Yesterday's post on indoor plantscapes inspired a few to start looking for some new pretty pots for an indoor garden. And although you can find great small ceramic pots at Target or cute eco friendly ones at kelly green, you can also make your own by reusing cans and wrapping paper:
How To: Make Can Planters
How to Make Pots out of Cans
1. Collect your cans (I stuck with the cans that I had left over from canned pumpkin, condensed milk and canned tomatoes) and clean and dry them.
2. Using a nail and hammer, puncture the bottom of the can a dozen times so that water will be able to drain out the bottom.
3. Pick your paper. I used the faux bois from elum that I bought around the corner at Urbanic
4. Measure the height of your can (for width) and its circumference (for length) and then using a ruler and an x acto blade, cut your paper to size.
5. Using doublestick tape along the seam of the can, press the paper along the seam and then roll it onto the rest of the can, securing the other end with another piece of doublestick tape (the whole length).
6. Cover the whole thing with shellac. It will dry clear (mine was a little bit yellow, but I could only tell if it was next to unshellaced paper). This will sea the paper from water damage and also keep the can from rusting as it gets wet.
7. Allow to dry and then plant at will. I used some succulent cuttings from my garden and they've grown in nicely after a couple of months.
Comments (6)
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If you use the kind of ring pull can that comes with a plastic top, say for salted nuts, you can punch holes for drainage then use the plastic on the bottom as a 'coaster'.
view silversurfer's profile
It would be fun to use decorative cans "as is." A BIG tomato or tomato paste can for a basil plant... or tea tins for small succulents or seedlings. Etc. My workplace has an industrial kitchen, and I have access to some interesting and large cans. I'm going to give this a try. Would be a cute gift, too.
view arroyo's profile
arroyo, that's a great idea, especially if you had quite a few of them repeating.
view laure's profile
love this!
view foodefafa's profile
This is probably a dumb question but are you supposed to shellac the inside too?
view Drewbert's profile
drewbert - i think not. the shellac is to protect the decorative paper on the outside, the inside is metal and doesn't need protecting.
view skippyandebsy's profile