The Dollar Tree DIY That Turns A Pencil Holder Into A Stylish Propagation Station

Plant lovers who've covered every surface of their home in pots, this one's for you. You've probably already resorted to hanging your green friends near windows, but TikToker Emma Foss from @ystreetstudio has a new tip for hanging our growing roots without making any holes in the walls or ceilings. A Dollar Tree spree sparked an idea for filling smooth, vertical spaces in their home, like mirrors or appliances, with live greenery. Jot pencil holders at Dollar Tree for $1.25 are equipped with a suction cup on the back for damage-free hanging propagation pots.

You can also remove the suction cups and hang them on a nail or hook for more versatility. While their original vivid colors are attractive, a can of spray paint in virtually any color or finish will transform these plastic pockets beyond recognition. Fill the pencil holders with a bit of water, some rooting hormone, and a trimming from a prolific plant. Stick the containers to your fridge or around the edges of your bathroom mirror, and you'll be propagating plants like a pro — just with more style.

Stone finish, shiny metal, terra cotta, or even glow-in-the-dark: whatever look you want for your containers, there's a spray paint that can help you get that result. In her video, Emma Foss went with metallic gold as the main color and embellished the inset above the pocket with matte accent colors. In a group of three, her final product wowed when hung and holding hopeful plant cuttings.

For a result similar to Foss', choose your color of spray paint and prep a well-ventilated space to do your painting. Cleaning the shiny plastic first with soap and water can help the paint stick. Then, lightly rough up the container's surface with fine-grained sandpaper. For extra durability, seek a color you like in a paint made to bond well with plastic. Spray the containers, let them dry, and give them another coat if necessary. When they're no longer tacky, you can paint the inset area with your choice of color for the final look. Finally, pour water into the container, and treat your cutting with a bit of rooting hormone before setting it inside; root starter can be the key to your plants' healthy life. Stick the cups to clean surfaces, and keep a regular eye on the water level and the progress of root growth.

If you like Foss's idea but not the execution, transfer it to another slightly less suitable — yet easily adapted — pencil holder. These cute, confetti-coated, candy-colored containers deserve more than a life of holding pencils. Although Dollar Tree's pastel decorative pencil holders don't feature a suction cup or magnet, don't overlook their potential for propagating cuttings vertically. There's no need to paint these little guys since they are already as adorable as can be. All they need is a way to attach them to a wall, window, or mirror — that's also easy to remove. While you're at Dollar Tree, pick up a roll of hook-and-loop fastener strips. Two or three strips of fastener stuck to both the cup and the space you plan on hanging it will do the trick to display your plant starts.

Alternatively, if your fridge could use a leafy accessory, let some Dollar Tree magnet buttons complete your vision. Adhere magnets to the containers with epoxy, the strong type of glue that packs a punch when bonding plastic. Place them onto an area of your fridge that's high enough not to risk too much bumping. As the last step, keep with the culinary theme by propagating some of these 26 delicious herbs right next to the chill chest.