The Genius Way To Repurpose A Shower Caddy Into An Outdoor Vertical Garden For Your Patio

It's a sad moment as a plant parent to walk out of a nursery empty-handed, realizing that you can't squeeze another planter onto your patio. You want to transform your patio with flowers and plants but also want to be intentional about creating a space for relaxing and socializing. If you feel like you've already maxed out on greenery in the space that you have, a DIY shower caddy planter will help you squeeze just a few more plants in — without intruding on your living space.

All you need is a shower caddy, sphagnum moss, burlap, soil, and plants. The first simple steps are lining the caddy with moss before layering and trimming burlap to fit neatly into the racks. There's a good reason why gardeners add moss to hanging baskets. It retains moisture and allows for proper drainage. As for why you should line planters with burlap, this material fosters air circulation, ensuring that the soil is moist, but not oversaturated. The burlap also prevents soil from seeping out of the shelves, especially after watering. Once the moss and burlap are in place, position the plants and back-fill with soil.

What we love most about this project is all of the customization options, depending on your design aesthetics, patio space, and plant preferences. However, before you go wild at the nursery, assess your patio and identify where you want to hang the planter. Figure out what type of light hits the area, and then choose your plants accordingly. If you get full sun, a succulent display will offer a cohesive and minimalist look. Plants that prefer indirect light and are small enough to fit into a shower caddy include Philodendrons, Epipremnum aureum, or Adiantum capillus veneris — the maidenhair fern used in the video. Since the caddy will be outdoors, keep in mind the daytime and evening temperatures in your area, and make sure the plants you choose can tolerate them.  

Position taller plants on the top tier since they'll have more room to grow there. Trailing plants should be grown on the bottom rack — or, if you want the greenery to completely envelop the shower caddy, plant them on top and leave the bottom shelf empty. Opt for slower-growing plants to keep your original arrangement intact as long as possible. Another option is to avoid soil and use the caddy to hold small potted plants or propagations. You can easily swap these out as the plants outgrow the space. If your caddy has hooks, use them for hanging air plant holders.