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DIY Colander Planter

December 7 // 15 Comments // 4 Minute Read

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Repurpose an old kitchen strainer into these adorable DIY Colander Planters! They bring Spring and Summer color to your back patio with a charming farmhouse look. Also a great mothers day gift or hostess gift idea!

It’s probably safe to say that plants and I do not get along.

However, that doesn’t stop me from trying again every year, hoping that this is finally the season where my brown thumb turns green and I suddenly become a gardening pro. Working with plants truly is an art I admire — and one I only wish I had!

Since we have yet to buy any furniture for our lanai, I wanted to give this space a little something nice to look from our humble folding chairs and TV tray. Redneck, I know, but we’re working little by little to save up for a nice set.

One of my pretty little colanders that I loved for rinsing small berries and veggies started chipping and rusting, and I thought I might have to throw it away until I saw Country Living’s April 2015 issue included the cutest DIY Colander Planters. Now I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it!

Since I had received another little colander as a housewarming gift that I hadn’t used yet, I realized it had to be fate. I finally had the perfect pair to bring a splash of color to our lanai that we can enjoy all Summer long…..IF I remember to water them, that is!

Supplies Needed:

  • Old {or new} colanders
  • Flowers
  • Potting soil
  • Landscape fabric
  • Jute string
  • Hooks with drywall hangers

DIY Colander Planter | Creative Savings

The Project:

Step 1: Cut out a circle of landscape fabric to put in the colander so dirt doesn’t pop out the holes when you water it. I just eyeballed mine and did a little trimming to help it fit.

DIY Colander Planter | Creative Savings

Step 2: Place flowers {I used Purslane} into colander, knocking off dirt from the bottom if it’s too tall to fit. Then sprinkle dirt inside to fill the rest of the planter. I always seem to make such a mess doing this!

DIY Colander Planter | Creative Savings

Step 3: Cut a LONG piece of Jute string to tie on one corner of the handles, wrap around handle to cover, and knot again. Leave as much excess as you want for the planter to hang, and tie a knot on the opposite corner of the other handle. Repeat wrapping on other handle, knot at the end, and if you have enough left, bring over with enough excess to knot where you first started.

DIY Colander Planter | Creative Savings

Was that confusing? I got lost just writing it.

Another way to do it is to wrap your handles and tie knots at each beginning and end, then cut separate strings to knot at the handles and pull to the middle at desired height above the planter. I only did it the first way because I didn’t want there to be a ton of knots with the potential to come loose.

If needed, you can tied another knot in the string above the planter for added security.

DIY Colander Planter | Creative Savings

Note: You may want to experiment and do the string part first — I found the flowers kept getting in my way when I did it last, and some of the petals broke off.

Step 4: Put hooks into the ceiling, if needed, and make sure to use drywall hangers to secure hooks that are not screwed directly into a stud. I had Joseph help with this part!

DIY Colander Planter | Creative Savings

Step 5: Water plant and arrange or “fluff up” where you accidentally mangled it trying to plant, and hang for all to see!

DIY Colander Planter | Creative Savings

Note: One thing I did notice is that a little dirt still came through the holes when I watered it, but not enough for me to freak out.

Step 6: Repeat steps 1-4 for as many planters as you want to make.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Y75OH4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004Y75OH4&linkCode=as2&tag=aquistr-20&linkId=M7FCKGC4Q67TPXK6

Total Cost: $4.17/one planter

landscape fabric $.20/ft | flowers $2.98 each | potting mix $.99 {used 1/4 of bag} | other supplies I already had

You can find very inexpensive colanders at thrift stores or flea markets, and I think they look so charming as a set. I might even have to think about adding a third someday down the road!

They would also make really cute Mother’s Day or hostess gifts since they’re not too expensive, especially if you already have supplies hanging around your garage.

On a completely separate note, how do you say “colander”? I help out in our ESL classes {English as a Second Language} at church, and we were pointing out different kitchen tools to learn their English names. The teacher, who is Canadian, says call–ond-er, and I say coal-lander, putting the emphasis on the second syllable.

Anyway, I’m sure both are right, but I’m just curious to find out how you pronounce it!

Are you a secret plant whisperer? Teach me your tricks!

How do you pronounce colander?

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says

    April 27 at 10:12 am

    Adorable! Unfortunately, I can’t keep plants alive either, but the colorful colanders might convince me to try again! Oh, and I say “CALL-an-der”. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      May 3 at 10:12 am

      Brown thumbs unite! Although so far, they are still alive……but for how long, I’m not quite sure. 😉

      Reply
  2. brooke says

    June 16 at 11:33 pm

    i bought a $3 app called waterbug where you can add your plants and what kind they are & set a schedule for watering, and it sends you reminders! it’s helped me out a ton with my little indoor plants. I’ve also gotten a lot of succulents, because the more desert-y the plant, the less it needs to be watered, so the lower the chance that I accidentally kill it. 🙂 I LOVE the colander planter idea—I’ll have to try this soon with my spider plants!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      June 25 at 9:21 am

      Of course they would have an app for that! Thanks for sharing — I’m going to try this and see if it helps me remember better!

