18 Things To Do with Terracotta Plant Pots (other than put a houseplant in them)

Paint and varnish. The pots would be ideal to paint up and use for holding small houseplants.

Bird Feeder. Using a small bead on a string to seal the drainage hole and then fill the pot with seeds and fat for the birds. These can then be hung upside down on a tree in winter. The frost might damage the pot though.

Easter egg holder. The pots are attractive enough to be the base for a seasonal chocolate egg, all that is needed is a bow and a fluffy chic.

Christmas planter. There are so many small Christmas plants that could fit into the small pots and be given as a gift. There are poinsettia, Christmas cacti, ivy, cyclamen and even miniature conifers. If you really wanted to add to the Christmas tat you could spray the tree with some glitter and add a bit of tinsel.

Pin cushion. Just add a ball of soft filler in a sock and push into the pot for the pins to stick into.

Drinking Cup. This would take a bit of planning but I can’t see why I couldn’t put a glass or cup inside the pot and then use it as a drinking vessel. I’d have to get the moss and salt deposits off first mind you.

Low energy light shade. The small low energy bulbs fitted on ceiling brackets can be encased with the pots giving a warm, terracotta glow to the room.

Lamp Base. Ideal because of the weight. Perfect for small shades and the light reflects off them beautifully.

Plant up with cacti. As the pots are already vintage I like the idea of them being around for a long time and not just to give a gift then be discarded. One of the best long lived plants to put in the pot would be a cacti or succulent.  My brother had small “living stones” in pots this size and some of them were well over 100 years old!

Children can paint them. This would be entertaining for a while and could be varnished over so they could cope with being wet if used as a plant pot. 

 

Mozaic. Use small pieces of coloured pot to add a pattern to the side of the pot.

Windowsill herb planter. Basil will do well in the pots as will most small growing herbs. The plants can be taken out and replaced often.

Place them in the ground and make a drip feeder. The drain hole can be sealed up then sink the pot into the ground (especially useful in a polytunnel or greenhouse) the pot can be filled with water and this slowly seeps out into the soil giving plants a continual supply of water. 

Drill holes in them. The small holes could them be planted with small bulbs or plants.

Use broken ones in fish tanks. The fish will have a lifetime of entertainment swimming through the broken pots and hiding from their friends.

Make a clay pot person to sit in the garden. I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel here although it might look OK if done well. You could put them in poses like you would a garden gnome.

Planting up bulbs such as hyacinth. This idea would be very seasonal and I would only give these to people who would replant the pot with something else later in the growing season and not throw the pot away. If I sold them to the public I would have to vet them first for their suitability for ownership!

Make a useful gift case for gloves at Christmas/Birthdays.  I think the pot would make an interesting packing container for gardening gloves. Again, vetting would need to be done to make sure the pots were used.

If you would like some handmade terracotta plant pots please follow this link..  Gumtree advert offering 500 small pots or smaller quantities. 

Gift idea from Etsy..