Repurpose A Coat Hanger Into A Unique Rustic Trellis For Your Plants

If you have a vining houseplant like a pothos, it may grow quite long. All that growth indicates they're healthy, so yay! Good job, plant parent. But it's also crucial to tame the tangle or you'll quickly end up with tendrils trailing floors and furniture. Looking for fun ways to show off your favorite houseplants? This DIY is both fast and simple, and you can customize it to match your decor or rummage thrift stores for one-of-a-kind supplies. Specifically, you'll need a wall-mountable accordion coat hanger, a plant pot filled with said unruly houseplant-turned-octopus, and a planter holder with wall fixtures. Once sourced, attach the hanger and holder to your wall of choice, pop in your pot, and wind the tentacles around the hooks. Done!

Living green things have replaced pets for many Millennials, and Gen Z-ers are taking up the mantle as they move into places of their own. It's no wonder — research shows houseplants have lots of health benefits, both mental and physical. Wondering about the best places to hang plants in your home? Honestly, that depends on the plant you're working with. For example, English ivy may help to purify the air inside your home, so hang it in a spot your family often congregates like the living room or kitchen to take best advantage of that special benefit. Winding heartleaf philodendrons thrive in humid conditions, so why not adorn the wall of your bathroom with one? There's also nothing stopping you taking this idea outdoors.

If you're on a budget, look for an interesting accordion-style coat rack in places like Buy Nothing groups (find your local group on the Buy Nothing website), Facebook Marketplace, local thrift stores, flea markets, or even your parent's storage shed they refuse to clear out. Of course, it's also perfectly acceptable to buy a coat hanger brand-new. Keep the final display plant-focused with a cheap and neutral MODANU accordion wall hanger with 10 pegs, which goes for $10 at Walmart. Alternatively, Wayfair has a undeniably classy 14-peg, vintage wood look wall mounted coat rack by Rosalind Wheeler for around $35. Want to complement a quirky species with some equally wild color? Amazon stocks an electric blue IUCABIN accordion wall hanger with 14 pegs for under $15.

If your plant already has a pot, measure the diameter and look for a wall-mounted pot ring to fit. Walmart, once again, has a trio of 8-inch black metal brackets by Casewin for under $25. Don't have a pot (or the plant) yet? Step up in class and invest in a U.S.-made WallyGrow Eco Wall Planter in terracotta for $25. (There are other colors available, too.) You'll also need an electric drill and some screws with flat heads a little bigger than the diameter of the mounting holes in your coat rack and pot bracket. Count the number of holes before you go shopping so you know how many screws to buy.

Hold the coat holder against the wall so it extends vertically upwards instead of horizontal. Once you achieve the optimal position, mark the location of the fixture with a pencil. Repeat the process for the pot holder, holding it a few inches below the bottom of the coat hanger. Working with one item at a time and your electric drill, affix the coat hanger and pot holder to the wall. Once you're sure each item is securely attached to the wall (pull on them gently to test), place your potted plant into the bracket and wrap its vines around the hooks. You could also attach a bowl to the bottom of the planter with chains to catch excess water.

If you're having trouble keeping thick tendrils in place, make a loop out of plant velcro and thread the stems through it. What happens if your indoor plants actually get too long? The benefit of using an expandable coat hanger is that you can stretch it long or keep it short to fit the length of your plant's tendrils. Don't hesitate to extend the rack as your plant grows. Furthermore, if you don't want to screw everything into the wall, give some heavy-duty Command strips (sold on Amazon) a try. Just make sure the weight of the coat rack, pot bracket, and pot (with the plant in it) don't exceed the weight limits listed on the packaging.