Kickball Planter

Intro: Kickball Planter

Not too long ago, the beloved Instructables kickball was popped by an overzealous dog. As we are not prone to ever throw anything away (ever), it just lamely drifted around the office as people slowly kicked it about in dissatisfaction from spot to spot. This continued for a while until one day I had the idea to resurrect this ball by cutting it in half and turn it into a hanging plant basket. And, that is precisely what I did. Follows are directions so you can do the same.

STEP 1: Go Get Stuff

You will need:

A popped kickball
A razor blade
Scissors
A power and some drill bits
Five thin steel cables with fasteners on the ends
A metal nut (see step 4)
A metal washer
A hanging planter bracket
2 screws
A screwdriver
A stud finder
Gravel or pumice stone
Potting soil
Plant
A zip tie

STEP 2: Cut the Kickball in Half

Cut the kickball in half along its seam using a razor blade and/or scissors.

STEP 3: Drill Holes

Drill a hole in the center of the bottom of the kickball.

Drill another 5 holes around this center hole at about and inch to and inch and a half. Make sure these five holes are large enough to let light pass through (and don't close completely back up. .

STEP 4: Attach Cables

Pass your steel cables through the center hole from the outside to the inside.

Next pass these cables through your steel washer.

Lastly, pass these cables through your metal nut. The idea on the nut is that you can pass one cable at a time through if the previous ones are pulled through far enough that the fasteners are out of the way. When all of them are passed through, pull them all tight to the nut, they should all be held tightly in place.

STEP 5: Mount

Find the wall stud that is above your window from which you want to hang your planter (assuming you are hanging it in the window).

Mark where the screws should be installed for the basket using a pencil

Drill where you marked with a 3/32 drill bit. You should meet some resistance about halfway through when you hit the stud. If you don't, you haven't found the stud. Try again. Do not hang the basket in just drywall.

Fasten the bracket to the wall using screws.

STEP 6: On the Rocks

Fill the bottom of your planter with gravel or pumice stone. A handful or two should suffice. I did this to help the water drain a little better and keep the soil from leaking out onto the floor.

STEP 7: Plant

Lay down a few handfuls of soil and then transfer your plant to its new home and fill in the remaining sides with more soil.

STEP 8: Hang

I did this as a two person job. I had my girlfriend hold the bottom of the planter while I raised and positioned the cable around the basket. When I was sure it was stable, I had her let go.

I then zip tied this to the basket and it was good to go.

STEP 9: Hang Two

If you weren't happy with just one, you can hang two!

Rather than fasten two planters to two brackets, you can drape the wires over each bracket and fasten to each other with a few zip ties.

Comments

[idalingi]

Awesome idea! One quick question, where do you get those steel cables with fasteners on the ends?

[randofo]

I found them. Sorry that isn't more helpful. You might be able to buy the cable and fasteners separately ad mcmaster.com.

[s1a1t1a1n]

Toxicity leeching? (Someone had to ask)

[randofo]

It's some form of rubber on the inside. I'm not too concerned.

[redsauce]

How do you keep the water from leaking out the bottom when you water it? Just don't water it very much at one time?

[randofo]

I either do that or wipe it up later. I've considered placing a small dish in the floor underneath, but I haven't found it necessary yet.

[Lithium Rain]

Awesome planter!

Haha, I'm exactly the same way, I never throw such potentially useful things as broken VCRs and popped balls away!

[explosivemaker]

very neat

[knexsuperbuilderfreak]

perfect i can get a kickball and make two one for my mom and my friend can make one for his

[Lindie]

Very nice!

[scoochmaroo]

Lovely pictures!

[randofo]

Of course. I'm a professional.

[Callum Snowden]

lolz

[scoochmaroo]

:P

[jessyratfink]

This is a really great use for it. Very pretty end product. :D

[SinAmos]

Planters are all the rage on instructables, but from my own experience, they suffocate root growth and plant potential. If you must put a plant in a pot, talk to it everyday, so it doesn't feel cheated.:)

[bumpus]

What a great idea! I like the red in contrast to the green plants. :D

[fwjs28]

interesting