Tip-Top Flower Pots: Maximize limited space to grow plants and flowers!

This cool project will allow you to take advantage of even the tiniest place to grow flowers and plants- on patios, decks, balconies, etc. These supplies are easy to find (some recycled from your friends, family, and garage) and the final product is unique and spectacular. Your friends will be asking you "How did you do that?"

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Step 1: Gather your materials.

OK, either dig through your stash of flower pots or make a trip to your local home improvement store (or your mom's house) and gather what you need:

1 12" flower pot
1 saucer to go under the base pot (optional)
4 8" flower pots*
1 4' garden stake (sturdy- steel covered in plastic- I got mine at Wal-Mart)
20" of 1/2" PVC or similar (look around in your garage- you don't need much)
Potting soil
Flowers/plants- I planted 3-4 four-inch flower squares on each tier

I used plain terra cotta pots- I wouldn't recommend using the azalea terra cotta pots. Your pots MUST have the drainage hole on the bottom.

orchidselect says: May 12, 2013. 12:00 AM

Very nice I'm also trying to grow flowers in pots http://www.orchidselect.com/growing-flowers-in-pots/

love2die100 says: May 7, 2012. 11:29 AM

thx4sharing,my neighbour has one the same assembled here but instead of using plants can you convert it into fountain,when yes how.

emad_sh says: Feb 13, 2011. 2:40 AM

Very Nice and Easy
thanks for sharing.

ismailkumar says: Jan 3, 2011. 11:19 PM

i.m.p.- point

alanfindaly says: Nov 9, 2010. 11:12 AM

Wow, this is a great way to use all of the clay pots I have laying around. I'll have to go out and buy some shop flowers , but it will be worth it if it turns out as nice as the pictures here look.

brennawalters says: Jul 3, 2010. 6:43 AM

I bet that if you used sturdy pvc for the center post, and drilled holes intermittantly along its length, you could use a funnel to water all your plants through the center. No evaporation loss! You would arrange your most water-loving plants on the bottom, with the more dry-climate plants on top. From mint on the bottom to cacti on the top!

taia82 says: May 16, 2010. 10:43 AM

To make this more sturdy, I would recommend that you got a threaded galvanized pipe and a floor flange. You could then attach it to a piece of small board, or you can screw it right to the floor. It would keep it upright, so you would just have to re-arrange the pots if they get blown around.

chalky says: Aug 11, 2009. 4:50 PM

heres mine:)

Nancy52 says: Aug 7, 2009. 6:57 AM

Ok!!!!!!! Like daaaa Nancy. That does make a lot of sense. There is one of the tip-top flower pots here in town and they are always rearranging it after the wind blows hard. Also could you just put the vertical pole through the drain hole in the bottom 12" pot and into the ground and just skip the dish under the bottom pot? If so, would you still need the PVC in bottom pot? I was thinking of using an electric fence post to run through the whole thing. It fits through the holes. I already tried that fit. Thanks for your replys.

jholland (author) says: Aug 6, 2009. 8:30 PM

UPDATE: While away on vacation, high winds swept through town, bending my pole, and sending my flower pots crashing to the ground. At least that's what the neighbor told us. Fortunately, she re-potted the flowers and saved them. I'll make another one I suppose- and may anchor this one a little better- and may use a more sturdy pole!

Nancy52 says: Aug 4, 2009. 4:31 PM

What is the purpose of the PVC pipe in the bottom of 12" pot?

jholland (author) says: Aug 6, 2009. 8:28 PM

That holds/anchors the vertical pole in place. Without it, the pole will slide around in the loose dirt.

jaded30720 says: Jul 5, 2009. 9:09 PM

I really do like this project. One lady made hers into a herb garden which is what I would like to do. Kudos.

aklesh3 says: Jul 4, 2009. 6:30 PM

Here's the one I made. Being in Florida, it drys out really fast, so that when you water it, you have to water it sloooooooooow, or the water just runs off.

blackturtle says: Jun 16, 2009. 12:54 PM

This is so awesome! I think I need one (or 7) for around my house! thanks for sharing!

jeffrey1965 says: Jun 10, 2009. 1:25 PM

I did one for my wife for Easter. Everything is growing well and it looks nice.

IDmom says: May 27, 2009. 9:43 PM

How do the holes need to be drilled for the stake to go through causing the pots to lean? I'm sure the hole and stake placements have something to do with making the pots lean, but I can't picture it. Please explain for this newbie, thanks!

jholland (author) says: Jun 6, 2009. 6:48 AM

I used pots with drainage holes already since drilling these holes in terra cotta may prove difficult to do without cracking the pot. If you are going to drill the holes yourself in terra cotta, I would suggest soaking the pot in water for a couple hours before hand and using a small drill bit working your way up to larger bits. The holes should be in the center of the pots on the bottom. As long as the holes are large enough, the pots will naturally lean. Does that make since?

wgoble says: May 30, 2009. 10:23 AM

Awesome! I think we'll be building one of these over the weekend.

RoBear613 says: May 27, 2009. 9:08 PM

I could see getting a lot more strawberry plant in this (and therefore more strawberries) than a "strawberry pot" for the same price. Take your bowl of corn flakes out to the patio and enjoy.

luckysuzy says: May 26, 2009. 6:29 AM

Love it! I made mine into an herb garden. It is awesome and very easy to do! Thanks for the instructable!

fleurdejava says: Apr 21, 2009. 9:51 AM

very nice and clever! I did it yesterday, it costs only 8 euros for the 5 pots (I leave in France). Thank you so much.

fleurdejava says: Apr 22, 2009. 1:10 AM

In my garden, in France

jholland (author) says: Apr 22, 2009. 4:02 PM

That turned out great!

gaz9448 says: Apr 20, 2009. 3:40 AM

built one over the weekend thanks to your instructable. i used stuff which i'd saved from previous fun and used these instead so might not be as sturdy. I used a metal pole, that used to be part of one of those cheap canvas marquees you can get, as the canvas didn't hold up to a full season. the pots weren't all terracotta, but looked nice and have the drainage including an old wine cooler with the bottom partly drilled out. fantastic mate.

jholland (author) says: Apr 21, 2009. 7:57 PM

I'd like to see a picture of that- sounds interesting!

alphaseinor says: Apr 21, 2009. 8:34 AM

I'm in the contest as well, and I voted for you! Very nice instructable, and a good use of space!

Maureclaire says: Apr 17, 2009. 3:48 PM

Fabulous ! Gotta do it ! I'm thinking if I put it on the ground, won't need pvc pipe at all, and just have stake go well into ground, won't even need to cut it.. Even easier ! Thanks for idea !

lady4feet says: Apr 17, 2009. 2:01 PM

I love it! I saw something similar at the flea market but they wanted $22 for just the pole. Now I can make my onw, thank you.

yngla says: Apr 17, 2009. 10:20 AM

Great instructable! This idea is so cool and the end result is stunning!

majeral says: Apr 17, 2009. 7:46 AM

This is great!!! and easy and cheap ( Can't spell inexpensive ) I saw something years ago on a home improvement show that took a tomato cage and made it into a stand to hold poinsettia They never showed how to do it. Thanks again Vie !

knittinandnoodlin says: Apr 17, 2009. 3:02 AM

Great instructable! I just bought a kit for this at the Philadelphia Flower Show - such a cool idea to stack flower pots! Your instructions/photos are really clear - good work!