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Avatar for Chillybean
Nov 20, 2015 2:28 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kim
Iowa (Zone 5a)
I kill ornamentals... on purpose.
Enjoys or suffers cold winters Spiders! Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants I helped beta test the first seed swap
Region: Nebraska Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Procrastinator Garden Ideas: Level 2
To my disappointment, we tested my grandmother's wedding dishes for lead and it came out positive. We did not eat off them often, but used the platter for serving meat.

So I am wondering if these could be used for tiny pots for house plants? We have learned the safest way to drill holes through these when a clock was made with a dinner plate. ( Another clock... now we have two in the dining room, with a total of 8 downstairs. This comes with a child interested in making and repairing clocks. ) I am assuming the cups would need drain holes.

I have my own wedding dish cup and saucers. We just do not use them for anything. When we have coffee, cocoa, etc. use mugs. So they just collect dust.

If this is do-able, what are some house plants that would remain small enough for these? For those I keep, I want this to be a permanent home. I hope to give some as gifts, too.

I'll take pictures later of the cup and saucers if you want to see them, but I have to get to them... Likely, have a child climb onto the counter to bring them down. Hilarious!

Thank you for any ideas and help.
Avatar for Plantomaniac08
Nov 20, 2015 4:43 PM CST

Not to sound impolite, but is it safe handling them if they have lead in them? I know it's obviously not advised to eat off them or drink out of them (hence you wanting to turn them into pots), but I was just curious about handling them.
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Nov 20, 2015 5:17 PM CST
Name: Debbie
Manitoba, Canada (Zone 3a)
Amaryllis Dog Lover Dragonflies Foliage Fan Hostas Houseplants
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Enjoys or suffers hot summers Daylilies Critters Allowed Annuals
How about small succulents or mini African Violets; sure there are others I can't think of. I've also seen cup and saucers screwed together onto a metal rod and used as little bird feeders or candle holders.
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Nov 20, 2015 6:58 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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I've been known to use cups and saucers and candy dishes as little cache pots for displaying small plants; just sit a small plant pot down into the cup or dish for displaying. I've also planted directly into small cups and candy dishes etc. in the past. You just have to be careful with watering if there are no drainage holes. Decorative teacups make a pretty presentation! Check out these photos here of cups all planted up:
http://www.bing.com/images/sea...
http://www.bing.com/images/sea...

I've seen folks make bird feeders from old cups/saucers:
http://www.bing.com/images/sea...
http://www.bing.com/images/sea...

Some people make gardening decor with old plates etc. Check out these pretty flowers:
http://www.bing.com/images/sea...

And, don't forget to check out the Garden Art Forum for great ideas! Some of our members are quite crafty and make lovely garden decor items with recycled cups, saucers, dishes etc. Check out these threads:
The thread "Totems, Stacks and Glass in the Garden" in Garden Art forum
The thread "Glass Plate Flowers" in Garden Art forum
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


Avatar for Chillybean
Nov 22, 2015 2:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kim
Iowa (Zone 5a)
I kill ornamentals... on purpose.
Enjoys or suffers cold winters Spiders! Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants I helped beta test the first seed swap
Region: Nebraska Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Procrastinator Garden Ideas: Level 2
Plantomaniac08 said:Not to sound impolite, but is it safe handling them if they have lead in them? I know it's obviously not advised to eat off them or drink out of them (hence you wanting to turn them into pots), but I was just curious about handling them.



We were handling them before knowing, but now that we know we'll wash our hands after touching them. My husband worked right by my son who made a plate into a clock, using water to prevent dust and a really slow drill. They will not be handled very much at all... the occasional pick-up to dust on and around, if I use the cups as mini-pots. The clock only to put in batteries or change the time.
Avatar for Chillybean
Nov 22, 2015 2:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kim
Iowa (Zone 5a)
I kill ornamentals... on purpose.
Enjoys or suffers cold winters Spiders! Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants I helped beta test the first seed swap
Region: Nebraska Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Procrastinator Garden Ideas: Level 2
Now that we know how to safely drill holes in these plates, holes can be drilled in the cups for drainage. I looked at this site from the photos in the search.
http://www.republicofsucculent...
The succulents in their teacups look really nice. I think I've seen those at the local nursery. Will they stay small? The only succulent I am familiar with is the Autumn Joy sedum outside. Another site showed hen and chicks. That's a possibility.

I tend to be pretty spartan, so have minimal knick knacks, inside or out. These dishes are a little fancy for me, but they are one of the few things I have of my grandmother's. I want to find some fairly practical use for them since food use is no longer do-able. Sad

Thank you all for your replies. Smiling
Avatar for Chillybean
Nov 24, 2015 11:12 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kim
Iowa (Zone 5a)
I kill ornamentals... on purpose.
Enjoys or suffers cold winters Spiders! Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants I helped beta test the first seed swap
Region: Nebraska Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Procrastinator Garden Ideas: Level 2
My husband picked up a pink Kalanchoe for me yesterday to put in one of my teacups. Smiling We'll see how this goes.
Avatar for Plantomaniac08
Nov 24, 2015 1:01 PM CST

Pictures! Lovey dubby
Avatar for Chillybean
Dec 4, 2015 6:07 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Kim
Iowa (Zone 5a)
I kill ornamentals... on purpose.
Enjoys or suffers cold winters Spiders! Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants I helped beta test the first seed swap
Region: Nebraska Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Procrastinator Garden Ideas: Level 2
I finally got the photos off my camera. I need to get more little plants, but this is what I have so far.
The plant was just put in this spot for a picture. I didn't realize it wasn't the best until I saw the photo blown up. Sad
Thumb of 2015-12-05/Chillybean/7d35b2

Here is the clock.
Thumb of 2015-12-05/Chillybean/067727

One house plant I want is a Living Stone (Lithops) or two or more. From images I have seen, I wonder if my little cups would be just the right size.
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