Hold Onto Your Old Plastic Nursery Pots To Try A Money-Saving Patio Planter Hack

When you buy plants from the store, they usually come in plastic nursery pots, and most gardeners recommend repotting them, giving them more room to grow. But that doesn't mean you should just throw away that plastic one because there are lots of creative ways to reuse plastic nursery pots in your garden – especially when garden tools and accessories can be pricey. For one specific money-saving hack, you can reuse the old container in your garden without it holding any more flowers, ferns, or soil inside. Instead, you'll turn them upside down to hold your greenery up as stand to give them some height to save money on plant pedestals. 

Some of your favorite tropicals, such as the spider plant, pothos, and snake plant, benefit from having more height. While plant stands can be stylish, they also help keep your green companions healthy – improving their air circulation (which can prevent mold and mildew from forming) and providing more access to sunlight. But stands can cost a pretty penny with prices ranging from $20 to $60. Reusing your old nursery pots can be an economical solution to keep your shrubs thriving without breaking the bank.

The great thing about plastic plant pots is that they come in all shapes and sizes, so you won't have to search too far to find a type that can fit on your brand new container-stand. Just turn it upside down and place your repotted greens on top. Switch them out and change up the sizes and height as needed, and change the design from being plain plastic to something cool like the examples below. It's also important to make sure you pair heavy planters, like ones made from ceramic or terra cotta, with nursery pots made with strong enough plastic or another material to stay standing; some nursery pots are made with stronger or thicker plastic than others. Decorative terra cotta pots as small as 10-inches can weigh as much as 11 pounds.

To ensure your DIY plant risers can withstand any strong winds or breezes outside, consider adhering your planters to the upside-down nursery pots with glue. Once you've taken all of that into account, paint or decoupage an image or design onto the outside of the pots, so it matches your garden or plant decor. Or you can also adorn them with other crafty material, like ribbons or beads. Whether you're keeping these plants and their new risers indoors or outside, show them (and their designs) off or hide them by placing other plants in front of them — the choice is yours.