What’s cuter to give (or keep!) this spring than cheerful DIY succulent planters in darling, old-fashioned piece of tins?
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Story by Pamela Price
Succulents are trendy. Vintage is hot. And repurposing? Well, that’s just plain fun—not to mention eco-savvy!
Succulent Salon’s Julie L. Palmer, whom we interviewed earlier this year about her family’s traveling succulent plant design studio, said she regularly encounters customers who have an old tin that they’d love to transform into a fashionable planter.
Trouble is, there’s more to the transformation process than just popping the plant in with some dirt. “Many customers don’t realize how labor intensive some of these vintage containers can be,” Julie said.
If you’re feeling up to the task, however, and want to go DIY, the ten-step process Julie recommends appears below. (We’ve tweaked her recommendations a little to fit our formatting—and added some supplies you can pick up from Amazon.com, for convenience!)
Remember: whether you’re looking to repurpose an old can of Billy Beer, a Disney bandage container, or something more stately, you really can’t go wrong with this kind of “potted plant.”
Feel like you want a little one-on-one coaching with the ins-and-outs of succulents? Live in Texas? Then definitely visit Succulent Salon on Facebook or Instagram to discover when Julie and her family’s repurposed Airstream might next be in your area, teaching people the wonders of planting, tending, and loving succulents.
Ten Steps to Planting a Succulent in a Vintage Tin
1. Carefully choose plants to fit the size and space available. (Local nurseries are our favorites for this kind of advice, and these are some of our favorite local nurseries!)
2. Sand rust spots, watching for sharp edges or broken metal.
3. Soak entire surface of the container with a penetrating oil. Wipe up any remaining oil.
4. Line interior bottom with spray rubber.
5. Drill drain holes and grind any sharp edges down.
6. Mount lid to top and paint to match rust and patina (optional).
7. Fill bottom with gravel, if desired, for drainage. (Consider cutting some plastic screening to fit and keep the gravel in place.)
8. Fill container with a succulent-suitable soil. (Succulent Salon uses their own custom succulent blend.)
9. Add plants, leaving space for the plants to grow.
10. Add a top layer of stones carefully by hand, working slowly to ensure even and secure coverage.
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