12 Months of Thrifting: May Prompt – Pots & Planters

Planting season is upon us and Goodwill is the perfect place to stock up on this month’s thrift theme for your flowers and plants: pots and planters.

Planters might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of thrift stores, but there are so many affordable options readily available at Goodwill at a fraction of retail prices. From baskets to teacups, Goodwill is also the perfect place to get creative with your planters.

Keep reading for tips on how to thrift the best planters:

  • No planter left behind: if you see one you love, grab it! Planters tend to sell quickly at secondhand stores, so pick them up as you spot them throughout the year.

  • Gift them: keep a few thrifted planters on hand to give as gifts. They make great homemade gifts for teachers, Mother’s Day, or hostess gifts.

  • Explore the space: don’t limit yourself to traditional planters and pots. Browse all sections of Goodwill to find new and creative ways to house your plants. You can plant flowers or succulents in just about anything that matches your style. Some of my favorite DIY planters came from the Cuyahoga Falls Goodwill store, including the brass bowls that I turned into a mini planter for small succulents.

Keep an eye out for some of these creative makeshift pots:

  • Teacups
  • Glass Jars
  • Watering Cans
  • Baskets (Put a piece of plastic inside the basket/ or use it only outside and it has perfect drainage)
  • Old Coffee Cans/Tins
  • Fish Bowls
  • Chandeliers
  • Old Dressers
  • Old Tires
  • Old Chairs
  • Toys (Old Cars or Trucks)
  • Old Toolboxes
  • Kitchen ceramics / canisters
  • Large vases – just pop your plastic store-bought planter in there and remove it when it’s time to water it.

Bonus tip from the thrift community:

Reader @serendipitouslizzie on Instagram says she uses pie plates or silver platters to use as plant saucers. How creative!

Remember:

  • Clean preloved planters well with soap and water before planting
  • Drill holes in DIY planters for drainage
  • Succulents need holes for drainage too, but they are kept so dry that you can get away without adding drainage holes.

Tune into the podcast this month for more tips and share your thrifted planters with us on social media using the tag #12MonthsofThrifting

Happy Spring!