I’m not very good at growing herbs so I cheat and buy the pots of fresh herbs from the supermarket. This week I made vertical indoor herb garden planters out of denim for these pots of herbs.
The herbs now hang vertically next to the cooker so they are handy to reach when cooking. I love to just grab a handful of fresh coriander (cilantro) and bung it into a pot of freshly cooked curry.
Repurposed Jeans Into Indoor Herb Garden Planters
As well as looking good, the herbs in these handmade planters last longer. That is because they are double potted which allows for easier watering and drainage. Just like the Marimekko plastic bottle herb planters I made.
For now, I’ve made planters for 3 of my most used herbs, coriander (cilantro), flat-leaved parsley and basil. In the summer I will need to add another pot just for mint for all the pitchers of Pimms and Mojitos I love to drink when the suns shining.
These indoor planters featured in the A to Z of denim upcycles.
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What You Need To Make Herb Planters
- Denim legs – I made 3 planters so I used the bottom of three jeans legs.
- 3 denim belt loops, one for each herb planter
- 3 large plastic soda bottles

- Needle and thread
- A strip of white cotton fabric or ribbon
- Letter stamps and black ink
- Fabric glue
- A strip of pallet wood and dark wood wax
- Three hooks – I used some painted ceramic hooks that I already had.

How To Make Indoor Herb Garden Planters
1.. First, using scissors cut the bottom off the soda bottles. So you end up with a cup approximately 15cm (6″) high.

2. Next, to make the denim herb pockets, cut the bottom off a jeans leg. Make sure they are about 1″ longer than the cut soda bottle. Turn this inside out. Cut the bottom corners to make it more rounded. Then stitch up the bottom (this can be done by hand or even glued if you don’t like sewing).
Turn the denim pouch right side out and then stitch a belt loop from the jeans to the back. Finally, place the soda bottle bottom into the pouch.

3. Then, to add a bit more interest to the denim pouches make some herb labels. Stamp the names of herbs onto a strip of white fabric. Then cut these labels out and glue them to the front of each denim pouch.
Top tip: If you don’t have a letter stamp set you can just write the names of the herbs onto the fabric with a Sharpie.

4. Next, place the supermarket herb pots inside the plastic bottle cutouts and then into the denim pockets. As the pots sit in the soda bottles they can be easily watered and the excess water has somewhere to drain.

5. Finally, I make a simple hanging post for the indoor herb garden planters. Sand and wax a plank of old pallet wood. Then, screw 3 hooks into the wood one for each herb pot. This was a verticle indoor herb garden that can then simply be screwed to the wall in the kitchen.


Haveing the herb names stamped on the outside has proved to be useful. I may know my flat leaf parsley from my corriander (cillantro) but my husband and kids don’t have a clue. It’s actually been a bit of an education for them..


Hanging Herb Garden
The only reason I hung my indoor herb garden planters vertically was that I had the perfect strip of wall for them in my kitchen, between the door and the cooker. It is so easy to turn the plank around and have a horizontal denim herb planters, if that’s what you need for your space.
Whichever way you hang them, not only is it handy having the herbs to hand they do make the kitchen look more organic. Plus I find my supermarket potted herbs last that bit longer, as they are now double potted which helps with the watering and drainage.
If you asked for cilantro over here in England most people wouldn’t know what you were talking about. That’s because we call it coriander. As far as I know, I think that’s the only herb we have a different name from the US. Let me know if you think there is another one.

I love to repurpose my old denim and have loads of ideas of what you can make from an old pair of jeans some of which don’t involve sewing. I’ve made some hanging denim storage baskets similar to these herb planters. The jeans pockets can also be used to making hanging storage as well as the legs.
This isn’t the only herb garden I’ve made. You might want to check out my upcycled window herb planter.
Or if you are looking for more ideas for the Kitchen there are some great tips on how to organize your pantry here.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
What a cool herb planter! Very creative! Wood and bluejeans the perfect match!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, one of my favourite combinations.
Rosie (@greenrosielife)
I love this and it proves how anyone, anywhere can grow a few fresh herbs. Thank you for adding this post to the #GoingGreen linky and I am so sorry it has taken me so long to pop over for a read. After a summer break GoingGreen will be back again opening on Sept 3rd. Hope to see you there … and I hope you had a fabulous summer!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, look forward to joining you next week.
Stormie
This is so amazing such a wonderful concept; I live in an apartment complex so I’m grateful for your creative mind…Thank You!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ?. Growing plants vertically is a great option for small spaces.
Gina Caro @ Gypsy Soul
What a great use for old jeans. These look great! Our herbs are just in old food tins but it works for us 🙂 #GoingGreenLinky
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. I too grow herbs and flowers in old tins.
Shirley Wood
This is such a fun idea for Herb containers. It would add some blue to a patriotic decor setting too. This post will be Featured at the Merry Monday party this week. I always love your denim upcycles!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Shirley. I love crafting with denim. I’ve actually made patriotic bunting before with jeans.
Erlene
I love that you put the pots in recycled soda bottles to catch the extra water. Been wanting to add some fresh herbs to our kitchen and this will be a great project to try. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, the plastic pots really help keep the herbs fresh.
Carlene Blair
How fun!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you.
creativejewishmom/sara
love, love, love, would be great for succulents as well! thanks so much for making craft schooling Sunday an amazing party!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Sara. Everything looks good with succulents.
Funky Junk Interiors - Donna
SERIOUSLY!!!! So adorable and the bottles inside so clever! I just adore the boho feel this project has.
I’ve featured you in this upcoming weekend’s DIY Salvaged Junk Projects. Thanks for linking up! 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, that’s awesome I look forward to seeing it.
Julie
That’s lovely, is there anything you can’t make from denim?!
I didn’t know that coriander was cilantro, you learn something new every day.
I do remember when I first heard the different pronunciation of oregano though. I was watching near the beginning of A Few Good Men and Tom Cruise is talking about getting his client off as he was carrying a bag of O-regg-in-o and I had no idea what he meant! I had no idea he was talking about oh-reh-garn-no !!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Julia. Yeah, I find the way the Americans say oregano a bit odd also I think that basil is pronounced differently. It’s more like bay-sil with a long a sound. I bit like the difference between northerners and southerners in the UK and how they pronounce the A in words like grass and bath.
Michelle Leslie
What an absolutely adorable, beyond cute idea. Love it Claire
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, Michelle, it’s proving to be very handy.
Cecilia MyThriftStoreAddiction
Claire, this is so clever & resourceful–love it! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! Pinned!
Claire Armstrong
Ahh, thank you, Cecilia.
Lins @ Boo & Maddie
Ooh I love these, I’m like you I buy the herbs from the supermarket but even then I can’t seem to make mine last. Just call me a plant killer! X #HomeEtc
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Lins. Double potting these seems to make them last that little bit longer.
Susanne
Claire these are so cute and what an ingenious idea!! I just love the labels you added 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Susanne. The labels were a last minute thought.
Michele Michael
I’m making these . Thanks for the fun idea.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you and good luck with them.
Carole at From My Carolina Home
What a fun idea!! Thanks for sharing your tutorial.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Carole.
Chas
This is truly right up my alley! Love it, great share and Pinned! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much and thanks for sharing.