Create an Upside-Down Planter to Grow Herbs in Your Kitchen

OnTheFly...DIY
by OnTheFly...DIY
12 Materials
$10
20 Minutes
Easy

Incorporating a living element into your home decor is a hot trend! And a simple potted plant is simply not enough any more, you have to get more creative! Upside down planters are unexpected, eye-catching, and conversation starters, and you can put one together in a matter of minutes! I’ll show you in my step-by-step tutorial how you can make your own from a variety of materials and greenify your living space in no time! Check it out below!


Tools and Materials

Tools and Materials:

  • Planter (you can use a metal planter, a glass mason jar, or a plastic planter)
  • Drill and drill bits (the drill bit you’ll be using depends on the material of your planter, make sure you get the right one)
  • Kitchen sponge
  • Scissors
  • Chopstick
  • Plant
  • Soil
  • Drip tray
  • Decorative rocks
  • Twine
  • Wire
Drill Holes in the Planter
Drill Holes in the Planter


Drill a hole in the center of the base of the planter. If you’re using a glass or ceramic planter, make sure to use a diamond drill bit and a steady stream of water as you drill.

How to Drill into Glass

Run a gentle stream of water on the spot you’ll be drilling. Beginning at an angle, start the drill and carefully hold it steady as it starts to create a divot in the glass.

How to Drill into Ceramic

Once you have a bit of a divot, slowly straighten it out until you are drilling straight into the item. Go slow and don’t apply too much pressure. Allow it any time it needs for you to make your way through the bottom of the vessel. 

Drill into Glass

Water is imperative, as it keeps the temperature down while you’re drilling and prevents it from cracking. I highly recommend using a cordless drill so that you aren’t plugged into an electrical outlet when working with water. Also, be careful not to get water on the drill itself, but it’s fine if the drillbit gets wet.

Add Holes If Needed
Add Holes If Needed


If the planter you’re using doesn’t have handles, add a few holes along the top lip of the planter to hang it from. Make sure that the holes are directly across from each other so that the plant hangs balanced and straight.

Add Your Plants
Add Your Plants


Cut a kitchen sponge to be slightly larger than the base of your planter. 

Cut the Sponge

Then cut a slit to the center of the sponge.

Remove the Dirt

Clean off as much dirt as possible from the root of the plants and insert it through the bottom of the planter, so that the plant is hanging off the bottom.

Insert the Plant

Secure it from the inside with the sponge, inserting the roots into the slit in the sponge.

Push the Sponge into Place

If your planter is too small for you to get your hands in to wadge the sponge in place, use a chopstick to help you do it. 

Fill with Dirt
Fill with Dirt


Fill the planter with enough dirt to cover the roots and give it plenty of room to grow.

Hang
Hang


Use wire or twine to hang the planter. If you drilled holes to hang it, run the wire or twine through the holes and hang. If the planter already had handles you can hang it from there. For the mason jar I wrapped twine around the threads in the neck and then screwed the top on.

Make a Drip Tray
Make a Drip Tray


If you’re worried about drips, you can easily make a drip tray out of a plastic tray and some decorative rocks. Place it directly below the planters to catch any excess water.

Spray

In order to avoid drips in the first place, water with a spray bottle. Spritz the top of the dirt with water and it will slowly make its way down to the plant. 

Upside-Down Planters

What a cute way to work edible plants into your decor! How would you personalize this project for your space? Let me know in the comments below!

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4 of 7 comments
  • Francesca M Austin Francesca M Austin on Aug 01, 2020

    I'm not sure I get the point of these? Perhaps they look better when they begin to grow up around the pot?

  • Lola Lola on Aug 05, 2020

    I never understood the point of upside down plants.

    • See 1 previous
    • Lola Lola on Aug 26, 2020

      I agree grandmasue10. Stems down always. It's the way they grow.

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