I came up with this idea last year when I needed an easy way to line some old egg wire baskets I have. I’ve used the coco lined wire baskets before, but our climate here is very hot and dry during the summertime and I would have to water them pretty much daily to keep whatever I had growing in them from withering. The cotton pillowcase allows the soil to drain, but doesn’t dry out real fast.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this wire basket flower container:
Cotton Pillowcase
Egg Wire Basket (doesn’t have to be an egg basket; any wire basket will work)
Potting Soil (I like moisture control potting soil with fertilizer already added in the mix)
Flowers, or whatever you want to grow!
If your basket has a handle like mine does, you’ll need to cut the pillowcase on either side in order to accommodate it.
Put the pillowcase in the basket and arrange to fit. If the pillowcase is too long, that’s okay- just bundle the excess on the bottom of the basket.
Add the potting soil. If the potting soil is dry, moisten it a bit by putting into a bucket and mixing a little water into it.
Add the plants. The flowers I used are Nemesia Serengeti, Bacopa, and Alyssum. I was also going to use Marigolds, but decided not to because the flowers would get too crowded as they started to grow.
Add fertilizer if you didn’t use a potting soil with fertilizer already mixed in, water, and enjoy your new plant container! 🙂
-Mi
Karen Coyne Gorne says
What a great idea!
Michelle says
Thanks Karen! Let me know if you try this and how it worked for you.
Melanie says
My cousin used a tee shirt under her impatiens, they were beautiful.
Michelle says
That’s a great idea too! Any fabric that drains well will work for this, and it’s a great way to repuprose fabric that might otherwise get thrown out. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Brenda says
I love this idea with the pillowcase. I’m going to try it today! I have always wanted to plant in my wire egg baskets, just wasn’t sure how to door. Thanks!!
debbie nelson says
I love this.. I use cheap plastic tablecloths and just cut them to fit. and just poke holes in the bottom for drainage.. the colors are endless.
Michelle says
Thank you Debbie! I’m happy you enjoyed this project!