DIY Cheap Flower Pots

Learn this simple technique for creating cheap flower pots, by dressing up basic black plastic nursery containers. No need to re-pot. This is especially nice for gifts and for those plants that only last for the season.

Sometimes I come up with ideas, actually many times, after the fact. I bought my sister and good friend some Thunbergia plants aka Black Eyed Susan Vines for their birthday. I did not take the time to purchase a new pot for this gift but gave it to them with the standard nursery pot.

Dressing Up Cheap Flower Pots

They may decide to plant it in the ground, and then the pot would not matter. However, this vine will not make it through our winter, so a pot would be a nice touch.

This problem made me start thinking about how one could dress up a plastic nursery pot on the cheap.

I picked up a Mandevilla vine, also not hardy, and tried to come up with a way to create a cheap flower pot out of this basic black plastic one. First I tried plaster but it did not stick. Then I tried glue with peat moss and paint for a textured look. This was a bad look. Finally, I used pre-mixed white grout, and the effect, though maybe temporary, was just the kind of thing I was looking for.

How to Upcycle Plastic Plant Pots

First start by painting the pot with primer, so the grout has something to stick to.

Then, just like icing a cake, spread the grout all over the pot using a plastic spoon or knife.

I wanted to give the grout some dimension so I used the bottom of this bowl.

Wait about 4 hours before attempting to stamp the pot. Use a little cooking spray on the bowl first for easy release.

I brought the grouted pot indoors to dry out. This took about 2 days, and then I used some gray and green craft paint to give the pot an aged cement look.

Pretty neat, huh? Who would have thought it would be so easy to decorate black plastic pots?

You may have the supplies to make this fun craft already on hand. I had to buy my grout, which was just a little over $10, and I have enough left over to make 2 more pots.

I really have no idea how long this will last, but I do expect it to make it through the summer, just like the plant. I'll have to let you know how it fares through the summer. Who knows, maybe it will last a long time.

update: I can tell you that the pot had no problem lasting the entire season. However, it did get thrown out during the winter cleanup. I'll have to make another and make sure that it doesn't get tossed with the garbage so I can see if it will last year after year.

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How to Make Cheap Flower Pots By Dressing Up Nursery Planters

Yield: 1 Flower Pot

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Estimated Cost: $5

Dress up inexpensive nursery planters with this simple DIY tutorial. You will never know they started out as cheap plastic flower pots.

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Materials

• Plastic Nursery Pots
• Plant
• Pre-Mixed White Grout
• White Paint
• Decorative Bowl

Tools

• Paint Brush
• Plastic Spoon or Knife

Instructions

1. Paint the pot with primer.
2. Spread the grout all over the pot using a plastic spoon or knife.
3. Let dry for 4 hours.
4. Spray a little cooking spray on the decorative bowl and stamp the pot.
5. Bring inside and let it dry for 48 hours.
6. Paint the pot with gray and green craft paint to give it an aged cement look.

Recommended Products

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  Custom, Bright White PMG381QT 1-Quart Simple Premium Grout

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