Recycle paint pots and paint containers
These days I am loathe to throw anything away, especially plastic containers. Here is one that uses plastic paint pots or paint containers.
Being involved in DIY means that I use a lot of paint and normally the paint containers would end up in the trash. Why is it that manufacturers are moving away from tin containers and going for plastic. Anyway, I have developed a habit of thinking-before-throwing and look for ways to reuse, repurpose and recycle. I came up with the idea of making herb pots from paint pots.
What's nice about using paint pots as mini herb gardens is that you can carry and move them around, and they would be perfect for a balcony garden.
So here’s a fun way to recycle paint containers as flower pots that will look lovely on a patio or balcony. These colourful pots definitely add a splash of colour to a drab corner, and because the pots have handles, they are easy to carry around. Move them into a sunny spot on a cold winter’s day or a cool spot when it’s hot.
YOU WILL NEED:
Empty paint pots, washed
Drill/driver and drill bit
Small pebbles or broken crockery
Bag of potting soil
Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint in your choice of colours or leftover paint
Selection of herbs and vegetables, as well as a few small plants for contrast
HERE'S HOW:
1. Soak the paint pots in hot soapy water to loosen paint on the inside and outside. A kitchen knife comes in handy for scraping away any stubborn paint.
2. Use a drill bit to make holes in the bottom of each pot for drainage. Plants don’t like to sit in soggy soil and will soon die off without drainage holes in the pots.
3. Use Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint or leftover paint in your choice of colour to paint the pots. If using leftover paint, give the pots a light sanding with 180-grit sandpaper before painting.
4. Place pebbles or broken crockery in the bottom of each pot and then fill about three-quarters full with potting soil. Remove veggies or herbs from their containers and bed them in the soil. If the roots are wrapped tightly around, use your fingers to gently loosen.
GOOD TO KNOW
Plant a selection of mixed veggies and herbs in a single pot. In this pot is thyme and a couple of cherry tomato plants.
You can plant specific types of veggies or herbs in a colour. I have planted my spinach in a green pot and tomatoes in a red pot.
I planted my Black Pearl chilli plant with a couple of spinach seedlings. When they start to grow, the chilli plant will add height whilst the spinach will fill up the pot with greenery ready for the picking.