums and a galvanized tub full of airplane plants. Also have some old chicken feeders that I planted airplane plants inside. when I water the top ones, the water runs down into the bottom one. I hang these on the tree trunks. Have an old bathtub on my deck with pots of airplane plants in it. I use the airplane plants alot because they fall over the sides and look pretty. Also use purple jew for the same purpose. Have an old wheelbarrow in the front filled with flowers. My son gave me a small tractor with a trailer (childsize), and I put puts in the trailer and on the tractor seat. I like to have things sitting around in the yard, the pots, and just different places where people don't see them until they walk up on them. Go to thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales and just let your imagination take over...
  • Carole Carole on Mar 23, 2014
    Old metal watering cans, old metal buckets, a wine cooler/beer cooler on a stand that would usually be filled with ice to keep drinks cool for parties - it was cheaper at the hardware store than a vintage galvanized bath tub but looks similar - and works really well, old tea cups and tea pots for smaller plants - en masse they make a great display, old shoes, wellies and boots, bird cages can hold a pot plant - choose something that cascades through the wire cage and hang it up, old casserole dishes - but you need to make drainage holes, so many options out there!
  • I have a bird bath that was always filling up with trash from the squirrels, so we drilled holes in it so it could drain and I put flowers in it during the summer it is pretty.
  • Frankie Laney Frankie Laney on Mar 24, 2014
    I've converted a couple of wrought iron chairs into planters. You can check out my post on http://www.hometalk.com/diy/gardening-1926349 You will also see a tiered basket that has succulents planted in it as well. Just go with it!
  • Rhonda Skeens Rhonda Skeens on Mar 24, 2014
    Look on the site called "Two women and a hoe "
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Mar 25, 2014
    Any kind of old bucket or container made of aluminum. You can find such at yard sales or a thrift store. Even old cooking pots because some of them are made of none rust and sturdy materials!
  • KathrynElizabeth Etier KathrynElizabeth Etier on Mar 26, 2014
    Cans, colanders, ladels, teacups, coffee mugs, coffee and tea pots, shoes, boots, chairs, seatless chairs with baskets inserted where the seat would have been, muffin tins, cake pans, bird cages, tires...just about anything that something can be inserted in.