Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Thrifted Before & After: Using Your Vintage Planters


Using vintage planters is trickier than using conventional pots. They're cute, but they're also small and awkward without proper drainage for your plants. With a little planning and the right plant selection, though, it can be easy to add some green to your home while using your thrifted pots.


 Tips for Using Your Vintage Planters  

1. Cute vintage planters are usually tiny, and are best suited for small succulents and cacti. These plants don't need much root space and grow slowly. Succulents and Cacti need plenty of light, don't plant them in a dark apartment. Use well-draining potting soil or mix sand into regular potting soil. Wait until the soil dries out between watering, these plants do not like getting too wet.

2. If you get a low amount of light in the house, try planting tiny tropicals (house plants) in your pots. I used tropicals for mine because they're going into my antique shop booth, which has limited lighting.

3. Many of these planters will not have holes at the bottom for proper drainage. Line the bottom of the pot with a sufficient layer of gravel (you can use fish tank gravel) to help drain excess water.


Add mulch to your plants, it helps maintain moisture levels and looks attractive, too. You can use rocks, aquarium gravel, or beach glass. With a little creativity, anything you thrift for that will contain soil can be a planter. The owl "planter" pictured here is actually part of a retro jar set I found (an easy planter because it had no lid). I miss having houseplants, so I think I'll keep an eye out for beautiful mod planters, and maybe some fun fish-shaped ones, too!
Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

18 comments:

  1. Ah! Love all of those planters. <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for these tips! I grew up in a house full of plants and was able to have a few of my own in my first apartment. My last apt had terrible lighting so nothing survived. My new place has tons of light and I keep meaning to get some new plants. The gravel in old planters is such a good idea!! I looove that little deer =D

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like using old planters for succulents/cacti too - very low maintenance. Another option if no holes is to "cache-pot" them - basically, don't throw away the plastic container, put gravel on bottom of planter, and just put the container right on the top of the gravel. Helps prevent the roots from sitting in water. Also, you can remove the plant in order to water it (which shouldn't need to be too frequently for cactus!) Only thing is the inner container needs to fit the planter - and sometimes the animal planters are kinda weird shaped. =)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love vintage planters but they are hard to grow plants in...your tips are great!

    ReplyDelete
  5. These planters are the sweetest little things ever. I love having a little cactus in the window. It's just a little piece of summer to treasure all year long. I'm going to check out a new Goodwill today. Maybe I'll find some little animal planters!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I should have took a picture to show the scale of these plants. The tropicals are all tiny "babies" in itty bitty transplant bots. They're so damn cute. I love plants.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love those- they would make me smile every day

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have some old planters in my garage, and you are making me want to get them out and resurrect them.

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  9. this is such a great idea! i love the doe planter! i bought a owl jar and the head fell and broke...it was a sad day...but now his bottom half has a succulent in it and it looks super cute!

    xo,
    cb

    ReplyDelete
  10. great tips, van. i love your little collection, especially the deer. i am always looking for these sort of things (no luck yet!)...

    ReplyDelete
  11. this is a great idea! I LOVE the little dear one. These work great on window sills cause that space isn't used some times. But I love the tip about the gravel, that makes so much sense. Totally never had thought of that before.

    ReplyDelete
  12. i looove these planters! thanks for the great tips!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh those are so cute! Too bad I have a black thumb when it comes to plants. I can barely deal with a cactus. But I may have to give them another try with this idea.

    ReplyDelete
  14. These look great! I think you've convinced me to start photographing my planters with plants in them. (I know, DUH!, right?! haha!)

    ReplyDelete
  15. VERY cute! I have a ton of vintage planters...I use them for my pens/pencils/art brushes....Funny thing...never have used them for a plant. Your photos have inspired me!

    ReplyDelete
  16. By taking cara menggugurkan hamil the time to read a lot of information like this to add my insight . cara menggugurkan kandungan

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your comments. Thank you for adding to the discussion! I always reply to any and all questions.

Like us on Facebook

Related Posts with Thumbnails