My Favorite Plant Pot Hack: How to Re-Use Those Empty Candles

We had come to the end of the road with a gorgeous candle from Anthropologie and I didn’t like the idea of throwing the candle out.

Then Skyler came up with an idea. He went to the kitchen, threw a pot of water on the stove and placed the candle in it to melt the wax.

And then he grabbed the potting soil and re-potted a plant in the old candle. This has become my favorite decorating hack of all time. Why? Because plant pots are usually expensive and so are candles so I’ll take the two for one deal. Now I shop for candles with my future pots in minds.

What I’ve Learned

• Metal candles don’t work well - they will typically rust.

• I re-use the smaller candles to pot propagated plants to gift to friends.

• Ceramic candles work really well.

• Stray away from candles with labels on them…unless you want to deal with getting the goop off from the sticker label.

• Wide and shallow candles work really well for succulents.

• I have also found great candles and pots at stores like T.J. Max.

How to Turn A Candle Into a Pot

1. Heat up a pot of water (pot should be big enough to fit your old candle).

2. Place your old candle into the pot (like you would a double boiler).

3. Melt the leftover candle wax.

4. Pour out the melted wax and wipe down your candle.

5. Place lava rocks at the bottom of your new pot. Since candles don’t have a drainage hole at the bottom, you need to create a drainage system. Any lava rocks will work, but here are my favorite.

Linneas Lights Sanded Glass « Fluted Ceramic Candles « Large Ceramic Candle Citrus Grove « Black and White Speckled Glass « Reactive Glaze Ceramic Candle « Ruby Glass Jar Candle « Boheme Candle: Sea Salt & Sage « Willow Candle « Lidded Glass Jar Candle: Driftwood & Sea Salt

I want to see your candle hacks. Tag @ashandelmdesign if you find a good candle that can be turned into a pot.

xoxo,

Ash