Hanging Plant Holder
Plant HolderTIME REQUIRED half day (time needed for cutting, building and assembling project; does not include drying time of glue or finish)

Carpenters use parting stop - pine molding - to make windows, but you can use it to make a hanging plant holder. Parting stop is readily available at lumberyards and home centers.

It comes in long, narrow pieces, easy to cut and glue together.

Our ribbed basket makes an attractive holder for any plant that needs space to stretch out and grow. It's held up with strong natural jute twine.

You build the frame like a log cabin. It's so easy that very little help is needed from the older member of your carpentry team. The dimensions of our holder are suitable for a 4 inch pot and tray, but construction is simple enough for you to design it to fit whatever size pot you have.

If your lumberyard doesn't stock parting stop, buy an 8 foot number 2 pine1X4 and have the yardman rip off three1/2 inch thick strips. He might charge a small fee for this service.

Take a look at the parting stop, and you'll see that it's not square. When you're gluing and nailing ribs together, put glue on the ~1/2 inch side of all ribs. You'll also find that it's easier to drive nails into the ribs before you place them in position. This makes alignment easy and prevents damage to lower ribs from excessive hammering.

You can save time and have a better looking stain job if you apply the stain before assembly. Other finishes, like paint, should be applied after the holder is tightly glued together.

Construction of your plant holder begins by cutting the parting stop to length. An inexpensive wooden miter box will help you make square cuts at the ends and improve the appearance of your holder, but it's not required. Use a ruler to mark the length of each set of ribs, and cut them to size, following the Cutting List.

The planter is assembled upside down. Begin with the longest set of ribs (A), and lay them parallel to each other about 10 inches apart. Take the second set (B), and drive a number 3 finishing nail through the center of the ribs about l inch from each end. Turn the rib over, and apply a small amount of glue around the area where the nail point comes out. Place the second set of ribs on top of the first set, aligning them so the nail is centered and the ends overlap evenly. Hammer the nails in, then repeat this process on the other side.


Check to see whether the first two sets of ribs are square by placing a combination square against one corner. Any piece of cardboard that has a square corner can also be used.

The next layer of ribs, the third, is applied the same way. Locate the nail position by placing the third set of ribs on the second, align it, and mark the position of the nail on both ends. Remove the rib, and drive nails through the mark until their points just stick out. Do the same to the other ribs in the third set, putting a drop of glue on the spot where the nail point comes out, and then nail both in place.

As the holder takes shape, check to see that it's square. Sight down one side to make sure it's not twisted.

The last layer (this is the bottom) is made from the six ribs in the tenth set. Before nailing on the two outside bottom ribs, drill a 3/16 inch hole about 1/2 inch from the ends of these ribs for the hanging twine to pass through. Then arrange these ribs so their spacing is equal across the holder's bottom.

Cut two pieces of jute or heavy twine twice the distance from the plant holder to its hanging hook. Pass the jute through one hole you drilled in the bottom rib, and tie a knot in its end so it can't slip out. Pass the other end through the hole at the opposite end, and knot it. Repeat this for the other side.

Of course, you can use rawhide shoelaces, macramé twine, rope, wire, cord, and beads to suspend the plant holder. Finish your holder with a coat of polyurethane varnish, or paint it.

Secure the holder to the ceiling with an adequate anchor. Remember plants are heavy; use a heavy-duty plastic plaster anchor or an expansion-type anchor rated or fifty pounds or more.

Click here for the full sized building diagram:

Click here for diagram

Shopping List
Materials Quantity
3/4 inX ½ in. X 8 ft. pine parting stop3
number 3 finishing nails1 box
heavy twine1 ball
plastic plant pot1
carpenter's wood gluesmall bottle
paint, stain or finish1 quart

Cutting List
Part/Name Quantity Size Material
(A) First rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 13'pine
B) Second rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 12 1/2'pine
(C) Third rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 12'pine
(D) Fourth rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 11 1/2'pine
(E) Fifth rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 11'pine
(F) Sixth rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 10 1/2'pine
(G) Seventh rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 10'pine
(H) Eighth rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 9 1/2'pine
(I) Ninth rib2 3/4 X 1/2 X 9'pine
(J)Tenth rib6 3/4 X 1/2 X 7'pine

Build It Together by Gene and Katie Hamilton (Stackpole Books)
copyright HouseNet, Inc 1996

Back to Home Improvement Preview Lawn And Garden Preview Home Decorating Shopping Center