Submitted by marionhosta1 on Sat, 05/31/2008 - 18:33.
I like to go to flee markets and yard sales. I usually find pieces that would make great non-traditional planters. The problem is, they weren't designed to be planters. This normally seems like something I could overcome with a little creativity, so long as I knew it was okay if they did not have holes on the bottom. It would be pretty hard to drill holes into a cement bird bath for example, but that doesn't mean one couldn't make a great planter. So, whats the deal, do they have to have holes or not to be a good planter?
Drainage holes in containers
I too have been collecting flea market finds for years and planting in them. It all started years ago when I collected a lot of old tin wash tubs and realized they were perfectly charming for daisies, zinnias, and my other cutting favorites. Now a friend and I are always trying to outdo each other on who can find the coolest things to plant in! But yes, drainage holes are important so that those innocent little roots don't rot--but there are ways around it if it's impossible or risky to make drainage holes. You can plant something in a regular but non-decorative pot (terra cotta or plastic) that fits nicely inside your "found item" planter, and then the excess water will drain out into your planter where you can pour it off when it gets too deep. As for your cement bird bath, why not plant it up with some hens-and-chicks or a similar plant? Succulents do wonderfully in low, bowl-style planters like bird baths; you'll even see planters specifically made this way (without drainage holes) for succulents. I started doing this sort of by accident when a friend brought me some sedum he was dividing in his garden--he delivered the bounty in a large, clay saucer, and I set it down on top of the bird bath just to put it somewhere until I could plant it. Then I realized there was nothing more I needed to do! It looks great, and the plants will send a few little runners over the edge for a nice but controlled cascading effect. Best of luck in your flea market hunting and your gardening!
Drainage holes in containers
I too love flea markets and have lots of plants in unusual containers that, at first glance, don't look as if they would be good planting containers. Of course it's always better to have drainage holes or
at the very least, a 1-2 inch layer of gravel at the bottom of the container.
But If you are using something (like your birdbath) that can't easily have holes drilled into it, you might consider planting into
a plastic pot with holes that is one size smaller than the container you use on the outside. In this way the smaller plastic pot with holes is really just an insert that sits into the larger container and lets the water drain down into the bottom. The water in the bottom will eventually evaporate or you can always take the smaller pot out & check on any sitting water. There are also reuseable plant container inserts on the market that provide good drainage in containers and can be reused season after season. You might check at your local hardware store or nursery and they will probably have them.
Aloha,
Malia
Drainage for containers
I love plain clay pots and saucers and I use them a lot--even my birdbath is terra cotta. To me it's the beauty of simplicity. One of my early spring projects is to go through all of my clay pots to see which ones have survived our winters (which tend to be long and cold here in the North) and which ones have cracked. I don't have a lot of indoor storage for these things, so I do lose at least a couple every winter if there's a lot of fluctuation in temperature. Anyway, when I find broken terra cotta in my collection I don't cry over it--I just break it up with a hammer and use the shards in the bottom of my containers when I plant them up. It's always good to do this because it contributes to the health of the roots. I do have a few special clay pots that I would cry over if they broke, but otherwise they are cheap and plentiful. I've even been known to grab a few out of curbside trash--why not?