DIY Planter Ideas For Your Growing Succulent Collection

Whether you're new to the succulent craze, or you're an avid succulent gardener, you know that a succulent can be planted just about anywhere, and in anything! Here are some creative succulent planter ideas you can use with things around your home.

Amabell Lankford

decor · 3 min

Succulents seem to be the new must-have plant in everyone's homes nowadays. Coming in so many varieties of different shapes, sizes, and colors, these small plants offer hope to anyone who did not inherit a talented "green thumb." While being aesthetically pleasing (and honestly adorable in nature), succulents ask for very little in terms of care and can make do with less water and sunlight than the traditional needy houseplant. In turn, this longer lifespan allows for a succulent parent to get a bit more creative with the planters their succulents call home.

You might have seen the basic glass or ceramic succulent planters around your local home gardening center or even at the grocery store checkout counter. These planters are limited in design, and quite honestly look pretty much the same almost anywhere you go. However, one of the many joys in caring for a succulent collection is the creativity you can exercise with their planters!

Almost anything can be a succulent planter, including, but not limited to, the following unique ideas:

1. Mason Jars

planting succulents in mason jars — succulents in jars. image source: *pixels*

2. Fish Bowls

3. Baskets

4. Geometric Spheres

5. Mugs

6. Hollowed-Out Rocks

7. Wine Bottles

8. Tea Tins

planting succulents in tea tins — succulents in tea tins

Although many of the items listed above may seem ordinary, it is the succulents themselves that actually enhance their aesthetic. Using a mason jar? Choose a variety of vibrant green succulents to really shine through the glass. Using a mug?

Choose a succulent with colors complementary to the color of the mug to make a nice contrast. You can even use an old, sawed-in-half wine bottle to house your succulent plant. For this, you could choose to house a succulent with longer vines to spill out of the jar and onto the sides of the tinted glass. Macrame, ropes, and twine also make nice compliments to a succulent planter, and you might also be able to find these items around your home or backyard.

In truth, the planter-succulent combination you choose is really a reflection of your own creativity, individuality, and resourcefulness. Before you throw out or recycle something you didn't think you could use again, take a second glance and see if you could incorporate it into your succulent garden. Once you have chosen your own unique planter for your succulent, you can then place it on a kitchen counter, the corner of a desk, a windowsill, a shelf, a patio balcony, or even hang it from the ceiling to accent your home. Not only will you be proud of your succulent parenting skills, but your succulent will also have a new planter home to thrive and grow in.

Remember, you can plant a succulent in just about anything; from jars to spheres to wine bottles and even hollowed-out rocks. Let your imagination run wild, and use the items in your home to recycle and reuse as your new succulent planters. A happy and healthy succulent is a delight to care for, and the planter it's rooted in is just one of the many decisions you get to make in your succulent collection journey.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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PenelopeXO 3y ago

The best planter is whatever makes you happy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

JadeX 3y ago

Just want to point out that drainage holes are non-negotiable, no matter how cute the container is.

ZenModeActivated 3y ago

My succulent in a hollow log is thriving! Nature really does know best.

ViralStormX 3y ago

Love how the article encourages recycling. Been rescuing containers from my neighbor's recycling bin.

Toobin_Talk 3y ago

Started propagating leaves and now I need even more creative container ideas!

Kroll_Keynotes 3y ago

Old toolboxes make great planters too! The compartments are perfect for different varieties.

VedaJ 3y ago

Think I'm the only one who prefers matching pots. All these different containers look messy to me.

BodyMind_Balance_69 3y ago

Tried the wine bottle idea. Getting the plants in was like building a ship in a bottle!

Alicia_Fantasy 3y ago

Anyone else name their succulents? My mason jar crew has quite the personality!

CloudSurferX 3y ago

Remember to consider the weight of soil and water when hanging planters from the ceiling.

Positivity-Path_777 3y ago

Created a whole wall of different containers for my succulents. It's like living art!

Genesis 3y ago

My teacup succulents keep outgrowing their homes. Didn't think this through.

EvanInspires 3y ago

The article inspired me to look around my house differently. Everything's a potential planter now!

EcoFriendlyLife 3y ago

I've started making my own hypertufa pots. Perfect for succulents and so much cheaper than buying.

ElliePrice 4y ago

Just remember that some succulents grow huge! Choose your containers accordingly.

CelestialNomadX 4y ago

Not sure why everyone's complicating things. A simple pot works just fine.

SolarFlareX 4y ago

I use different colored gravels to match my containers. Makes such a pretty top dressing!

MysticVortex 4y ago

The best planters I've found are actually broken items I've repaired with kintsugi techniques.

Sophie_M 4y ago

Made the mistake of using metal containers without drainage. Complete disaster!

Sloane99 4y ago

Anyone else's succulent collection taking over their living space? My family thinks I'm obsessed.

LeahMason 4y ago

I've had success with wooden boxes. Just seal them well and add plenty of drainage.

Rosalie_Shine 4y ago

The article's right about succulents making everything look better. Even my old soup cans look artistic now!

