It’s time to start designing and planting container gardens and what to plant them in. Here’s how to make a plastic planter look like cast iron.
When planting container gardens, my theory is usually go big or go home. And why not, really. Several plant varieties all grouped together in a big beautiful planter; it’s all kinds of pretty in a pot. I love to plant container gardens, and place them on our porches and beside doors. Although I love terra cotta, I tend to gravitate more toward concrete planters and irons ones too. I think the greys and the blacks of the containers blend in with the gardens in the background, and really show off the plants they house. I’ve even been known to add plants to a repurposed bird bath, and on a smaller scale, a random left boot that was spared by the jaws of a teething puppy. Whatever works….
For years I was on the lookout for large cast iron urns. My vision was to have them flank the front door of the garden house. The older the better for patina purposes, but inevitably when I would find a pair for sale, they were a bazillion dollars and weighed as much in pounds. And, the more I got to think about it, although cast iron is uber durable and gorgeous, anything iron kinda needs to be handled with kid gloves when inclement weather comes around. These urns would be exposed to all kinds of sun and weather all day, every day, and since I don’t have the strength of Hercules to move them or the gumption to wrap them every time it rains or snows, I needed to entertain another urn avenue.
A Collection Of Planters
There are lots and lots of beautifully shaped plastic pots on the market. Some can fool you and don’t even look like plastic until you touch them. Then, there are the plastic ones that have the exact silhouette you’re looking for, but look cheap. Such is the case when I found these urns.
Planters are an investment. The goal is to have them for years, right? Why buy new every year. Grow the collection. Still, I needed to find my happy-medium with these because in my mind’s eye I still wanted ones that looked like aged cast iron.
Painting wasn’t an option. Although there are amazing plastic binding spray paints out there, I simply didn’t want the fuss of having to touch up every spring. I thought of applying a black butcher wax to the surface, but the longevity still wouldn’t jive with weather. And then I started going down the automotive aisle again.
Yes! Of course! I needed to find some of that black stuff that is used to spiff up scraped bumpers and revitalize black convertible tops. It’s the perfect solution to make a plastic planter look like cast iron. It’s designed to cover, coat, and polish to withstand just about everything.
Here’s How To Make A Plastic Planter Look Like Cast Iron
First, make sure the surface is clean and free of dust and dirt. Starting at the bottom, use a clean cloth and pour a small amount of the black stuff, then apply to the surface of the planter. Rub and blend until you have the surface look you want. Keep working your way up and around, all the way to the top, making sure that you work inside about two inches deep to keep with consistency.
It’s really that simple. Let the surface dry for at least 24 hours before planting anything inside.
Here’s Why These Planters Are A Gardener’s Best Bet
Because they’re made of heavy plastic, the longevity of these planters is almost infinite. And, because the black stuff is heavy duty and specifically made to restore plastic, you’re already winning. As I always prefer to test out products over time before I put my stamp of approval, I did this planter project the beginning of summer last year. With an extremely rainy summer, fluctuating temps in the fall, along with ample amount of sleet and snow this past winter, those planters that flank the garden house front door still look great. No stress of rust or rot, and they’re all ready to house a variety of plants this for this season. And since I can’t ever seem to leave well enough alone, I’m going to apply another coat of the black stuff so there’s no under-surface color peeping through. Because, well, why not?!
I have a few other plastic pots around here that are in need of this kind of facelift. Although it’s still a little cold outside here in the northeast, I’m gonna just set up shop in my office. I’ll lay down a small tarp, and turn those cheap looking plastic planters into cast iron lookalikes.
Top Favorite Plastic Planter Pots
I’ve sourced a few of my top favorite plastic planter pots for you to check out. You can find them all here in My Amazon Storefront!
Just goes to prove that you can find DIY project supplies in just about every aisle, even automotive.
Looking for more container garden inspiration? I’ve got some good ideas here!
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