Goodbye Traditional Planters — There's A Vintage Kitchen Find You Can Use Instead

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If you're bored of traditional planters, consider giving your potted plants a vintage touch. A thrifted sugar dish is the perfect home for your houseplants — especially those you want to display in your kitchen. Instead of using typical plastic or terracotta planters for your flowers and greenery, this unexpected container is cute and eye-catching. Vintage sugar jars and dishes are an easy way to take your planters from boring to beautiful.

There are several benefits to sourcing sugar dishes for your houseplants. If you have some ceramic jars that have been collecting dust or have lost their lids, this is a great option to repurpose your old containers. If you don't have any at home, you can find affordable glazed sugar and spice jars at your local thrift store. They are accessible, budget-friendly, and offer the perfect opportunity to shop secondhand. Small sugar containers can also fit into little nooks that would otherwise go undecorated. They are ideal for placing on shelves, garden windows, or kitchen countertops.

There are a few ways to add drainage to your sugar dishes. You can drill a hole at the bottom to mimic the structure of a typical planter, but make sure to research whether the dish is valuable before making permanent alternations. Stones are often used as an alternative to a drainage hole, but you should actually think twice before you add gravel to the bottom of your planter. In the long run, they can accumulate moisture and cause root rot. If you don't want to drill a hole, try opting for a product like this Drain Smart 3D Mesh Planter Pot Drainage Insert Disc.

Sugar dishes aren't the only planter alternative to consider. Practically any small, glazed ceramic dish with depth can be repurposed. For example, consider items like a gravy boat, teacup, or ramekin. Shallow dishes can be more suitable for plants like succulents due to their compact root systems. Before you make your final selection, make sure to review the best tips for choosing the right container for your indoor plants.