I want to use these 2 baskets for planters. I've already sprayed some Rust-oleum (making them darker than I wanted but ok) inside & outside. These will probably be kept indoors for the most part. I want to be able to water plants in the baskets without ruining the basket. How do I go about this? Do I put plastic down & then potting soil? Do I poke holes in the plastic?

Indoors, you do not want holes in the plastic liner---unless you place the baskets on trays to catch the water. I personally would not place soil directly onto the plastic , but place pots containing soil into the basket. Then the pots would drain onto the basket liner.
Just my ideas---someone may have better ways?

I agree with Caroline. I couldn't see having indoors baskets that leak water. Better to have the plants in pots sitting on hard plastic trays inside the basket.

I have lined baskets with visqueen, a layer of gravel, then another liner of visqueen with slits or holes cut through the bottom. So, similar to a gravel sandwich. No water exits the basket and the gravel and 2nd lining of visqueen allow drainage. A top dressing and some moss hide the upper edges of visqueen.

This worked pretty well for me. I used them outdoors, sitting around in the gardens. Haven't done one in a while though.

So I could do this with that plastic landscape stuff or even a trash bag??? Maybe double it up so its thick like visqueen?????

It needs to be thick enough that you are confident that a hole can't accidentally be poked through it causing water leakage. I just checked my stash of sheet plastics and I think 3 mil thickness should be sufficient.

I suspect a trash bag would not be thick enough nor be able to hold its shape (meaning it could easily slip down the inside of the basket). I would think that doubling a weaker, thinner plastic still would not give it the strength to hold the shape of the basket and not slump down the sides.

Back when we still had a garden club here I would make up a few of these baskets to sell in our plant sale fundraisers. People really liked and bought them. I planted them with blooming annuals.

Sounds good but what is visqueen?

It is a type of sheet plastic that comes in rolls. I'm using the word as a generic description as I think it is an actual brand or trade name. You can find rolls of it under different brand names.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=...

I would sit pots in the baskets. Lining with plastic is a good idea for residual dripping, but trying to water while in the basket is a asking for trouble. Water that flows out of pots into gravel or onto plastic might not evaporate quickly enough to not get stagnant and foul smelling. If you can remove pots to water at a sink, the excess water can drip out, eliminating risk of excess water around the bottom causing roots to rot. That would also prevent a build-up of tap water &/or fertilizer substances in the soil, which can make plants ill.

Hi Kathy,
Please put a pot in those baskets before you plant. Remember when planting flowers, you always need a drainage hole. Just having a plastic bag can lead to root rot and loosing that precious plant. Once you've picked the perfect pots to put in those baskets, you can always decorate around the pot so it doesn't look like you have one in there. Please post a picture when your done... i'd love to see what you came up with.