Introduction: Clay Flower Pot - With a Twist
Here is a miniature flower pot garden, inspired by a broken terracotta planter. You can pretend that you're being environmentally conscious by recycling (or is it re-using?) something that was destined for the garbage, although your friends will wonder how you were so lucky to have a pot break in just the right shape! In any case, this makes a beautiful and unique centerpiece for your flower bed, or just as a fun planter for indoors or out.
Step 1: Get Your Materials Ready
List of gardening materials – can be found in most garden nurseries:
1. 10-1/2″ decorative clay pot
2. cut out template (open and print PDF file)
3. rotozip tool with 1/8″ masonry bit
4. dust mask and eye protection
5. potting soil
6. a hen and chick succulent, a baby alyssum and a baby iris plant (actually, most any small plants will work, this is just what I used)
7. 4-5 pieces of small, elongated rocks
8. moss
Step 2: Prep the Pot
With the template, trace and mark onto pot
Attachments
Step 3: Cut Out Marked Section
This is very messy and creates lots of dust, so try to do it outdoors, and make sure you wear a dust mask and protective glasses. Use a rotozip tool with 1/8" masonry bit
Step 4: Secure the Wall
Put enough soil in the pot and position cut off section diagonally to make a wall - make sure there's enough space for succulent on one side and steps on the other side
Step 5: Break the Hen and Clicks
Take the plant out of the pot and carefully separate it into multiple plants of varying sizes
Step 6: Planting
Start planting little chicks first, followed by larger ones, and finally the hens as you reach the top, add soil along the way. Arrange Iris and baby alyssum to fill up the rest of the pot. Put a big rock on the other side of the wall to hold it in position while planting
Step 7: Make Staircase and Final Touch-up
Choose 4 or 5 pieces of small elongated rocks as steps - build steps from bottom to the top, press firmly into the soil to secure. Finally cover the "risers" with moss.
Here is your cool looking flower pot with a twist
39 Comments
7 years ago
I love it
8 years ago on Introduction
Beautiful Inwill make @
8 years ago
I wonder if a foam pot would work if I used a hand saw to cut the piece away? I just love it and was thinking of ways to make it for those, like me, who don't have use of an electric saw.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Not sure if a foam pot would be sturdy enough, but might be worth a try. If that doesn't work, perhaps you could try a plastic pot, as suggested by another user?
8 years ago
Thanks for the tips and info. I had seen something like this at the fair a year ago, but didn't do anything about it until now.
Not quite the same, but here's what I made for my mom for Mother's Day using a pot that already had a cracked section and then routing out a bit extra.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Looks great! I like your mix of plants too!
8 years ago on Introduction
Excellent! Looks grand. Great way to put broken pots to use....
8 years ago on Introduction
Hmm, I have this big foam pot that cracked in the winter. This would be so cute on the deck.
8 years ago on Introduction
Its really cool
8 years ago on Introduction
i love hens and chics and will do this! i have something similar and also created a stairway of hens and their chicks and the pots which were broken, look as tho they are "dumping" out their babes (chicks) as the stairs go down. (multi-pot method? ) i'm glad that you shared your idea, as clearly i do not really get my ideas across, lol
8 years ago on Introduction
Adorable!
8 years ago on Introduction
I am super inspired. I want to make this for my grandmas beautiful garden, but I only have a dremel. What bit should I use. Rotary file or diamond spur bit? Is there a method to weaken the spot where it needs to brek so I could just break? Maybe heat the pot and cool that line quickly?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I actually did use a dremel the first time I made this. It works, but it was really slow, think it took me around 20 minutes to cut (as opposed to 5 min with the rotozip). I used a 1/8 inch tile cutting bit.
I haven't tried your suggestion to weaken and break, so don't know if that would work. You might try using the dremel to score the pattern onto the inside of clay pot, then heat and cool rapidly. I would test it on a unwanted pot first, though. Good luck, and let me know how it comes out.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
thank you, I hope it will work...
8 years ago on Introduction
This is pretty sweet, will give it a try in spring, thank you for sharing!
8 years ago on Introduction
This is great! I love the cascade of foliage down the side.
8 years ago on Introduction
Beautifully done, and a very nice set of instructions! I'll have to make one of these.
8 years ago on Introduction
I love this! That looks so cool! I wish I were 1" tall!
8 years ago on Introduction
This is just lovely--thank you for sharing.
8 years ago on Introduction
Very nice project, thanks for posting. BTW, those fence panels on your site, with all the different shapes, that's the coolest fence I've EVER seen! Any chance you could do an instruct on that too? That would be great!