Upcycled Succulent Planters Made From Junk Shop Finds
I’m always on the lookout for creative ideas for repurposed planters. The things I’ve turned into planters before have included tin cans, pallets and crockery.
Last week I scoured my local junk and charity shops to collect a range of things to repurpose into succulent planters. (Car boot sales would be a good source too!). I ended up with an eclectic mixture of candlesticks, glasses and bowls to make the DIY planters from.
To make upcycled tall planters, I stuck candlesticks to bowls. This was a case of gluing various combinations of metal, glass and porcelain together. For this task, I used Gorilla Contact Adhesive Clear.
I’m a big fan of rainbows in home decor, and it was pride month. So this was the inspiration for the bright colourful rainbow theme of the repurposed planters.
The hardest decision I had to make with this upcycle, was deciding on what succulents to plant. A visit to my local garden centre didn’t help. The variety of gorgeous succulents was overwhelming I wanted them all!
To justify buying more succulents, I will just have to think of more creative ideas for plant containers.
This is a very quick and easy craft. Not including drying time the planters only take about 10 minutes to make. It’s also very affordable. The junk shop items only cost a couple of pounds in total. You probably even have items at home that you can turn into planters.
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What You Need To Make Repurposed Planters
- A mixture of candlesticks, bowls and glasses of various heights. Glass, porcelain and metal items are all fine for these DIY planters.
- Gorilla Contact Adhesive Clear
- Spray paints in a rainbow of colours
- A selection of succulents
- Compost and gravel for succulents.
How To Make Upcycled Tall Planters
1. The first thing to do is to gather your collection of items and then play around arranging them into different combinations. Place bowls on to candlesticks. When you are happy with your designs then move onto the next stage of glueing the items together. *Gorilla Contact Adhesive is not recommended for Polyethylene or Polypropylene plastics.
2. Use Gorilla Contact Adhesive Clear to stick the items together. Apply the adhesive to each surface to be bonded. Wait a couple of minutes for the adhesive to partially dry, then press both the surfaces firmly together. Next, leave the items for at least 24 hours for the adhesive to cure.
*Cure time may increase with lower temperatures and when used on non-porous surfaces.
3. Once the Gorilla Contact Adhesive Clear has had time to cure you can move on to painting the repurposed planters. I made a total of five DIY planters and used five different coloured spray paints to create a rainbow. I used red, orange, yellow, blue and green paint.
Both the outside and inside of each planter was spray painted. Remember when spray painting it is best to do this outside.
4. Plant the succulents into the glasses once the paint has dried. There are no drainage holes with these repurposed planters, so I add a layer of gravel at the bottom of each planter. This will help with drainage. Just make sure you don’t over water the succulents.
Then add a succulent specific compost before potting the succulent. There are some good tips for planting succulents in containers here.
As I mentioned, in the beginning, the hardest thing about this craft was deciding on what succulents to plant. For a fun display, I chose a different type of succulent for each planter. In the upcycled tall planters I potted succulents that overhang the edge of the repurposed containers.
The rainbow of repurposed succulent planters has brightened up my mantle. Every time I visit my local charity shop now I’m on the lookout for more things I can turn into planters.
Make Upcycled Tall Succulent Planters
These gorgeous rainbow succulent planters are so easy to make and a great way to display different succulents. They look great on a mantle.
Materials
- Old bowls, glasses and candlesticks
- Gorilla Glue Contact Adhesive Clear
- Coloured spray paint
- Succulents, soil and pebbles
Instructions
- Glue small bowls and cups to the top of candlesticks and glasses of various sizes
- Spray paint each planter a different colour from the rainbow
- Put a layer of pebbles in the bottom of each bowl.
- Add soil and succulents.
Recommended Products
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If you are a fan of rainbows in home decor check out these fabulous rainbow thistle decorations. Or you might want to just check out some of my other repurposed planter ideas.
- Gold Crushed Can Planters
- Stunning Mosaic Wall Planter
- Velvet Upcycled Planters
- Recycled Jean Planter
- Beautiful Moroccan Planters
For more thrifty crafts visity cheapthriftyliving.com
Shona Edwards
How did you manage to spray paint the inside of the containers without getting drip marks on the edges?
Claire Armstrong
I used Montana spray paint I don’t know if that helps, I just sprayed thin paint layers. I don’t have a problem with drips when using spray paint.
Susie Bentz
Brilliant – love these in all the bright colors!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I do like a rainbow.
Katie
Hello! I love your project so much that I decided to have it be a feature at Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #278 – congratulations! 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much I look forward to seeing it.
Nina Lewis
I absolutely love these planters! Love the bright colors!! Love how creative the idea is.
I’m going to feature this at our Party in Your PJs link party next week on July 9.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much I look forward to seeing them.
Cecilia
I love how bright and colorful these are, Claire. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much 😊
Mary Beth
These are so colorful and unique, Claire! I love them.
Claire Armstrong
Aww, thank you Mary. I do like a bit of colour.
Amber Ferguson
I LOVE these! So happy to feature you today at TFT! https://followtheyellowbrickhome.com/fourth-of-july-summer-party-at-tft/
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much for the feature.
Kippi
These planters turned out perfect with the bright colors and different heights they make a whimsical and fun statement.
Happy 4th of July,
Kippi
Ps. Please post this on the You’re The Star blog hop on my site
https://kippiathome.com/
Claire Armstrong
Thank you I will do. 4th July is actually my wedding anniversary.
Julie
Oh my goodness Claire, I love these. So clever and such a great transformation.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Julie. I did have fun making them
dawn
What a great idea! I’ve just gotten into succulents and have been looking for ideas for what to plant them in. I’m going to have to give this a try.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. This is a fun way to display succulents as they can be planted at various heights.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
Oh those turned our super cute! Love the bright colors and your choice of succulents.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I had fun picking the succulents for these planters.
Dee | Grammy's Grid
These are all nice, great job on them but don’t the containers need drainage holes? I have a brown thumb so just curious.
Claire Armstrong
Ideally, you would have drainage holes, however, if you put a layer of pebbles in the bottom and don’t over water you should be ok. Thank you
Michelle Leslie
Love, love, love those colors you chose and how quirky the mix of items look when they’ve all been painted. I’m going to have to go thrift store diving to copy your idea Claire. Like I need another excuse 😉
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I do love bright colours I find them really cheery.
Marie
These are really cute! Aside from a bright happy color succulent vignette, I could see these as party or wedding favors.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Marie, I like bright and happy.
Peg
Love the bright happy colors 🌈
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, I love bright and happy.
Vanessa
You always make the nicest things! I don’t normally grow succulents because my house doesn’t get enough light, but the zig-zag one in the blue planter is so cool. It looks like rick-rack. The yellow planter makes me think of hot-air balloons.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Vanessa. You can also plant faux succulents. I see what you mean about the yellow one, it must be the ridged pattern on the glass bowl that created that effect.