Petticoat Junktion

Upcycling, recycling, and repurposing ideas for furniture and home decor.

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Succulent Container Idea Using Recycled Food Cans & Cartons

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This succulent container idea might have you guys laughing. Spray paint recycled food cans and plastic mushroom cartons. What?

Sometimes I do nutty things like save food containers and make plant pots out of them. Yep, Spam cans, food containers made out of plastic, fruit cartons, etc., can be spray painted and turned into cute little planters. I’ve done it. Call me crazy.

I think you’ll like this idea. Let me know after you take a look at the pretty metallic containers.

make plant pots from recycled food containters

How do you like all that metallic shine? I couldn’t pick a favorite color so I went with all three.

I did this project back in May and the plants are still alive. Hard to believe.

Supplies List:

recycled food cans and containers

Before spray painting the food containers clean them real good with soap and water. Any grease or oily substances on the containers will keep the spray paint from sticking.

Rustoleum Metallic Spray Paint Colors look great sprayed on recycled food containers used as succulent planters

I could have used plain old white spray paint or turquoise, or black, but why be ho-hum. Instead I chose metallic colors in gold, silver, and bronze.

I wasn’t sure how well the containers would take the spray paint but I didn’t need to worry. The metallic paints stuck like glue.

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recycle denim jeans and use strips of denim to decorate succulent pots or flower containers

Once I had the containers painted I got to thinking about how I could decorate them. I didn’t need to go overboard because the shiny metallic colors said a lot all by themselves.

I remembered the jeans I made into shorts earlier in the year and how I had saved the cut off denim legs.

wrap recycled denim scraps around recycled spam can

It was easy just to cut part of the hem from a jean leg and wrap it willy nilly around the tall can.

Succulent Container Idea Using Recycled Food Cans & Cartons

Then I cut a square of denim to stick down into the small can and flip over the rim to the outside. Again just winging it and not being precise with anything. I work best that way.

fill bottom of succulent planters with rocks

Before putting the plants into the pots I filled the bottom with rocks and glass beads. This will keep the plant roots from soaking in water if you have a tendency to over water.

I have the opposite problem but I was being optimistic about remembering to water the plants.

spray painted Spam cans and plastic food containers

That’s all there was to making the succulent containers. I saved some clear plastic fruit containers but haven’t tried spray painting them yet.

You know, the spray painted containers could be used for lots of things not just as planters. Maybe use them as remote control or phone holders……jewelry trays…..fruit bowls….etc.

make plant pots using recycled Spam cans and plastic fruit containers

So guys, which is your favorite metallic color? How do you feel about the denim? How do you feel about succulents?

how to make succulent plant containers or pots using recycled cans or food containers

This is my first Aloe Vera plant and I read that you can just cut a piece off and rub the plant on a burn, cut, etc. Anyone do this?

recycled Spam cans or luncheon meat cans can be spray painted and recycled as plant containers or plant pots

 

I have a great project for faux succulents using recycled film reels and I made a video. It’s short and sweet and features 3 projects….

Sisal Rope Projects With Succulents and Lamps

That’s it for me. You guys have a great day….and save some food containers to paint. Kathy

Comments

  1. A list of my must have DIY supplies can be found  here on Petticoat Junktion.

  5. Laura Walters says

    We are so excited that you participated! Thank you for sharing your creativity! This is so cute!

  6. Jan says

    I recently went on a succulent binge and have several that need repotting. I’ll have to look in my recycling bin. Great suggestions.
    And yes! I use aloe vera all the time, especially on burns. I’ll snip a stem off and then trim it just longer than my injury. Then I slit the leaf along one edge and with sharp knife filet the “skin” off the surface of the leaf. Then I put the leaf with the gooey gel side on my owie and tape it in place. Any tape will do. I’ve used medical tape but Scotch tape and duct tape also work. I just want to hold it in place as long as possible. All day or overnight is great. If you leave it in place long enough you can prevent the burn from blistering. I may reapply another leaf it if it’s in an awkward spot and gets wiggled around too much or if it’s a particularly severe burn.
    I don’t always want to go out with a leaf stuck to my hand or arm (where most of my burns occur) so I’ll wrap it with white cloth of gauze, and it looks like a regular bandage. If I have a blister on my foot I’ll apply it overnight. It will make a huge difference overnight.

    And if your aloe vera does well, you’re gonna need a bigger pot!
    Jan

    • Kathy Owen says

      Thanks for all the info on Aloe Vera. I’m laughing because I was just looking at the Aloe Vera plant last night thinking it sure was getting big. On the hunt for another pot.

  7. Creatively Beth says

    Brilliant upcycle! Love the metallics and denim together! I’d love for you to join us for the Creative Crafts Linky Party
    Have a nice weekend!
    Creatively, Beth

  8. Susan says

    Very cute, love the metallic BUT you should NOT use metallic spray painted containers as fruit bowls, or for any other foods for that matter!
    Please note: spray paints ARE NOT FOOD SAFE!

  9. Barbara Carolan says

    With a pot of aloe just outside my kitchen door, small cuts, nicks, scrapes and burns are treated quickly and well. Aloe is my first choice for treatment for any minor mishap.

  10. Gracie Redfield says

    A lady after my own heart! You are recycling, upcycling, and creating beauty!
    My favorite item in this post is the decorative denim band on the luncheon meat can. Having raised five kids, if I had a dime for every pant leg band I`ve thrown away after altering jeans, I`d be a rich woman today! 😀

    I love to recycle glass jars, bottles, etc., food cans, and even small cardboard boxes (e.g.:candy). I like all the metallic spray colors—hard to choose a favorite. My husband buys his coffee beans in large cans. I clean the insides, remove the labels, and decorate the cans with scrapbook paper, washi tape, lace, flowers, and other bits and bobs I`ve saved.

    Please show us more of your recycle creations! Love them!

  12. Sharon says

    I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your Blog. Have a great day and keep up the great work!!

  15. Stormee says

    Too cute!! One would never know what the container was in its original life!! Succulents are easily grown and hard to kill, even when you forget to water them. A win-win in my book!!!

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