I love to keep old tin cans and re-purpose them and upcycle them into the best tin can planters!
My kitchen window sill is adorned with planters. Ideally, they would be full of fresh herbs to cook with. However, I’m a herb killer! As I’m rubbish at remembering to water them even when they are next to the sink.
Therefore, to avoid that ugly wilted herb look I have more resilient cacti and succulents in my kitchen window. And who doesn’t love a succulent or cacti? These gorgeous plants sit in lovely tin can planters, which I think are very apt for a kitchen.
I’ve even made an upcycled faux succulent garden for one of my tin can planters. So there is no chance of killing that one!
I have to admit that I’m swayed by great packaging, I often buy things just because I like the box it comes in (shameful!). The simple tin can must be one of the best packaging designs. Not only are they fit for purpose, but with all that steel and ridges they just ooze industrial chic.
Naked tin cans look awesome as planters especially if you like that rustic farmhouse look. However, it doesn’t take much to jazz them up a bit if you are going for an alternative interior look.
Upcycling Tin Cans As Planters
Food cans are the best to upcycle into planters as they have a coating inside to stop them rusting. However, if not painted or varnished on the inside and left out in the rain then they might rust on the outside.
If the planters are for the garden where you cant’ control the amount of watering, I recommend drilling drain holes in the bottom of the cans.
Inside planters where you control the amount of watering, drill holes aren’t necessary. As long as you make sure you don’t over water the plants.
I recommend adding a layer of pebbles in the can planters to aid with the water drainage. There is plenty of room to add this drainage layer, as can planters are often quite deep.
Many of the planter ideas below have tips on planting in the tin cans, especially the rainbow tin can planters and the window herb planters.
Most of these planters sit on window sills or shelves, but if you want to hang your planters, there is a great tutorial for tin can plant hangers here.
Best Tin Can Planter Ideas
There is more than one way to upcycle and repurpose your old tin cans to create affordable planters. Here are the best ideas for transforming a tin can into a planter.
Easy Upcycled Marimekko Decorative Tin Can Planters
These gorgeous Marimekko planters would brighten up any garden. It is just such a beautiful riot of colour and pattern.
Rainbow Tin Can Planters
If you love rainbows, then this is the tin can planter for you. A great one to put on the front wall during pride month. It also includes a tutorial for the pallet planter holder.
How To Make A Gorgeous Recycled Jean Planter
Two pieces of trash, tin cans and denim seams can be combined to great a cool unique upcycled planter.
DIY Copper Tin Can Planters and Chalkboard Tags
The black chalk labels look great against the copper. Also, the labels help if you don't know your parsley from your basil.
Rustic Vintage Seed Packets Tin Can Planters
The combination of rusty tin cans and vintage seed packets make for some fun garden planters.
Gold Crushed Can DIY Planters
This is literally a five minute upcycle. The tin can planters look like pineapples.
Trendy Upcycled Planters With Velvet
Give your tin can planters a luxurious look and feel by upcycling them with velvet ribbon.
Recycled Tin Can Handbag Planter
This has to be one of the most creative tin can planter upcycles. So clever making the planter look like a handbag.
Unique Shibori Indigo Planters
These tin can planters are made with Shibori dyed socks and bandages.
birch wood tin can planters | DIY - Lolly Jane
I love the natural look the birch wood gives these planters. They would look great on a Christmas mantle.
Fun and Unique Oriental Vase DIY flower pots
Who'd of thought you could make old tin cans look like priceless ming vases?
An Upcycled Leather Planter
Upcycle an old leather (or faux leather) handbag into a colourful planter.
Pretty Plant Pots (Re-Cycled Cans)
Pretty plant posts made with tin cans, decoupage and burlap flowers.
Cross Stitch Planter
I love cross stitch and this is a fun way to show it off by turning it into a tin can planter.
Upcycled Can Planter With Paper Flowers
The paper flowers are a pretty addition to this painted tin can planter.
DIY Herb Hanging Planter
Sometimes simple just really works, like with these planters. I love the rustic stamped labels.
Easy and Inexpensive DIY Tin Can Decor
I love all three of these tin can planters, but I think the printed paper one is my favourite.
Boho Style Vases from Tin Cans
Use doilies, lace ribbon and old jewelry to give your tin cans a boho vibe.
Tin Can Planter With Patina
A tutorial on how to give a shiny tin can a patina so it looks like galvanized steel.