Serenity_Gleam 4y ago

My succulents actually grow better in ugly plastic pots than in all these fancy containers.

Gianna99 4y ago

Found some amazing antique silverware at a thrift store. Making them into hanging planters next weekend.

TheGood-Life_Vibes_101 4y ago

Love using clear containers to see the root development. It's like a living science experiment!

PatrickLee 4y ago

Tried the macrame thing but ended up with a tangled mess. Guess I'll stick to regular pots.

ColetteH 4y ago

Started with one succulent in a tea tin, now I have 47 plants in various containers. Help!

SelenaB 4y ago

Please make sure any container is food-safe if you're repurposing it. Some materials can be toxic.

Aisha99 4y ago

What about using old boots as planters? Saw it at a garden show and it looked fantastic!

Tessa_Light 4y ago

I've started making my own concrete planters. They're perfect for geometric designs.

DanielBrown 4y ago

The article should mention the importance of pot size. Too big isn't always better for succulents.

HappyGut_HappyLife 4y ago

Yes! My jade grows much faster in terra cotta than in ceramic pots.

Christopher-Daniel 4y ago

Anyone else notice their succulents grow differently in different container materials?

Kroft_Keywords 4y ago

Plastic containers painted to look like ceramic are a great lightweight option.

TomC 4y ago

Worried about weight on my shelves. Any lightweight planter suggestions?

RunForJoy 4y ago

I turned an old guitar into a vertical succulent garden. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box!

Nadia_Sky 4y ago

Try using oil and baking soda to remove stubborn labels. Works like magic!

ScarlettMoon 4y ago

Where's everyone finding these perfect mason jars? Mine all have weird labels that won't come off.

Kennedy 4y ago

Been collecting succulents for years and honestly, they do best in plain old plastic nursery pots.

PeacefulVibes 4y ago

The drainage issue can be solved by using a diamond drill bit to make holes. Works on glass and ceramic.

Rather_Report 4y ago

I actually prefer traditional terra cotta pots. Sometimes simple is better.

Mia 4y ago

Try hanging planters! Keeps them safe from curious paws and looks great too.

Goodman_Guide 4y ago

My cats keep knocking over my planters. Any suggestions for cat-proof containers?

MindsetShifter 4y ago

Love how the article emphasizes matching succulent colors with container colors. Makes such a difference!

Sophia-Grace 4y ago

I've found that vintage tins work great too. Just make sure they're thoroughly cleaned first.

Mindful-Decluttering_07 4y ago

The fish bowl idea is genius! Just made one with layers of colored sand and it looks like an underwater scene.

Lilith_Breeze 4y ago

Has anyone tried growing succulents in old light bulbs? Saw it online and it looks amazing!

ZeroExistence 4y ago

That's a bit harsh. People are just trying to be creative and eco-friendly by reusing items.

Success-Starts_Within_17 4y ago

I find the whole succulent trend a bit overdone. Not everything needs to be turned into a planter.

Mia-Jones 4y ago

My grandmother gave me her old china teacups and I've turned them into the cutest succulent garden!

SeanWilson 4y ago

The article doesn't mention this, but painting terra cotta pots is another great way to personalize your planters.

PeacefulWarrior 4y ago

You're overthinking it. I've used all sorts of glazed containers and my plants are perfectly fine.

BlairJ 4y ago

Just want to warn everyone that some glazed containers can leach chemicals into the soil. Better stick to natural materials.

StretchAndStrength 4y ago

Been using baskets for my outdoor succulents and they're thriving! Just lined them with coconut fiber first.

QuantumPulse 4y ago

I'm nervous about the wine bottle idea. Wouldn't the narrow opening make it really hard to plant and maintain?

GlitchMasterX 4y ago

The macrame hanging planters mentioned in the article are perfect for small apartments. Saved so much counter space!

AidenFlores 4y ago

I really disagree with using containers without drainage holes. My succulents always rot no matter how careful I am with watering.

AnnaGrace 4y ago

Never thought about using mugs! I have so many that just sit in my cupboard collecting dust.

AlignAndShine 4y ago

I've had great success with tea tins! Just punch a few holes in the bottom and they work perfectly.

BalancedBites 4y ago

The geometric spheres look beautiful but they're so expensive in stores. Anyone know how to DIY those?

Wellness_Warrior 4y ago

Totally agree about the drainage issue. I learned that lesson the hard way with my first few plants.

LeilaniXO 4y ago

My succulents actually died in mason jars because there wasn't enough drainage. Make sure to add some rocks at the bottom!

RebelGlitch 4y ago

I tried the hollowed-out rock idea but it was way harder than I expected. Ended up with a broken drill bit and a very unhappy rock.

Aubrey 4y ago

These are such great ideas for upcycling! I've been collecting old mason jars but wasn't sure what to do with them. Now I know!

TechWhizX 4y ago

Has anyone tried using wine bottles? I'm curious about the drainage situation since they're so narrow.

Tina_Glimmer 4y ago

I love how creative you can get with succulent planters! Just turned an old teapot into a home for my jade plant and it looks amazing on my kitchen windowsill.