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DIY Tomato Cage Plant Stand

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Can you really make a DIY tomato cage plant stand from an old, rusty tomato cage that you use in the garden? Yes, yes you can!

I know, it sounds strange. Stick with me though and let me explain.

A few weeks ago I went to the Kane County flea market, which is the mother of all flea markets around here.

You can find just about anything, from a vintage mail holder found in an old barn to plants to rusty giant letters. You name it, it’s there.

olive bucket in a DIY plant stand

Anyway, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, just enjoying walking up and down the aisles checking everything out, when I saw some vintage olive buckets.

I’ve been wanting one but I’ve never seen them at the flea, so when I saw that this giant, rusty beauty was $55, I knew it was coming home with me.

rusty old olive bucket to use in a DIY plant stand

I’ve been looking at smaller olive buckets on and off for quite a while. I always thought I would use it in the house somewhere, but, once I got this one home and saw how big it really was, I knew it would have to go on my deck with a beautiful Kimberly Queen fern.

The only problem with it was that it needed a little height.

I was trying to figure how to get it up in the air when I saw the tomato cages that we had just put in the garden to hold up our young tomato plants.

tomato cages around tomato plants in a garden

I didn’t measure anything but as soon as I turned it upside down, I knew it would work.

Roger though, had some doubts. He alway has doubts when it comes to my projects.

using a hack saw to cut off legs on tomato cage

To get the size I wanted I used a hacksaw to cut the 4 posts and the bottom ring off.

Five minutes and I had a DIY tomato cage plant stand (way before they became a popular thing).

tomato cage cut in two pieces

Then I put my bucket in to check the fit and it was perfect, and surprisingly sturdy.

old metal bucket in trimmed tomato cage

Can you spray paint tomato cages?

Absolutely!

The tomato cage that I used was old and a dull colored gray.

I wanted to add just a bit of color to it so I pulled out the hammered bronze spray paint.

Spray paint can and tomato cage

It was just the touch it needed.

A close up of a bottle of spray paint

A little bit of drying time and I had a “new” plant stand for my vintage olive bucket.

All I had to do was to add a fern and it was ready for a photo shoot.

vintage olive bucket in DIY plant stand made from a tomato cage

I never knew I wanted one but now I can say that I love my DIY plant stand. 

More DIY planter ideas

Yield: 1 tomato cage plant stand

DIY Tomato Cage Plant Stand

olive bucket in a DIY plant stand

A super easy to make DIY plant stand from an old tomato cage. In less than 10 minutes you can have a unique stand for your outdoor, or indoor, plants.

Active Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost free!

Materials

  • tomato cage
  • Sharpie
  • hacksaw
  • file (if needed)
  • spray paint

Instructions

  1. Turn tomato cage upside down, with stakes in the air, to determine the size you need
  2. Test plant pot in the rings to make sure it will fit
  3. Use Sharpie to mark where you will cut it down
  4. Use hacksaw to cut stakes off of tomato cage
  5. Use a file to smooth rough edges
  6. Spray paint with your favorite color
  7. Insert potted plant
  8. Enjoy!

Did you make this project?

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