Plant Propagation Station From Pallet Boards

6 Materials
$45
3 Hours
Easy

An easy way to re-use an old pallet to make a beautiful art piece that serves as a station for propagating plants in water!

Start by breaking down an old pallet


This part is not always easy or fun, but I’ve found the easiest way to break down pallets is a good old fashioned crowbar and hammer to pry the boards off. Watch out for nails! Be sure to carefully remove them.


*Make sure the pallet you chose wasn’t used to haul harmful chemicals, etc.

Arrange your boards


You can make the station smaller but cutting the boards down with a saw, and can lay them out in a size and shape that fits your space.

Attach back braces


Using two boards from the pallet, or other scrap wood, cut two brace boards to the horizontal measurement of your station that will hold the rest of your boards together. They don’t have to be perfect as they won’t be seen, but they should be strong and in good shape so they don’t split or crack.

Glue the boards down then attach with screws


Use some wood glue and 3/4” screws to attach the brace boards to your pallet board arrangement.

Attach heavy duty picture hangers + wire


If you make a large piece like mine, keep in mind it can get pretty heavy! My station weighs roughly 43lbs before water is added to the tubes. To be safe, I used a picture wire hanging kit made for a 100lb piece of art.


Be sure that your hangers are appropriately spaced and level before adding the wire. Use enough wire to be sure it is securely wound and will not come undone.

Attach the hooks to the front of the station


You can use any hooks you like. I found these label hooks on Amazon. Pre-drill your holes and attach with screws (they usually come with screws). You can keep them uniform or space them sporadically like I did.

Cut a piece of twine for each tube


You will want to double the length that you want the twine to hang down, and account for a bit of extra room for the knot. Double it over like so.

Lay the tube on top of the twine



Bring the ends of twine over the tube and through the loop



Bring one end of twine under the loop


Pull tight and bring the ends of the twine to the sides of the tube the best you can. This helps it lay flat vs tying a knot in the back. Be sure your twine rests under the ridges of the tube. Once tight, tie the two ends together to make a loop.

Here’s a video on attaching the twine



Choosing plants for water propagation


Here are some great plants to propagate in water:


Pothos, Philodendron, Monstera, Aglaonema, Anthurium, and ZZ plants


Cut down a few inches of healthy stem right before a node making sure to include a node or two with your cut so it can root.

Hang in studs or with heavy duty drywall anchors


Use a stud finder to locate two studs to drill into and add picture hanging hooks made for heavy items. You can also use drywall anchors so long as they are for the appropriate weight.


Once they’re filled and hung on the hooks, tubes can be easily taken down to refill, or to remove your rooted cuttings to plant. Enjoy your new propagation station art piece!

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