“I make giant planters from leftover materials” – Marika crafts stylish DIY planters for large houseplants using buckets and mortar

The slat-decorated planters are covered with wooden sticks, and the glass bottle is decorated with a jute string net. Marika gave the small pot a makeover with leftover suede from a pair of baby slippers.

The planter for the large peace lily is made from three plastic outdoor pots. This is one of many upcycled planters for large indoor plants that Marika uses in her home.

What kind of DIYer are you?

Almost everything in my home has my personal touch. If I spot something at a flea market that has an interesting shape, I’ll customize it—for example, by painting it to match my home. I started updating planters when I found one of my large houseplants’ containers ugly. Above all, I wanted the planters to blend better with the decor. That said, there’s also something appealing about saving money and reusing the materials you already have.

You often make large DIY planters. What kind of houseplants do you like?

I especially love big plants, for example various arum species. Still, I don’t buy them without careful thought, so each one has enough space and light.

I have dozens of customized planters both indoors and outdoors. Usually, when I change the soil in spring, I notice if any plant needs a bigger pot, and that’s when I decide how I’ll decorate it.

This tall and trendy planter came about when Marika stacked two leftover buckets from the greenhouse and painted them with a light-toned spray paint.

What supplies do you need to decorate planters?

I always use the most affordable planters or tubs as a base. Our home has plenty of leftover renovation materials, like mortar, that end up in my crafts. For outdoor planters, I might use bricks or planks, for instance. Some people might see these materials as trash, but I know they can often be turned into all kinds of things.

For one large vase, I used thick cardboard as a mold and filled the spaces with polyurethane foam. Then I carved it into shape, coated it with grout, and put a huge bucket inside. It was my first time using foam.

Sometimes I buy supplies from craft stores and wait for inspiration. I also look at interior design photos for ideas. But I sometimes make changes along the way, so the final result can be different. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it’s fine if the planter looks handmade.

Inside the large white vase is a big bucket, and the exterior is made of polyurethane foam, which Marika carved and coated with grout.

Marika wrapped a bamboo mat around a mortar bucket and secured it with zip ties. “Sometimes customizing doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that. And it still looks nice.”

The hanging planter was made from craft-store rings. The base is a leftover tile from a previous renovation.

Feeling inspired by Marika’s upcycled planter ideas for large indoor plants? Check out this double planter + 7 other easy DIY ideas!