Reuse An Old Fan To Create A Budget-Friendly Trellis For Hanging Plants

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Fans are one of those outdated appliances you should upgrade for better energy efficiency immediately. Don't, however, throw the old one away. An old fan — or, more aptly, the wire guard from an old fan — makes an excellent plant trellis. It only takes a few easy steps, tools, and supplies. This DIY project is perfect for anyone without space in their home or garden for a large planter, but who still wants to be able to grow hanging plants. It's a unique way to show off a lengthy pothos or a trailing flowering plant on a wall.

YouTuber TheKraftco specializes in model making, but occasionally also dabbles in clever DIY projects using upcycled items — think scrap cardboard, children's toys, picture frames, and, in the case of this idea, an old electric fan. You barely even need a supply list to create this nifty wall planter. Aside from the broken fan, you'll need a screwdriver and some AccEncyc Plant Clips, garden twine, or flexible wire. Don't have a broken fan but still want to try this DIY project? You can buy a Unomor Pedestal Fan Mesh Safety Cover for a bit under $28 and make two wall-mounted plant displays from a single purchase. You'll also need a nail, hook, or screw to hang your trellis on a wall or fence.

Last but not least, choose a mature trailing houseplant or garden plant in a pot. 'Goldchild' ivy (Hedera helix 'Goldchild') is a low-maintenance option with stunning golden green leaves, while Persian ivy (Hedera colchica) is non-toxic and safe for kids and pets. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is another hardy option with tons of pretty cultivars — like 'Marble Queen,' 'Lemon Meringue,' and curly 'Teruno Shangri-La' — to choose from.

YouTuber TheKraftco uses a relatively small standing fan, but any sized fan will work, as long as you can remove the wire guard around the blades. Your first step is to make sure you've unplugged the fan from the outlet. Then unclip the two guards surrounding the blades and remove them from the fan. Usually, the guard on the front of the fan has a round plastic panel in the center that you can leave in place or remove with a screwdriver. Don't throw the other parts of the fan away just yet — put them aside to try some of these unique and crafty ways to repurpose fan blades in your home or yard.

Lay the wire guard flat on a tabletop, with the concave interior facing you, and place your potted plant next to it. Start winding the plant's tendrils around the guard, holding them in place using the clips, twine, or wire. If your plant has sturdy stems, you may be able to carefully weave them through the slats. Decide where you want to hang your plant display, and measure the distance between the ground or table the pot will sit on. Leave enough branch length to accommodate the distance. Once the plant's stems are secured to the guard, you can hang the whole arrangement up on a wall, fence, or post. Not a fan of gardening? No problem — switch out the real plant for Freyalife Fake Hanging Vines and a flower pot. Mimicking the way trailing plants climb in nature is the secret to making your artificial ivy look real.