Experimental Planter from Scrap

Below are the remains of what used to be solar powered LED yard lights at the end of their useful lives.  They were going to the trash heap which  I almost did after we had a new backyard fence put up.  Upon closer inspection, these were from almost indestructible glass and stainless steel posts.  Run away imagination and downtime at the workshop took over.  By the way, you can use any old glass jars, even old drinking glasses, if you're inspired to do this project (limited only by your imagination). 

But first, the other part of the project.  This is about a planter, after all, so here comes the spider plant ("Chlorophytum comosum") - dubbed one of  NASA's pick for a plant suitable for long space voyages - efficient air recycler and air cleaner of indoor pollutants.  See photo below of the easiest plant to maintain and care for.  Almost twenty years ago when we bought the house, the previous owner left this one plant lying in one corner at the back of the house, in a broken pot lying on its side.  I put it in a good pot, watered it and left it there.  Days later, it came back to life vibrantly.  Soon I had it and its many "babies" in different pots and on the ground.  They will spread out underground or when matured, they sprout long stalks with baby plants at the tips.  Once the stalks bend down enough and reach the ground the baby plants will take root and just simply become another plant.  They will grow on regular or non-draining pots, and will even grow in meager amount of soil; very water tolerant too (too much or too little).

Outside, in the ground, spider plants "die" in winter but they come back the following spring.  By summer, they'll fill up the are just like the indoor version above.  They can tolerate heat like grass.

The other part of the experiment is a piece of mesquite (a very hardy, slow growing tree common in Texas hill country) that was a fence post in its previous incarnation.

I drilled a 3/8 inch hole to accommodate a stainless steel threaded rod. I used a CA glue to attach it.  I also drilled holes on the side and you'll see what for later.

The other piece (left of photo below) is from an old pear tree. 

The two glasses attached with a nut and CA glue to the threaded bolt

Tip: I used saw dust mixed with CA glue as leveler/spacer to level the glass. 

I put a handful of small pebbles at the bottom of the glass before adding the soil.

Below is where I got the idea of growing the spider plant in as little as a thimble of soil.  Spider plant will survive on a thimble of dirt, not robustly, of course, but it will somehow live.

The base of the planter was a project from long ago.

Below is where tiny baby plants I hope will take hold.

Holes drilled on the side will be home for small baby spider plants.

Non-draining planters have a place in indoor planting: minimal amount of watering and zero run-offs to ruin furniture or floor.

A sampling of some of my non-draining planters (below). These plants are not just surviving, they're thriving.