Skip to Content

DIY Hanging Planter

Sharing is caring!

This past fall, a hurricane knocked down a few large trees in our yard. Therefore I wanted to “save” some of the wood for a DIY hanging planter. 

I have joined some amazing bloggers today for an Upcycle DIY Challenge. For my upcycle project, I decided our fallen tree would provide the perfect upcycle.

**You can see all the other inspiring up-cycle projects at the end of this post. 

DIY Plant Hanger

DIY Hanging Planter with house plants

It was sad to see those beautiful trees fall. However, I am harvesting some of the wood for furniture, wreaths, coasters, and hanging planters as a way to keep enjoying some of their beauty. 

Note: My daughter, Olivia (see how she did it HERE.)

Harvesting the wood requires a saw or chain saw.

Note: to ensure your safety be sure to use hearing and eye protection.

Cutting the wood slice

Cutting the wood slice

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you purchase from one of these links, I will make a small commission.

Supplies 

  • Wood slice
  • Moisture meter
  • Macrame cord
  • Level
  • Wire
  • Scissors
  • Rubber band
  • Sander
  • Polyacrylic 
  • Paintbrush
  • Drill 
  • Drill bit
  • Pencil
  • Tape measure 
  • Hang ring
  • Clamp and scrap wood

How to Make a Plant Hanger

I made a video while making this hanging planter; you can watch it HERE.

Before sealing the wood slice, I checked the moisture content (I used this meter). The wood’s moisture score needed to be under 10 before it could be sealed with polyacrylic. 

 

Checking the moisture levels

Checking the moisture levels

Sanding 

I used a small palm sander to smooth the surface before applying the sealer.

Sanding the slice

Sanding the slice

Cord Hole Placement

Since the wood slice is not a true circle, I used the widenest area, found the center, and marked a small line. Then I turned it to mark the cross-section to achieve approximate quadrants and marked them with the pencil.

 

Marking the center of the wood slice

Marking the center of the wood slice

I marked it 1.5″ from the edge and placed a pencil mark (these will be the cord holes). Then repeated for all four holes.

Mark the holes

Measuring to mark the holes

Drilling the Holes

Note: Clamp the wood slice to another board (to protect your surface) since you are drilling through the wood slice.

Drill the rope holes through the wood slice

Drill the rope holes through the wood slice

Sealing 

Applying the finish

Applying the finish

Wood slice ready to use

Wood slice ready to use

 

Supplies for the Macrame Cord Hanging Planter

After gathering my supplies, I practiced my design idea with yarn (saving the macrame cord for the plant hanger).

 

Supplies for rope plant hanger

Rope plant hanger supplies

DIY Threading Tool

Threading the cords through the wood slice holes would be difficult without my DIY wire threading tool. 

DIY wire hook

Wire hook

DIY wire hook tool

DIY wire hook tool test for threading the cords for the hanging planter

Cutting the Macrame Cord

To make an 8 strand macrame plant hanger, I needed to cut the cord strands two times longer than the finished length. 

I wanted it to be 40 inches long, so I cut four 80″ strands.

Place the macrame cord through the ring

Place the macrame cord through the ring

It was too difficult to manage all the cords at one time, so I added only two. I used a rubber band to held them in place over the hanging ring while I pulled them through the holes.

Use the hook to pull the cord to the bottom of the wood slice

Use the hook to pull the cord to the bottom of the wood slice

Next, I added the last two cords and another rubber band to hold them in place.

Add the last 2 cords over the ring

Add the last 2 cords over the ring

I tied them from under the wood slice to over the wood slice to hold the cords in place while leveling them. 

Pull cords through the holes and tie to hold in place

Pull cords through the holes and tie them to hold them in place.

Leveling the Wood 

Using a small level to determine where the cords need to be tied together. 

It was easiest to tie together cords from the opposite sides.

Use a level to find the where to hang the wood slice

Use a level to find where to hang the wood slice

I needed an extra pair of hands for the second cord tying. 

Tie the other 2 opposite cords

Tie the other 2 opposite cords

See more about tying the gathering knot below and in the how-to video.

Finish the end of the cords with a twisted tie

Finish the end of the cords with a twisted tie

Trim the ends to the same length. 

Trim the cord ends

Trim the cord ends

Cut the rubber bands

Cut the rubber bands

Gathering Knot

The gathering knot provides a clean finish where multiple cords are gathered.

Start the knot with a loop that you place over the area you want to be covered.

Note: Ensure the loop is longer than the area you want to cover, so the wrapping cords do not cover it. 

Place loop of cord over the other cords

Place loop of cord over the other cords

Leave the loop cord end out

Leave the loop cord end out

Wrap the gathering cord around the hanger cords and the gathering knot loop.

Wrap the long end of the cord to wrap around all the cords

Wrap the long end of the cord to wrap around all the cords

The pull cord is the tail end of the gathering knot cord.

Pull the end of the cord into the wrapped area

Continue wrapping the cord at the top of the plant hanger

Place the wrapping end into the loop and pull the tail end. This will carry the cut end of the wrapping cord into the cord wraps.

Pull the end through the loop

Pull the end through the loop

Trim the tail end, then adjust the wraps to cover it. 

Trim the cording tail

Trim the cording tail

Hanger ring with cords

Hanger ring with cords

The bottom of the hanger forms a “tassel.” I unwound the cording to make a fluffer tassel. 

Untwisting the macrame cords

Untwisting the macrame cords

Other Uses

The wood slice can be any size to be used as side tables or a hanging decor shelf, or a macrame plant hanger. 

Placing faux candles with timers (these are the ones I used) on the wood slice creates an easy romantic look. 

Simple rope plant hanger DIY

Simple rope plant hanger DIY

Hanging planter with candles

Hanging planter with candles

More Amazing Up-cycled Projects:

My friend Tarah from Grandmas House DIY shares how she up-cycled a toolbox into a towel bar.

storage-toolbox

storage-toolbox

 

Visit Niky’s blog, The House on Silverado, to see four up-cycle projects.

4-upcycles-scaled

4-upcycles-scaled

Kim from Shiplap and Shells is sharing how to up-cycle a window into a cabinet.

vintage window cabinet

vintage window cabinet

Andrea from Design Morsels shared how to make lined draperies with sheets.

turn sheets into drapes

turn sheets into drapes

You Might Also Enjoy:

Another project I made using wood slices was this gorgeous wreath.

Wood Slices Wreath

Wood Slices Wreath

Please join me (HERE) as we craft up some fun. You can look forward to receiving new inspiration every week. As well as special online crafting events, seasonal and holiday crafting too. 

See you soon,

Kippi

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Monday 27th of June 2022

nice plant hanger

Rosemary Palmer

Wednesday 19th of January 2022

Loved you using wood that would have just got burned or sent to land fill.

Lori Nell

Monday 17th of January 2022

Love this DIY! Your directions for the Knott! I think I can actually follow them and tie one!

Kippi Ohern

Monday 17th of January 2022

@Lori Nell, thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you enjoy making a hanging planter too. Happy New Year, Kippi

Dee Cottage Comforts Home

Monday 17th of January 2022

It turned out so super cute! What a great idea and way to recycle as well!

Kippi Ohern

Monday 17th of January 2022

@Dee Cottage Comforts Home, Thank you so much for your visit today. Happy New Year, Kippi

Niky

Tuesday 9th of March 2021

What a great way to repurpose your downed trees! I have several wood circles saved from our wedding where we used them as part of the table centerpieces. You've given me some new ideas! Pinned!

Niky @ The House on Silverado

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sharing is Caring

Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!