Nothing can change a dreary porch or an empty covered patio into a bright and cheery space like a hanging basket filled with flowers. With a bit of creativity and a lot of resourcefulness, you can easily make a hanging planter for flowers without breaking the bank or without having to be a carpenter.
Here are some quick ideas for making a hanging planter for your flowers.
3 TIER WIRE PRODUCE HANGING PLANTER -
Take a wire mesh three tier produce basket. If you don't want to put pots in those baskets, turn them into actual planters. You will need to fill the inside of each tier with something that will keep the soil from falling out. Home improvement places and gardening centers often sell sheets of coconut coir.
You will need enough of the coir to be able to make a liner for each of the three baskets. Measure the inside diameter of the baskets. You will need to cut the coir to fit the inside. If you cant cut it into one perfect insert, that's okay. It just needs to be able to cover the entire inside of each basket.
Once you have filled the baskets with the coconut coir, then you can fill them with your dirt mixture. The best mix is plain old soil. Mix equal parts of soil, peat moss and Perlite and mix them thoroughly so that everything is evenly distributed. Fill each tier with the soil mix and proceed to plant.
MAKE YOUR OWN PVC PIPE PLANTER -
To make a planter out of PVC pipe, decide how long you want your planter to be. These planters will be best for hanging vines. You can also plant strawberries in it. The ideal size PVC pipe is about 2 inches in diameter. You can use wider PVC, but don't forget that the planter is going to be filled with dirt, so the heavier it is, the greater the danger that the hanger won't be able to support the weight.
Be sure you get covers for the PVC. Have the home improvement place cut your PVC to the proper length. You will need to have a drill on hand, some heavy rope (it can be natural colored or colored,) and a circular saw or a router. You are going to cut several holes of exactly the same size in different places on the PVC pipe.You will also need a file or some sand paper.
Put the cover on the bottom of your soon to be constructed PVC planter. At the top of the planter, about one inch from the top, drill three holes at equal distances from one another. The holes will need to be large enough that the rope can be threaded through it. Cut three pieces of rope at equal lengths. The rope needs to be long enough that you can create a loop with all three pieces and securely knot it. This is the hanger that will hold the weight of the planter.
When you thread the rope through each of the three holes, you will need to create a knot on the outside of each hole, securing each rope to its respective hole. Using your circular saw or router, cut out several holes. The holes will be strategically cut at equal intervals from one another but on different sides of the pipe. The holes need to be large enough that you can get the root system of plants through each hole. Once you've cut the holes, sand the rough edges so they are smooth.
You will also need to poke or drill one or more holes into the cap that is covering the bottom. These holes will provide for additional drainage. After doing all of this, the basic construction is done. Now, you can paint the planter if you wish. If you are using colored rope, you may want to paint the planter to match the rope. Use a non-toxic paint that can withstand the elements outside.
Now you can start to fill the planter with dirt and plants. Little by little, start filling the planter. It will be helpful if you have someone who can help you do this part. As you get to each hole, you will want to put the plant in the hole before you fill it with dirt. Put the plant in by sticking the roots through the hole.
Once the roots are in the hole, while one person holds the plant in place, have the other person fill the planter with dirt until the bottom of the next hole. Repeat the process until you are done. Make sure you water your planter thoroughly. Be sure you use soil that will drain well. If the soil doesn't contain enough peat moss, Perlite or Vermiculite and the soil stays unevenly moist, it may grow mold and the plants may begin to rot.
This type of planter can be used for a variety of plants, for example, it can become a hanging strawberry basket, or one could plant portulaca (moss roses,) in it. Since moss roses are a type of succulent, the planter could go for prolonged periods without water. It would also be great for hens and chicks, morning glories, different types of jasmine, honeysuckle, or it could be used for plants to attract hummingbirds.
Anytime one can create something unique out of every day materials, the end result will add greatly to the place where it is put. In this case, home made planters will work on patios, decks, around gazebos, on a porch or even hanging from a tree. The bright and colorful flowers will turn the outdoor area into an extension of one's home.