Brilliant Succulent Garden Design on a Shoestring Budget You Need to Copy Before Summer Ends

2. Creative Upcycled Containers and Planters

I once dragged my husband to three different thrift stores on a scorching Saturday morning, hunting for cheap planter ideas. He thought I was completely losing my mind when I bought a stained, vintage ceramic soup tureen for exactly two dollars.

But after a little scrubbing, it became the most stunning boho home decor piece on our outdoor patio.

Thrift Store Treasure Hunting

When you are designing a garden on a shoestring budget, buying brand-new pots can honestly start adding up way too fast. Instead, look for unique, repurposed containers like old wooden crates, vintage teacups, or even hollowed-out hardcover books at yard sales.

The secret to successful thrift store upcycling is looking at the shape and material rather than the color, because a quick coat of leftover spray paint can fix almost anything. Just make sure to avoid super thin plastic containers that will degrade and crack quickly under the harsh summer sun.

DIY Concrete and Household Objects

If you want a super modern, minimalist aesthetic without the boutique price tag, you can actually pour your own planters using a cheap bag of quick-setting concrete mix. I love using old plastic milk jugs and empty oatmeal boxes as molds, which costs practically pennies per pot.

You can even experiment with mason jar plants for a cute windowsill setup, though you have to be extra careful with your watering habits since glass doesn’t breathe.

But wait, before you start throwing your green babies into a vintage coffee tin or a DIY concrete bowl, we need to address the absolute number one killer of these sensitive plants. If you don’t get the dirt right, your roots will rot in a heartbeat, so press that next button below so I can share my holy grail hardware store soil recipe!