Plant Pots from Recycled Packaging – and other ideas

I shared on my Facebook page a planter I’d created from a reused plastic container. In response, lots of people shared their own brilliant ways of creating plant pots from recycled packaging or from other household items. I’d clearly tapped into something people feel passionate about. So I thought I’d post some of the many great ideas people sent to me, and outline some of my own.

Plant Pots from Recycled Packaging

#1 Milk & More!

So let’s start with Tammy Watkins. Her plant pots from recycled packaging include using cokes bottles for tomato plants. Tammy has also recycled 4-pint milk containers. She’s decorated them all beautifully, in eye-catching colours with acryllic paint and is hanging them on her trellis. Tammy suggests plastic-compatible spray paint may be more durable, though the acryllic paint is doing ok. Tammy says she’s hoping to eventually have enough planters to make a living wall!

Never seen a tomato planted like this before!

#2 Pallet Planter

Dale Kirk-Wightman has salvaged an old pallet. This is now planted with home-grown marigolds. He tells me that he also uses a milk carton chopped in half as a watering can!

#3 Protein Powders!

These are my plant pots from recycled packaging which kicked off the Facebook discussion. My sons drink protein drinks from a health-food shop. The powder comes in containers which are large and have a fantastic shape.

Unlike Tammy, I haven’t gone to the trouble of decorating them. I think their matt finish means they look almost earthenware from a distance. I have simply removed the labels (they peeled off effortlessly) and have made some drainage holes in their bases. I’ve planted them up with lobelia and a new white and violet-blue hardy fuchsia called Delta’s Sara The plants were under £5. So I’ve two very inexpensive containers, which should look fab once the fuchsia comes out (June to October). Ultimately I will need to move the fuchsia to a larger container or a bed as it wants to be much larger than this pot will allow. But I think it will be fine for this summer.

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#4 Hollie’s House

Hollie Lane shared with me on Facebook some of her recycled packaging plant pots. Like me, she hasn’t redorated them, indeed she’s using them as they come. I think the effect is eye-catching.

Baskets

People didn’t only share their plant pots from recycled packaging in my Facebook discussion. Hollie for instance is using an old basket as a planter. I think it’s a lovely shape and the perfect proportion for the plant.

I’ve also planted up an old wicker basket, which used to hold my kids’ dressing-up clothes. Lined with plastic, (with drainage holes punched through it) it’s planted with the foxglove Digitalis Glory of Roundway and Gaura lindheimeri.

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Buckets

Basets are good if you want a netural, earthy look. However, if it’s colour you’re after, look no further than this colourful container idea from Carol Davies. She tells me she bought these children’s trugs from Tescos for just £2 each! Filled with plants such as marigolds and petunias they look really eye-catching.

I’ve long been a fan of aluminium buckets as planters. You may recall from my blog on tulips that each year I plant one up with pale pink tulips for a lovely Spring show. For the Summer I’ve now got it with equally soft coloured planting. I’m using Nemesia Wisley Vanilla, which has the most glorious vanilla scent – it’s really powerful. I’ve coupled it with Heuchera Citronelle

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Samantha Butterfield is also using an aluminium bucket. It’s in much better condition than mine and looks really handsome. She has hung it from a strong bracket and planted it up with an ivy and what looks like nasturtiums.

While my neighbour Desi Redston, has a gorgeous bucket planted up with a geranium. It looks perfectly at home alongside more traditional pots.

Kay’s Corner

In terms of reusing items for plants, Kay Lane has taken things to a whole new level! She’s also a fan of aluminium containers. She has an absolute beauty planted with succulents. But Kay’s also using laundry baskets with acers, pieces of wood again with succulents, and what I think is a dressmaker’s stand planted with a clematis. I imagine the effect once the clematis gets going is stunning. So I thought I’d finish with a gallery of just a few of her ideas.

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Thank you to everyone who sent me their pics and ideas for plant pots from recycled packaging and from every day items. It’s certainly prompted me to take a fresh look at everyhing I might otherwise throw out!