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DIY Vertical Planter

This DIY Vertical Planter is the perfect garden option for those with limited space.  Grow your own herbs or flowers in this easy to maintain vertical planter.

This DIY Vertical Planter is the perfect garden option for those with limited space. Grow your own herbs or flowers in this easy to maintain vertical planter.

I am so happy with the way this project turned out!  It makes me smile every time I walk past it on the front porch.  It was super easy, and much like my ombré note cards, pretty self-explanatory. 

Here’s what you need to make your own DIY Vertical Planter:

  • 14 in terra cotta pot
  • 12 in terra cotta pot
  • 10 in terra cotta pot
  • 8.25 in terra cotta pot
  • 6 in terra cotta pot
  • 14 in terra cotta base
  • potting soil
  • flowers or herbs
  • a wooden stake or rod, such as rebar

Note: You will need enough plants for five pots, but keep in mind they will only be on the edges.  I was able to do the entire project with one bag of potting soil, and had a little left over.  I purchased a wooden stake, but it was too thick to fit through the center holes.  (Keep this in mind when purchasing.)  I actually ended up using a curtain tension rod I had in my garage.  It worked perfect for me, especially being extendable.

Place your base where you want your vertical planter to be.  (I don’t recommend moving it after assembled, so it’s best to build where you want it.)  Starting with the largest pot, fill it with dirt 3/4 of the way full and place the rod in the center.  Plant your herbs or flowers on the outermost edge, and add more dirt as filler as needed.  Place the 2nd largest pot in the center of the first pot.  Continue this process until all five pots are stacked.  Don’t fill the center all the way to the top with dirt, the next pot should sit down a couple inches inside the first pot.

I decided to make my vertical planter multipurpose and used 3 of the 5 pots as an herb garden.  This is a great option for people who want a small herb garden, or are running low on space.  Would be perfect for an apartment balcony even!  My basil is growing like crazy, we can’t make enough pesto to keep up.  I planted begonias in the other pots because I liked the contrast they added to the herbs.

stacked flower pots with flowers and herbs

I have enjoyed this DIY vertical planter so much!  I don’t consider myself to have a green thumb (I usually kill all of my indoor plants as soon as I buy them) but I am pretty proud of this project.  It has been a lovely addition to our front porch!

front porch with American flag and vertical planter

You can find the tutorial for my $10 & 10 Minute Wreath here.

I am dying to paint my front door… any suggestions?

Heidi 'kootch' Koch

Friday 19th of June 2020

SO gonna do this! And get my eco-savvy teenage son to build it with me. (Opps for us to enjoy doing projects together are precious and few these days). Paint your door yet? Maybe a dark chestnut, or a clay colored eggplant ..?

Divya

Monday 8th of April 2019

Hi, This is such pretty vertical planter. Could you help me by telling me how much did it cost you? Also where do you find the rod?

TIA

Jim

Thursday 7th of March 2019

It is soil, not dirt.

Cassie

Friday 6th of April 2018

Great idea, I totally stole it for succulents! Here's a picture of my finished project: https://twitter.com/CassieY4/status/981703083494273024

Emily Grace

Thursday 12th of April 2018

Super cute!

rachel

Saturday 6th of January 2018

Great idea!! just wondering how tall your planter ended up, so i know how long of a pole i will need?

Emily Grace

Thursday 11th of January 2018

About 4 feet. You can adjust slightly based on how much dirt you put in each one before stacking. Hope this helps.

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