Used Coffee Pods Make The Loveliest Mini Vases For Succulents

Don't throw out used coffee pods because there's more to the tiny, plastic cup than meets the eye. In fact, the cup of coffee you brew in the morning can get even better if you choose to repurpose spent coffee pods as mini vases for your succulents. Used coffee capsules are one of many common household items you can turn into beautiful planters. Plus, tiny succulents make them the perfect contenders for growing inside of a used Nespresso pod. You can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that instead of contributing to landfill waste, your K-Cup is adding some greenery to your indoor space. 

Coffee pods create more than 576,000 metric tons of waste on an annual basis. While the pods are now recyclable, and efforts are moving away from manufacturing them from plastic, consumer reports show that whether people are actually recycling the capsules is questionable. However, with this coffee pod DIY, you're giving your K-Cup a new life while charming up your indoor space with the irresistible beauty that comes from mini succulents. You'll need a few items to house your succulent in the pod and personalize your display. Otherwise, you'll have your mini succulent vases ready to go in no time.

Transform your coffee pod into a mini succulent vase in a few simple steps. First, clean out the used coffee pods with soap and water. This removes leftover coffee residue that you don't want mixing in with your plants. Second, dry off your clean coffee pods. Once they're dry, you can customize their look. Color the pods using paint or markers. Paint offers a way to coat the capsules in an entirely new color, while markers are a great choice to draw small doodles or intricate designs on to the pods.

When your artwork is complete, puncture the cup with a needle or another fine, sharp object. This is to create drainage holes for your plant to prevent rotting and decay from trapped water. Next, fill the coffee pod with soil. Succulents grow the best in sandy, well-drained soil. Then, pot up your succulent of choice and gently cover the base of the plant with soil. Since succulents enjoy the sun, it's ideal to put your DIY mini vase in a bright, sunny area.

The nice thing about these mini succulent vases is that their small size makes them easy to display in a number of ways. If you ever wanted to flex your creative muscle, now's your chance. The most basic but arguably the best way to ensure your succulents get enough sunlight is by simply lining them up along your windowsill. If you have a home office that receives a lot of sun, you can even place these tiny succulents on your desk. 

Another option is to hang the mini vases from hooks on your wall. You can do so by taking a needle with thread and puncturing the rim of the pod. Take the needle from the underside of the rim and poke it through, to the top. Then, puncture the other side of the pod rim, but this time, poking the needle through from the top, to the bottom. Tie the thread with knots to secure it in place. Your mini succulent vase should now resemble a pail with a handle. Hook these onto some thin nails on your wall for a miniature, living piece of wall art.

Lastly, spruce up your fridge by turning your mini vases into magnets. Hot glue a small magnet to the back of each of your pods and allow them to cool. Now, your mini succulent vases double as fridge decor.