      Reply
  3. CWOODS says

    February 11 at 9:23 am

    To find the correct pronunciation of a word go to on line Webster dictionary, find your word, press the speaker phone and it will sat it for you.

    Reply
  4. Jolene says

    January 30 at 10:51 am

    I’m always on the hunt for small colorful colanders for this exact project. You chose a very hardy lovely plant. I discovered them last summer. Portulaca’s !! they are amazingly hardy little beauties.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 5 at 12:37 pm

      Hardy is what this brown thumb needs!!! haha!

      Reply
  5. Marielle Dupre says

    June 17 at 6:51 pm

    Thanks for this tutorial! What would you recommend instead of jute if hanging this outdoors? I guess not wrap the handles (although that’s super cute) and just substitute a thin chain?

    And, I say CALL-ander (and I’m from New Orleans if that makes a difference 🙂

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      June 18 at 2:24 pm

      I think colander is one of those words that is very regional in pronunciation!

      You could totally do a chain, you just might want to find a way to secure it to the center of the handle so the chain doesn’t slide back and forth if it get’s a little breezy.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 creative upcycling garden planters | Everything Homes says:
    June 7 at 7:07 am

    […] as they are available in different colours, you can choose which shade you prefer for your garden. Get the tutorial (Image credit: […]

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  2. 21 Ways To Upcycle Trash Into A Stunning Piece For Your Home Decor - Craftsonfire says:
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    […] via kalynbrooke […]

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  3. 10 Earth Day Activities for Families - A Spruced Up Life says:
    April 19 at 8:18 pm

    […] Upcycle an item in your home that would be thrown away or donated. For example, you all can make Book Page Gift Tags, DIY Water Bottle Piggy Banks, or a DIY Colander Planter. […]

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣ ⁣ You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣ ⁣ See, we’re all different! ⁣ ⁣ Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣ ⁣ Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣ ⁣ What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣ ⁣ I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣ ⁣ But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣ ⁣ As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣ ⁣ Why? ⁣ ⁣ No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣ ⁣ And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣ ⁣ There are too many good ones out there anyway. Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣ ⁣ This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣ ⁣ Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣ ⁣ What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
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My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣ ⁣ These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣ 2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣ 3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣ ⁣ That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣ ⁣ What planners/journals are you using for 2021?

Self-care is just as important as making your famo
Self-care is just as important as making your famous sugar cookies this holiday season. 🍪⁣ ⁣ Because let’s be real. ⁣ ⁣ That Hallmark-esque Christmas magic disappears the moment disagreeable family members annoy you. Or when you feel irritable over too many late nights and little-to-no sleep. Or when expectations over meals and traditions and social activities fall short and leave you feeling disappointed. 😬⁣ ⁣ But instead of dwelling on these stressful moments and using them as an excuse to completely disconnect from reality (as I’m often tempted to do!), view them as an opportunity for you to respond with poise. 💞⁣ ⁣ ➕ Journal your feelings. ⁣ ➕ Go for a walk. ⁣ ➕ Prioritize what’s essential. ⁣ ➕ Remember to breathe.⁣ ➕ And try not to eat your feelings…okay?⁣ ⁣ Here’s your permission slip if you need one: You don’t need to do or participate in everything! Take a time out when you need it. 🙌⁣ ⁣ That’s the best way you can protect your emotional well-being over the next few days.⁣ ⁣ Merry Christmas, friends! 🎄


I know you’re ready for this year to be over. 🙋‍♀️ The last twelve months brought so many hard things into our lives—relationships were lost, our country became more broken and divided than ever, and oh yeah, we walked through a pandemic too. 🦠 🤯 No biggie, right? Ha! 😅 And while it’s easy to look back and wish we could skip 2020 altogether (or at least insist on a do-over), I don’t want this year to be the one where the hard overcame the good. 💕 Just as hard days don’t mean ruined days, hard years don’t mean ruined years. 2020 can still be good. 💪 For me, I want to remember the fun and exciting things we did. The adventures we had. The new shows we watched, and the books we read. The new life hacks and things I discovered that made my life easier or just brought me joy. 💞 You’ll find it all in my latest blog post (link in profile). If you still need to buy a gift for a loved one (or for yourself!), you’ll find plenty of fun and affordable ideas to fill up the rest of your gifting list. 📦 Otherwise, enjoy a stroll down the good side of 2020’s memory lane and leave your favorite things in the comments so I can try them. 👋


Pro minimalism tip: Use double-duty appliances. 🤯⁣ ⁣ With limited kitchen space, I have to be super careful about what appliances we invite into the RV. We already had an Instant Pot, Ninja Blender, and a Food Processor. But I really wanted an air-fryer! ⁣ ⁣ With no place to put it, I discovered that Instant Pot made a dual instant pot/air-fryer product. So I gave my instant pot away, and my mom bought me this one for an early Christmas present. I’ve only played with it a couple of times but I’m already in love! 💕⁣ ⁣ Kale chips...sweet potato fries...broccoli. I’m basically an air-frying queen now. And I can easily switch back to the instant pot whenever I want. Yay for two appliances in one! 🥳⁣ ⁣ Q: What is your favorite appliance to use? Is it double duty? 🤔


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