A DIY plant stand made from a tomato cage that you use in the garden? Yup!
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 there, from a vintage mail holder found in an old barn to plants to rusty giant letters. You name it, it’s there.
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.
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 the hubs had just put in the garden to hold up the tomatoes.
I didn’t measure anything but as soon as I turned it upside down, I knew it would work. The hubs though, had some doubts. As he alway does when it comes to my projects.
To get the size I wanted I used a hacksaw to cut the 4 posts and the bottom ring off. 5 minutes and I had an official tomato cage plant stand.
Then I put my bucket in to check the fit and it was perfect, and surprisingly sturdy.
I liked the fit but I wanted to add just a bit of color to the cage. Spray paint in Hammered Bronze was the perfect choice.
It was just the touch it needed.
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.
I never knew I wanted one but now I can say that I love my DIY plant stand. A big bonus is that it goes perfect with my easy DIY garden markers.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
Monday,January 28, 2019 at 8:58 amI would love to have a large olive bucket to use as a planter. That’s very clever using a tomato cage for a stand!
Kristi
Tuesday,January 29, 2019 at 3:28 amThanks so much, Linda! I really love my olive bucket and I’ve used it in so many different ways. 🙂
Pinky
Tuesday,May 31, 2016 at 8:35 pmThat olive bucket is gorgeous and I LOVE the plant stand!!!! Genius!!!
Kristi
Monday,June 13, 2016 at 11:24 amThanks so much! 🙂
Pamela-FromMyFrontPorchToYours
Tuesday,May 31, 2016 at 7:07 pmWhat an excellent idea!
Kristi
Thursday,June 2, 2016 at 3:03 amThanks so much, Pamela!
Janele
Tuesday,August 4, 2015 at 8:39 pmThat is just so clever! I really like the clean, unobtrusive appearance of that upside down tomato cage -the planter almost appears to be floating. Those cages come in different sizes too, so could be grouped together to stagger heights, etc. A copy worthy idea, for sure.
Kristi
Wednesday,August 5, 2015 at 12:20 amThanks so much Janele. I love how it turned out. I’m sure it would look awesome to have a grouping in different sizes, great idea!
Debi @ Surroundings by Debi
Tuesday,August 4, 2015 at 7:31 amKristi – Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. Stop by today and check out my Tuesday Treasures where you will see your Plant Stand featured! I absolutely love the bucket. You made this look so easy! AS always I love your creativity!
Kristi
Tuesday,August 4, 2015 at 11:24 pmAww, thanks so much for your sweet comment Debi. I’m honored that you would choose to feature my project.
Carolyn @ Our Gilded Abode
Sunday,August 2, 2015 at 3:31 pmLove your olive bucket! And, thanks so much for sharing the idea to use tomato cages as container stands. I have a pot on my back porch that could use a stand – hoping to try this. Saw your post at Between Naps on the Porch’s Metamorphosis Monday – thanks for sharing!
Kristi
Monday,August 3, 2015 at 3:22 amThanks Carolyn and welcome. I’m so glad that you stopped over from Susan’s and that you liked my tomato cage container stand. I hope you’re able to try it, it really was so easy. 🙂
Suzan
Thursday,July 30, 2015 at 9:30 pmOh I just LOVE this – so perfectly rustic and vintage – and what a genius way to add height !
It’s just perfection !
Kristi
Thursday,July 30, 2015 at 11:51 pmAwww, thanks so much Suzan. That means a lot coming from someone as creative as you are. 🙂
AnnMarie
Thursday,July 30, 2015 at 7:53 pmWhat a great idea! I love that you painted it bronze. So creative. I have been wanting a rusty olive bucket but don’t want to pay the price!!
Kristi
Thursday,July 30, 2015 at 11:46 pmI know what you mean AnnMarie. I didn’t want to spend over $100 for a bucket but when I saw it at the flea market for $55, I knew it was a great deal for such a large bucket.
Thanks so much for the nice comment and for stopping in.
Jo
Thursday,July 30, 2015 at 8:11 amWhat a clever girl you are. Love this idea. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
Kristi
Thursday,July 30, 2015 at 11:41 pmThanks so much Jo!
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow
Wednesday,July 29, 2015 at 6:29 pmI just love Blog Land sometimes because I never knew there WAS such a thing as an olive bucket until reading your post! 🙂 This was a fun read 🙂
Kristi
Thursday,July 30, 2015 at 12:54 amToo funny. I’m glad I could bring you up to speed on the ever popular olive bucket.
Thanks for stopping in. 🙂
Stacey
Tuesday,July 28, 2015 at 7:26 pmWhat a smart idea! Olive buckets are on my wish list. The Kimberly Queen ferns look so pretty in there.
Kristi
Wednesday,July 29, 2015 at 2:40 amThanks so much Stacey! I think it was meant to be because the bucket fit perfectly. 🙂
Rhonda
Tuesday,July 28, 2015 at 6:58 pmCool idea! 🙂
Kristi
Wednesday,July 29, 2015 at 2:39 amI appreciate it Rhonda, thanks!
Cathy, 1929 Charmer Cottage
Monday,July 27, 2015 at 3:01 pmSeriously too clever….and I will be making a few for myself! thanks for sharing your creativeness!
Kristi
Tuesday,July 28, 2015 at 1:16 amAwww, thanks Cathy. I’m sure you could make them look great in your beautiful garden.
dkhalcomb2
Friday,July 24, 2015 at 5:40 pmFirst let me say that I hope that is not you cutting the tomato cage. Awful hairy arms and legs for a woman. LOL Love your plant stand. The bronze pain made it perfect.
Debbie
Kristi
Saturday,July 25, 2015 at 2:31 amThanks Debbie! Oh my goodness Debbie, so funny. I was telling hubs, before you commented, that I should say that I’ve not grown man hands but I do have a male model. LOL Hubs won’t use my camera so he is stuck posing for pics.
Have a great weekend!
MaryJean
Friday,July 24, 2015 at 12:55 pmGreat job! Love the tea kettle, too!
Kristi
Saturday,July 25, 2015 at 2:32 amThanks MJ. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to use the kettle. Happy weekend!
Michelle Mortensen
Friday,July 24, 2015 at 12:28 pmI love my olive bucket. It looks good with a fern (the way you have it), so I may go to the nursery and pick up a nice big fern this weekend.
Best,
Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com
Kristi
Saturday,July 25, 2015 at 2:36 amI’m really loving my ferns Michelle. Last year was the first time I’ve ever had one. They are so easy to care for and don’t shed. Thanks so much for stopping in.
Kim
Friday,July 24, 2015 at 8:26 amYou are so creative and that olive bucket is just dreamy!! 🙂
Kristi
Saturday,July 25, 2015 at 2:41 amAwww, thanks Kim! The olive bucket is pretty awesome. 😉
Tara Riley
Friday,July 24, 2015 at 8:05 amHi Kristi, I hope that you are enjoying your summer.
Love the olive bucket!
Kristi
Saturday,July 25, 2015 at 2:40 amThanks so much Tara!
Brenda
Friday,July 24, 2015 at 7:19 amGreat idea! Is it heavy enough that it won’t tip over? I love the purple “tunia” in the white tea kettle.
Kristi
Saturday,July 25, 2015 at 2:39 amActually, it is Brenda. That was my first concern but it seems pretty sturdy. I didn’t plant the fern in the bucket either, I just placed it in in it’s plastic pot.