Upcycle An Old Produce Bin Into The Cutest Hanging Planter

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Who doesn't love a beautiful produce bin (also known as fruit bowls or baskets)? While they look charming, they often aren't the best way to store your fruit if you want it to last as long as possible. That doesn't mean you have to just toss them, though. Instead, they can be upcycled to create adorable planters. You can even make many of them into hanging planters!

First, make sure your produce bin has a wire mesh bottom for drainage. If you want to use a fruit bowl without holes or a mesh or wire bottom, you'll need to drill your own drainage holes first. If your basket is the style that sits on a counter instead of hanging, you'll also need to find a chain or make a macrame plant hanger to use with it. Alternatively, you could just rest it on a plant stand you can DIY from an old bird bath. 

Multi-tiered hanging fruit bins like the CAXXA 3-Tier Hanging Basket Fruit Organizer from Amazon are the best option if you want your planter to hang without too much modification on your part. If you don't already have a good bin or organizer to use, you'll likely be able to find one at your local thrift store. You could also opt for using a colander to create your planter.

Begin by deciding whether you want to paint your planter or keep the color your fruit bin was originally. If you opt to paint it, be sure to use outdoor paint or enamel that sticks to metal well. Then, fit a coco coir hanging basket liner inside each bin of your planter. These are widely available at garden centers and many, like the Legigo Hanging Basket Coco Liners, are available on Amazon, as well. The liners will help keep your potting mix in the basket while still letting water drain freely. Now you're finally ready to fill your planter with potting mix and flowers, and hang up your creation!

If your planter has multiple tiers, be sure to consider the potential difference in light levels for the different parts of the planter. You may need to grow sun-loving plants in the top level and opt for more shade-tolerant flowers in the lower levels if they'll be getting less sunlight. Coleus and impatiens could both be good choices for these shadier parts of the planter. If you decide to use your hanging basket indoors, consider filling it with some of the houseplants Joanna Gaines loves using. Don't forget that caring for flowers in hanging baskets usually involves more watering and fertilizing than plants grown in the ground.