11 Creative Ways To Repurpose Broken Plant Pots In Your Home & Garden

While it's certainly not an everyday occurrence, broken plant pots are a common issue that many gardeners have to face. Whether your pet got a little too rowdy and knocked your houseplant off a counter or a pot slipped from your hands while you were repotting your newest addition, you're bound to have to clean up a mess eventually. Plant pots are typically made of terracotta, a material that's weather-resistant, heat-resistant, and pest-resistant. While it's a strong and long-lasting material, it's unfortunately not shatterproof. Luckily, however, if you end up in this situation, there are plenty of ways to salvage your pot and repurpose it in another project.

If your pot is only slightly damaged, there's still a chance that you can repair it with the help of some glue. If it's too far gone, however, try upcycling it into something else. Repurposing an item that's no longer fit for its original use can give you the chance to get creative with your materials, reduce your waste, and make the best out of an unfortunate situation, whether you decide to incorporate the material into an art project or transform it into a new and unique planter. With a bit of a change in perspective, you might even be grateful that your plant pot was broken.

If you're looking for a way to make your space more fun and whimsical, try your hand at making a fairy garden. These little vignettes usually include tiny houses, doorways, and plants, and a broken plant pot can act as a perfect base for the project. The specifications of the project will depend on how your plant pot was broken, but you can use the pieces to create platforms and tiny stairs perfect to lead fairies back to their home. These gardens can include anything you like, so don't be afraid to get crafty with materials.

Sometimes, a broken pot is too far gone to turn into something else. In these situations, consider breaking it up further and using the pieces in a mosaic. This is great for pots with an interesting pattern or texture, but even a plain terracotta pot can be used to create a fun design on your surfaces. After you have your smaller pieces ready to go, you can use them in an art piece or as a way to cover another plant pot.

Plant pots typically have a solid amount of depth so plants can sink their roots down deep, but if your pot has part of the side missing, this likely isn't possible. Instead, try turning it at an angle and using it as a planter for greenery with shallower root systems, like succulents. After you've laid out your succulents, you can use the pieces of the pot that have broken off as decorative accents within the pot or as a way to create a multi-layered planter.

If you have a large garden, it's necessary to add plant markers to your beds and pots to more easily identify what you have growing. If you're trying to save a bit of money, however, save your broken garden pots to DIY adorable plant markers. Pots are already meant to stand up to the elements, and they'll blend in seamlessly with the rest of your garden décor while still remaining legible. Simply write the name of the plant on a broken piece of pot using a permanent marker or paint and stick it in the soil.

One of the most creative ways to repurpose broken plant pots involves combining the base and shattered pieces to create a unique stepped planter. This DIY will require some planning to pull off, but it's a great way to bring new life to a pot that's still mostly intact. Fill the planter with soil, then begin burying the pieces at different levels to create a multi-layered look. These planters are commonly used to hold succulents, but they can also act as a way to cultivate multiple different small plants in the same pot.

Avoiding clutter is among the easiest ways to make your home more organized, and investing in practical storage is another. Rather than simply tossing all of your small items onto the table or a countertop, try your hand at making your own trinket dish out of a broken pot to better contain your bits and bobs. For this project, it's best to stick with larger pieces of material from the bottom or sides of your pot. Sand the edges, give it all a coat of paint, and use it to hold small items like jewelry.

In-ground garden beds don't technically need edging to be complete, but it certainly helps to create a more precise line between the planting area and the rest of your lawn. For a simple solution that doesn't require you to shell out a ton of money at the garden center, try repurposing pieces of broken pots. Large pieces are better for this project as they can be buried a few inches deep and still stick out of the ground, but it's important to ensure sharp edges are either facing down or sanded so they're not a hazard.

It's common to install feeders and baths in an effort to encourage birds to visit your outdoor space, but there are plenty of other critters that can be beneficial guests. If you're looking to attract frogs or toads to your garden as a way to help cut down on pests like slugs, consider making a hiding space out of a broken plant pot. This will work best with pots that are fairly intact but have a piece or two missing. Simply flip one upside down — the open space will act as a doorway for potential inhabitants. Use some sandpaper to make sure there are no sharp edges that could hurt the animal.

Adding rocks and gravel to the bottom of your plant pots can help to encourage drainage and prevent things like root rot, but have you ever considered repurposing pieces of a broken pot to accomplish the same task? If your pot broke into small pieces or you have some material left over from another repurposing project, try tossing them into the bottom of another pot before adding in the soil. This is especially helpful for plants that can easily become waterlogged and unhealthy from overwatering.

If your plants are already good on drainage, there's another way to repurpose broken pots as gardening material. Mulch is used as a protective layer over soil to help prevent the formation of weeds, prevent soil erosion, conserve water, and reduce the impacts of extreme temperatures, but there are plenty more options than just wood chips and grass clippings. As it turns out, crushed pot pieces can act as an effective, long-lasting, and attractive alternative to other kinds of mulch. Simply crush down your pieces and use them to top your beds or planters where needed.

One of the best ways to get out of an artistic slump is by experimenting with different materials and media. A broken plant pot can serve as a fantastic opportunity. Painting on terracotta or clay is nothing new, but irregularly-shaped broken pieces can give you the chance to get creative with your designs and create a unique piece of art. Once you're done, use your painting as home decor, display it out in the garden, or, if you're not a fan of the piece you created, crush it up and repurpose it again.