DIY Tin Can Planters Perfect For Succulents, Small Plants, and Flowers

These DIY Tin Can Planters are perfect for your succulents or other small plants and flowers.

Upcycle empty tin cans into DIY planters with an easy faux galvanized metal painting technique. Sprinkle with cinnamon “rust” to give the cans an aged look.

It is nearly impossible for me to pass by the succulents row at the store without picking up at least one new plant. I love adding to my indoor succulents garden!

My windows are crowded with little planters, but I can always try to squeeze in one more.

Another Easy Idea! DIY Succulents Planter in a Terra Cotta Saucer

I ran out of planters and was trying to think of things I could use as planter containers that I already had around the house.

I saw an empty can of peas in our recycling bin, and thought it could be the perfect size to hold a small succulent plant. Combine that with my being in a crafty mood, and these DIY Tin Can Planters were born.

It’s so easy to give your tin cans a faux galvanized metal paint job. All you need is black, white, and gray craft paint. You can mix the black and white to make gray, but I had some gray paint on hand already so I used that.

To give the faux galvanized metal tin cans an aged look, I used Modge Podge to add cinnamon on the cans to look like fake rusty areas.

Cinnamon actually makes a good faux rust and smells nice, too.

DIY Planter Ideas: Upcycled Tin Can Planters

Other materials I used to make the Tin Can Planters include:

• Jute Twine
• Decorative pebbles
• Pea gravel
• Succulents potting soil blend
• Succulent Plant (plants 2-3 inches wide or smaller fit best in 15-ounce tin cans)

The pea gravel is important to use to create drainage in the tin cans. You could also use a nail to punch holes in the bottom of the tin can to create actual drainage holes.

If you don’t have pea gravel, you can use the decorative pebbles to create a layer of drainage under the soil.

Speaking of soil, it is very important to use a potting soil mix made especially for planting succulents. Regular potting soil is not good for growing succulents.

I have had good results using this cactus and potting soil mix.

After planting the succulent in the tin can planter, I add a few decorative pebbles at the very top to cover the dirt and wrap Jute twine around the can about four times before knotting it off.

And that’s it! Super cute planters perfect for my succulents and other small plants.

Want to give your empty tin cans a makeover? Below are step by step directions and photos for how I did mine. 

How to paint tin cans for a faux galvanized metal look. It’s simple, just 3 steps. I included photos so you could get a visual of what the tin can will look like along the way.

You’ll need foam paint brushes and black craft paint, white craft paint, and medium to dark gray craft paint to do this.

1. Paint the tin can completely with gray paint. Allow to dry.

2. Use a foam brush in an up and down tapping motion to add areas of black paint onto the gray layer. Allow to dry.

3. Use a foam paint brush in an up and down tapping motion to add areas of white paint onto the can. Allow to dry.

How to add fake rust with cinnamon to tin can planters. You’ll need Modge Podge, a foam brush and Ground Cinnamon.

Use the foam brush to apply Modge Podge to small areas of the tin can where you want the fake rust to be. Sprinkle the wet Modge Podge with a layer of ground cinnamon.

Allow to dry completely. (The Modge Podge dries clear.)

Once the tin cans are painted, fake rusted, and completely dry, proceed to the planting step!

How to plant succulents in the tin can planter. You’ll need: pea gravel, Succulents potting soil, succulent plant, and decorative pebbles.

1. Fill the can halfway to three-fourths of the way with pea gravel. This creates drainage for the plant.

Place your succulent plant in the can. Add potting soil as needed to surround the plant and fill the can. Make sure the soil level is below the top lip of the can.

Add decorative pebbles to cover the top of the soil.

To finish your DIY Tin Can Planter, wrap a length of Jute Twine around the can several times. Tie it off with a knot, and cut the excess string.

Give your succulent plant a little bit of water every 1-2 weeks. My indoor succulents love to sit in sunny windowsills.

If you have any questions about how to make DIY Tin Can Planters, please ask me in the comments section below. I’m happy to help!

Check out my DIY Succulents Terrarium blog post for another easy way to enjoy your indoor succulents garden.