Use Leftover Quick-Setting Cement For A Cute & Easy DIY Planter

Quick-setting cement is an affordable, easy-to-use material perfect for all kinds of crafty ideas. Its rustic vibe is a particularly good fit for plant-themed DIYs, as one TikToker, evebprojects, proves with a cute and clever planter project. They take a small amount of cement and set a mini glass mug into it, creating a vase for growing small houseplants that like to grow in water, propagating cuttings, or displaying cut flowers. If you have leftover cement from another project, this is also a great way to minimize waste — you need as little as three tablespoons.

If you need to buy cement for this DIY project, make sure you understand the difference between concrete versus cement. Put simply, cement is the binder used to hold the sand and gravel on concrete together. Your need the former for this project — something like Boowan Nicole Easy-Flow Cement Casting Powder will do the trick. While you're shopping online, pick up some mini glass cups, like these affordable Eispap Mini Mason Jar Mugs or these Futtumy Mini Beer Mugs.

You'll also need a mold for the base of this DIY planter. It could be a small disposable plastic container or a plastic-lined cardboard container, like a takeout box or noodle cup. Make sure it has a perfectly flat base. No one likes a wobbly planter! Finally, pick up a reel of Yaseo Champagne Gold Solid Satin Ribbon or a similar wide, shiny gold ribbon. Tools-wise, get a mask, gloves, and a paint stir stick. You'll also need access to fresh water.

Put on your mask and gloves. Using the paint stir stick, mix the quick-setting cement with water in the small plastic container. For this project, aim for a thick, pudding-like consistency. Press the cement into the container or tap it on the table to remove any air bubbles and create a flat base. Then push the miniature glass cup into the center of the cement. You'll need to work quickly because the cement will begin to harden at around the 10 minute mark and will set in about an hour. Once it's firm, gently twist the plastic container to release your cute new cup and cement planter. Wrap the base in the metallic gold ribbon, then fill the empty cup with water and pop in a cutting from a favorite houseplant.

@evebprojects

Don't throw away your leftover cement mix! 🌿 Turn it into this beautiful little planter — beginner-friendly and takes less than 10 minutes to set up. Perfect if you're just getting started with cement crafts. Comment "BEGINNER" and I'll send you the link to my starter course 👇🏾 #cementcraft #beginnerDIY #concreteplanter #diywithcement #plantdecor

♬ WELE DANCE – Lui Cruz & Berri-Tiga

One of the highlights of this DIY idea is its easy customization. Consider embellishing the base with a decorated ribbon or a ribbon in a different color. You could also paint the cement in a hue that matches your existing decor or in a trending pattern, like patchwork or veined stone. If you have a lot of quick-setting cement, use a larger mold and bigger glassware, like an Amazon Basics Stemless Red Wine Glass or a 8-inch-tall Clear Glass Cylinder Vase. Or you could flip the DIY on its head and pour the cement halfway up the glass cup. Even out the top, allow it to set, then add moss, soil, and low-maintenance succulents for a terrarium-like look. If you don't have a green thumb, try this easy trick for fitting fake flowers into small vases without cutting the stems: bend them.