DIY Flower Planters

I always had a lot of plants in my apartment and, as I like to multiply them, I get quickly surrounded by ugly and large containers. Buying new cute pots can be costly and planters made from tin cans are a great alternative to give a second life to these unwanted cans, for free. The small cans are perfect to start seedlings or to grow a new plant from a leaf (like African violets) and the large cans (think diced tomatoes) make great regular planters.

I've found this idea somewhere on the Internet (there are many versions of the tin can planters tutorial) and I tried an easy one which consists in spray paint a clean and dried tin can. As I supposed, the paint rapidly peel off. I gave another try by simply adding a coat of Mod Podge on the outside of the can before spray-painting it and it worked well. For extra protection, I also added another coat after the paint was completely dry.

Supplies : tin cans, a nail and a hammer, colored spray paint, Mod Podge, a paint brush, cardboard or newspapers or a surface which you can spray paint on, papers, ribbons, anything to embellish.

And to turn your creation into a lovely planter you'll need some small rocks or pebbles, potting soil, plant or seeds.

 1/ Wash your tin can carefully, and remove labels and glue on the outside. Let it dry completely. Be careful on any rough edges (you should sand them off). Turn the can upside down and poke a few drainage holes in the bottom with the nail and the hammer.

2/ Using a paint brush, apply a generous coat of Mod Podge on the outside of the can (this step will prevent the paint to peel off). Let it dry.

3/ Spray paint the outside of the can with chosen colors (it's better to paint outdoors because of the smell). Allow to dry completely. Apply another coat of Mod Podge and let it dry.

Now you can add papers, ribbons, stickers, whatever you want to embellish your can. I like mine on solid color but I made one using paper and I like it! I simply cut a rectangle in the dimensions of the can and glued it with Mod Podge. Then I added another coat to seal everything.

4/ Fill the bottom of the planter with pebbles to make sure the soil drain well. Put the plant into the can and fill it in with potting soil. Lightly water and place on clear plastic stray (4 for 1$ at the dollar store). Another great option is to find little dinner plates at the thrift store in a variety of colors.

Enjoy a touch of green in your home!
Love,
misspickle xoxo