I’ve scoured charity shops for interesting homewares to use as non-traditional planters.
Whether for a present, or for the home, I thought I’d share.
I love supporting charity shops.
Hats off to the generous and thoughtful folk who declutter their homes and donate pre-loved goodies to charity stores across New Zealand. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, said someone once. Wonderful charity shop volunteers spend untold hours stacking, sorting, pricing and displaying these ‘bric-a-brac’ treasures at bargain prices just for us.
My present giving regime these days is compile bespoke ‘care packs’ which includes something old (from a charity shop), something new, something homemade and something homegrown. Needless to say, I’m forever visiting charity shops looking for something odd or unique to stock pile!
Houseplants are a lovely living gift to give and receive. You can’t go wrong with succulents and ferns – both look pretty, and both are suitable for indoor and outdoor display. Depending on the variant they are also easy to take clippings from and replenish your own plant stock yourself. The pot it goes in? This is where the fun begins.
Here are some ideas, if you’re feeling creative and love charity shops like I do.
Beautiful tea cups and saucers are in abundance at charity shops. Buying a matching set may cost a small fortune, but single cups don’t. Succulents like sandy soil so be sure to mix potting mix with fine pebbles or sand. As the cup doesn’t have drainage holes, be sure not to over water them as while they love water you don’t want to overdo it. Best for inside use or an environment where you can monitor the watering.
Continuing with the tea theme, a tea pot is easily transformed into a fun planter pot. It doesn’t matter if the inside of the tea pot is discoloured as it will be filled with soil, so look for aesthetics of the outside only.
Don’t stop at tea! A silver goblet also looks gorgeous planted out with succulents…..as with sugar caddies, salt & pepper shakers, medicine canisters…the ideas are endless!
If you want some height, try a vase as your planter pot. Or, if could easily make a succulent garden in a salad bowl.
Stepping up in size and volume, a metal kitchen colander is also a cute work of art (better suited for outside in the garden as it’s self draining). Line the inside with coconut fibre (or something similar you can find in a garden centre for hanging baskets), fill with soil, and plant out!
