9 Ways to Repurpose Planters and Pots When Plant Parenting Doesn’t Go as Planned

You have good intentions. You buy the plant (whether from your local nursery or  an online retailer like The Sill or Bloomscape). You try to take care of that plant. You water it, shift it to a sunnier spot for a few hours a day, maybe you even name your plant and talk to it. But despite your best efforts, it starts to droop, the leaves dry out, and then—it’s done. So you get rid of it and repeat the cycle.

But what if… you didn’t? Instead of constantly trying to prove your green thumb, what if you finally accepted that fiddle leaf figs are, well, fickle, or succulents just aren’t your cup of tea? Then your next pressing problem is what to do with the planter you had, especially if it was decorative and stylish. There’s no reason to lose out on a pretty ceramic or terracotta piece. Besides gifting them to loved ones that might be better at keeping certain kinds of greenery alive, here are nine other creative and virtually effortless ways to repurpose your old planters and pots.  

A smaller decorative pot is the perfect size for corralling things like extra soaps, bath bombs, and wash cloths or hand towels. Have a trio of old succulent planters? Try repurposing them to store cotton balls, cotton swabs, and cotton rounds. You can also use a small planter for makeup and hair brushes.

Flip your pot, put the saucer on top, and fill it with water—it could not be easier. You can also a stack pots and make a taller option. Just be sure to use the proper adhesive to keep the pieces connected and stable. 

This idea’s similar to the above. Maybe you’re not great at tending somewhat larger plants but have it down pat with little guys. You can flip a bigger planter over and use it to create a plant stand for something that’s thriving.

Fill your planter or pot with things that won’t die and are still natural. Think pine cones, pampas grass, and faux flowers. Use pot filler to elevate these elements so you can see them properly, if necessary.  

Use a big planter as a makeshift cooler to chill bottles or cans of wine and champagne. This upcycle will work best for a style that has a saucer or doesn’t have a drainage hole, so the whole thing won’t leak when it’s filled. Smaller pots can be used more decoratively on a tabletop, for example, to hold utensils and napkins for dining alfresco. You could also use a wall planter to keep things like pastry brushes and wooden spoons at the ready in your kitchen.

Even if you have a small entry, you can probably still sneak a planter somewhere into your setup. Try a large size to hold umbrellas, totes, and other outdoor gear. You could also make a smaller design into a valet tray of sorts for your keys and such. 

Store your hose in a pot (make sure it has a drainage hole) and put other garden tools in smaller planters.

Candle vessels can often be upcycled into small planters after you’ve fully burned them and removed any wax residue. Why not try the reverse of this?  Buy a soy candle making kit and turn a pot into a fragrant accent for your coffee table or nightstand. Any planter that doesn’t have a drainage hole and is on the smaller size should work. 

Pretty wastebaskets can be weirdly pricy, especially if you don’t want something that’s plastic. An old planter can easily be turned into a trash can—up to you whether you want to use it with a liner bag or not.