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    Home » DIY » outdoor living » Repurposed Vintage (gas/watering) cans

    Repurposed Vintage (gas/watering) cans

    Published by Gail | Published May 10, 2011 | Updated May 14, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    repurposed-gas-can-planter-hens-chicks



    vintage hens & chicksIn yesterday’s post I showed you how Jamie and I planted succulents(hens & chicks) for her wedding reception.

    hens & chicks succulents weddingThese are the plants I brought home from the wedding. I needed a place to plant them.

    Vintage Gas CansIf you follow me on FB or Twitter you already know what I ran across while cleaning these cans out! I generally post what I’m working on if you’re interested in following there. The can on the right had a MOUSE family that committed suicide in it. There was a cap on the top, apparently they went in through the spout. Joyce said she thought it was a great mousetrap!

    After I got it cleaned out, I drilled some holes in it.

    using a vintage gas can in the garden

    Then I used a pair of tin snips to cut a larger hole. I tried a hole saw, but it didn’t want to work very well on the roundness of the can.

    I used a file to remove some of the sharp points.

    I filled it up with a sandy topsoil. Not pictured: I drilled many holes in the bottom for drainage, and added some rocks to the bottom for drainage. These plants need well drained soil.

    succulents in a vintage gas canI didn’t fill all the holes because I thought the babies would come out of the holes. Cathy thinks they won’t. Thoughts? Can you help me know how these things work?

    Hens & Chicks Repurposed Containers This is just for staging because it is too shady in this area of my flower bed.

    Repurposed Gas CanI will have to move it to a much sunnier location.

    repurposed vintage watering canI had a few more plants, and wanted another unusual container. I found this vintage watering can in my shed.

    Hens & Chicks Repurposed Containers I drilled and cut holes in it too. I also did drainage holes and rocks in the bottom.

    Hens & Chicks Repurposed Containers

    Hens & Chicks Repurposed Containers

    watering can planterThis is a very small decorative watering can. I put some of the leftover plants that were not used at the wedding.

    This is an old furnace grate. I used all of the leftover dirt and garbage roots from the container that Marybeth delivered Nana’s (aunt Jean’s) hens & chicks in. I have this in the sunniest part of my back yard. I will keep you posted if this “garbage” produces any plants. I am hopeful that it will. update: it did nothing   🙁

     

    updated to add: I built this container for Jamie to grow her Hens & Chicks, and it's doing great. You can see how I built it in my post  Planter Made With Reclaimed Fence

     

    What is the most unusual container YOU have used to plant flowers/plants in?

    gail
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    1. Nicole

      April 24, 2014 at 9:34 am

      This post is a few years old now, how did these cans grow in? If you still have them, can you post some pictures? I have some Hens and Chicks that I picked up from the nursery last weekend and I'm looking for some creative ideas on how to plant them. 🙂

      Reply
    2. girlfromwva

      February 27, 2014 at 11:35 am

      I think what you did using the cans is really interesting and unique! great job! I plant flowers & plants in all kinds of things. I have used thrifted sugar bowls, tea cups, candle holders, votive holders, ice cream bowls, just whatever i find for that particular plant or flower. I don't spend but 25 to 50 cents on them, so it works out.

      Reply
    3. Becky Reep

      July 27, 2012 at 12:36 am

      I have a watering can similar to the one with the "squared off" spout...I was a bit lazier and found one ceramic low slung dish that would fit in the large opening in the top so planted a succulent in it. It took a bit to get it to angle under the handle b/c there wasn't much space (was relieved when it made it w/o breaking) but it's sorta nice and just a fun place to put a plant and display the watering can, too. Yours looked great...with the multiple plants...a good idea!
      becky.reep@flpd2.com

      Reply
    4. Cathy

      January 16, 2012 at 9:04 am

      So vintage, and yet so beautiful and still so useful. Love the idea and creativity of this DIY.

      Cheers,
      Cathy@white nursing shoes

      Reply
    5. MrsPrufrock

      August 28, 2011 at 1:49 am

      Okay, I think I'm a reply blogger now...maybe. I tried copying and pasting my link but it tells me I can't use tags. So, I'm just going to try pasting the link "naked".

      http://tigergeorgia.eaph.com/viewalbum2.cgi?Flowers/Succulents

      Reply
    6. Chris

      August 23, 2011 at 1:15 pm

      I love your blog and your projects - thanks for sharing them! The watering and gas can planters are awesome.

      I have been harvesting chicks n hens for many years. I have some photos of the things I've done with them that I'd love to share with everyone, but I can figure out how to insert the link...

      Reply
    7. Tawna's Tasty Tidbits

      May 18, 2011 at 3:07 pm

      Before my mother retired she worked in a factory where she had to wear steel toed boots my mom had special order them since she wore a size five . When she retired she filled her boots with hen and chicks!

      Reply
    8. Pam

      May 12, 2011 at 12:01 am

      Lady you amaze me. I love these..that is cool and I love the old look of the cans.

      Reply
    9. Jan

      May 11, 2011 at 4:10 pm

      I want to run, run, run and get some containers and hen and chicks.
      Last year, I planted lavender in an old metal mop bucket.