It’s hard to pick a favourite tin can planter. However, if pushed I think that the Marimekko ones are my favourite, then again I have a thing about Marimekko.
Tin cans can be upcycled into other things besides planters, such as caddies and I even made an upcycled advent calendar using tin cans, and a stylish copper and denim craft caddy.
Smaller tin cans are good for upcycling into tin can Christmas ornaments.
You might like to check out these other posts.
Maisy
As you know, I was already a fan of your golden crushed tins, but this roundup is even better! So many cute ideas 🙂
Have a wonderful day, Claire!
*Maisy
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Maisy. Have a wonderful day too!
dianna keefe
I really enjoyed going thru all of your upcycling for plants. last year I planted my garden on upstairs deck and had my share of daily veggies even corn I would like to add some more plants upwards out of scraps etc and would like to see more. I would like these sentto my e mail so I can incorporate them into my plans. thank you for great ideas!!!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. Your upstairs deck sound lovely with all the plants.
Mary-the boondocks blog
Claire my favorite is your window herb planter. The transformation of that window is incredible!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Mary. I do like that window and can’t wait to sit out in the garden and enjoy it again.
Wendy
Enjoyed this round up…. some very cute ideas!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Wendy!
Leanna
The cans with the window are my favorite. Redoing the deck this year and need a planter for fresh herbs. Adding a little shelf to a window and the herbs under would work really well. Great ideas.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. I do like the herb window on the wall in my garden.
Cecilia
The copper are my favorite! I have much better results with I plant herbs in the ground than in containers. Thank you for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
The copper ones are lovely. Unfortunately there isn’t anywhere suitable to plant herbs in my garden.
Helen at Pleasures of the NW
I love the colored cans – guess I’ll be saving some cans now! Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY Party
Claire Armstrong
Thank you!
Alicia Owen
These are all such neat ideas! I really like the rainbow ones because I like colorful things. 🙂 Love the idea of having the chalkboard stuff on the side you can label and re-label as needed too!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, maybe you could combine the rainbow with the chalkboard.
Amber
I am a sucker for the rainbow ones !! I love reusing and recycling
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, the rainbow does seem to be popular.
Lawrie
Hi, I love your ideas of cans for plants, I also cant seem to keep the herbs alive in the tin cans, I really like your dented cans and the spray paint. I think a few aloes in my tins could work very nicely, thanks so much for the great idea. From Firefly Farm Adventures – http://fireflyfarmadventures.blogspot.co.za/
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I actually have some aloes in cans on my kitchen window sill
Katy SkipTheBag
You had me at rainbow! Those are so beautiful, I love the colors. Thanks for sharing on the #wastelesswednesday blog hop!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I do like a rainbow.
LydiaF
Love the colorful row of painted cans! Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty #ccbg 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I do like a rainbow.
Susanne
My favorites are the colorful ones in the pallet trough, I just love color!! The copper ones are amazing too and copper is trending this year in home decor 🙂 Thank you for joining us for our first Create and Celebrate 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, the rainbow ones do make me smile.
Leslie
Hi! I’m one of the co-hosts of the Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Up. I love these pretty planters, especially the copper ones and the birchwood ones. Thank You for sharing!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, and thanks for hosting.
STEPHANIE
Really cute upcycle. I’d love for you to join our link up To Grandmas House We Go.
http://abbottsathome.com/2017/03/14/to-grandmas-house-we-go-link-party-27/
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, and I have linked up.
Carole @ From My Carolina Home
These are all wonderful ideas! I really like the ones painted copper with the chalkboard labels, so clever!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, they are my favourite too!
Charlene
What a fun and creative idea. Love it!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you!
Kate Hollingsworth
I love it that you’re a herb-killer too (I thought it was just me!). I like them all – how can you pick a favourite?? xx
Claire Armstrong
Thanks, I wasn’t unfortunately blessed with green fingers.
Sam @ Raggedy Bits
Love all of these projects! Such great repurposing ideas for tin cans.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Sam!
Jess @ JessBeeCreates
Hi there, popping over from the Wonderful Wednesday hop! I love your can altering ideas! I am all for recycling but picky about how things look too…these are perfect ideas for the picky among us! LOL. Like everyone else, I’m obsessed with everything copper but the decoupaged cans are an amazing idea too!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, the copper is gorgeous though.