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Make a colourful hanging planter

A green upcycled hanging planter with trailing green plants

Overview

With minimum effort and colourful spray paint, you can create a cheery welcome gesture to brighten your home’s entry. Transform a wire basket and chains with the paint, then select plants to match. Hang from strong joists with weather-resistant S hooks or durable brackets, suitable for the weight of the filled basket and for your type of wall.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, ear muffs, gloves and mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

  1. 1

    Remove the frame

    Remove the hanging basket lining. Using long-nose pliers, carefully prise the end rings of the chains apart and remove from the basket frame. 
  2. 2

    Paint the frame

    Working on a drop sheet, spray the chains and outside of the frame with primer and leave to dry. Apply 2-3 coats of spray paint, leaving to dry after each coat. 

  3. 3

    Put the planter together

    Reattach the chains, closing the end rings with pliers, and replace the lining, ready to plant up and hang. 

  4. 4

    Serene green

    We planted this green hanging planter with fishbone cactus, moth orchid, batwing alocasia, ribbon fern, calathea, devil’s ivy, heart-leaf philodendron and rhipsalis. These hardy subtropical plants like morning sun in spring but will not tolerate full sun, so need plenty of shade in summer. If growing in cooler regions, place the basket indoors or in areas protected from frost during winter.

    A green upcycled hanging planter with trailing green plants
  5. 5

    In the pink

    A sculptural, strappy-leafed cordyline takes centrestage, with pretty daisies in support. Position this blush-hued grouping where it will receive full sun in spring, then move to a shadier spot in summer. We planted it up with marguerite daisy, seaside daisy, heuchera and Cordyline ‘Salsa’.

    A pink upcycled hanging planter
  6. 6

    Mellow yellow

    Combine sunny blooms with foliage in shades of pale green and silver for a fresh and uplifting arrangement. These plants will enjoy morning sun in spring, but should be moved to dappled shade once summer arrives. We used alyssum, bidens, licorice plant, violas and pansies, lamium and Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ plants.

    A yellow upcycled hanging planter
  7. 7

    Blue crush

    Complement a bright and bold sky-blue basket by planting annuals in violet hues. Dead-head spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering, or you could leave some to mature and collect the seeds for next year! We planted up this hanger with Angelonia ‘Serena White’, violas and pansies, and Swan River daisy. 

    A blue upcycled hanging planter
  8. 8

    Think vertically

    Get more tips on using a hanging garden to transform your space.

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.