      Reply
    10. Katie @ EyeSpyDIY

      May 11, 2011 at 3:45 pm

      How cute! I love the idea and it looks great. I'm not sure if the plants will come through the holes, you could wait until the shoots start to come off the ones you planted and then replant them in those wholes. I really love how the gas can turned out, may have to scour some yard sales for one of my own!

      Also, I have a great giveaway going on for some chalkboard labels and would love if you entered! http://eyespydiy.blogspot.com/2011/05/chalkboard-label-giveaway-from-ginger.html

      Reply
    11. Christy

      May 11, 2011 at 3:48 am

      so cute...i am so glad you soldiered on after the 3 blind mice incident!

      Reply
    12. Lesley Litrento

      May 11, 2011 at 12:45 am

      Totally cool .... super creative. The chicks will not come out of those holes though. Sorry....

      Reply
    13. Cindy @ Le Chaise Parfait

      May 10, 2011 at 10:58 pm

      Those turned out really cute Gail.

      Reply
    14. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

      May 10, 2011 at 9:32 pm

      what a fantastic idea! i love it!

      Reply
    15. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

      May 10, 2011 at 9:32 pm

      what a fantastic idea! i love it!

      Reply
    16. Jill

      May 10, 2011 at 8:45 pm

      This is such a cute idea! Love how the plants and the can just 'fit'...they were meant to be!
      Also, thanks for stopping by 'Just Dream, Jelly Bean' and your sweet comment...come on back anytime 🙂
      have a great week...
      ~ Jill

      Reply
    17. Jenn Erickson

      May 10, 2011 at 7:36 pm

      Gail, I love the succulents in the tea cups and the gas can too! You did a beautiful job. The gas can definitely makes a prettier planter than it does a mouse-trap -- Eek!

      Jenn

      Reply
    18. Tricia @ Vintage No. 35

      May 10, 2011 at 6:58 pm

      I love that idea! Hens and chicks are so easy to grow!

      Reply
    19. Mimi@blueroofcabin

      May 10, 2011 at 6:39 pm

      Very clever, Love them. 10 years ago my Grandma gave me a bin full of hens and chicks. Back then I didnt garden or even know what they were but at least I had the sense to plant them in all the rockerys. I have tons now!

      Reply
    20. Stephanie

      May 10, 2011 at 6:39 pm

      Who says you aren't cre8tive! I love this, it is too cute.

      Reply
    21. Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal

      May 10, 2011 at 3:04 pm

      I was going to buy some of these the other day! I still have other plants that need to be planted before I buy more. They look cute in the watering can. I have an old chair I painted blue and made a basket for it and filled it up!

      Reply
    22. Jester

      May 10, 2011 at 2:26 pm

      The cans look great! I just started a new addiction with hens & chicks last year, now I have some new ideas....

      Reply
    23. Suzanne@Meridian Road

      May 10, 2011 at 2:25 pm

      That's such a cool look, and it's only going to look better and better as the plants grow! I think it's really special that all these plants are "family" plants, and now you have some, too.

      I hope the furnace grate gets a few hens. That would be fun to see!

      Reply
    24. shannon i olson

      May 10, 2011 at 1:51 pm

      loving this! and kicken myself for not grabbing a couple cans at a garage sale last weekend because I didn't know what I would do with them to convince my husband why I needed them. umpf!

      Reply
    25. Grammy Goodwill

      May 10, 2011 at 1:49 pm

      I can't tell you anything about them, but my Dad gave me a vintage mccoy pot to plant some hens and chicks in. (I got the babies from a teacher's assistant last year before I retired.) I hope yours and mine will thrive.

      Reply
    26. Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama

      May 10, 2011 at 1:37 pm

      love your containers.. i have some hen and chicks my mama gave me for Mothers day last year and they are still living..surprise surprise and I honestly havent done anything to them at all. I like that kind of plant.

      Reply
    27. Barb Nichols

      May 10, 2011 at 12:27 pm

      I planted flowers in an old rubber boot. It was too cute!

      Reply
    28. Tru@TRU TALES FEATS

      May 10, 2011 at 12:21 pm

      In my experience, the chicks only grow right next to the mother, so they are not going to spread to the rest of the holes. Eventually, the mother will probably die off also. Did you clean the gas can really well? Gas will kill vegetation.

      Reply
    29. Granny

      May 10, 2011 at 11:33 am

      The new planters look great. You need to put a chick in each hole. The chicks form off the mother plant.

      The most unusual thing I've planted in was an old turquoise toilet complete with the tank. I sold the toilet, plants and all for $50 at my moving sale.

      Reply
    30. Inspire Me Heather

      May 10, 2011 at 11:31 am

      Your cans look like they will fill in nicely. I just got myself 2 old metal watering cans and maybe I'll make them planters too! Thanks for the ideas!

      Reply
    31. Pattie

      May 10, 2011 at 10:34 am

      Right now I am working on a lid from an old trunk. I am making a moss garden. Your watering cans are great. I would probably snip a finger off!
      8>)

      Reply
    32. Sarah at Finishing Touch Interiors

      May 10, 2011 at 9:07 am

      Im so rubbish with plants I see all these wonderful ideas & I feel very shameful

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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