Homegrown Hanging Helpers: Fruits That Double as Planters

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Using fruit from your kitchen for something other than eating it might seem a bit odd, but when you think about it, recycling food waste is a smart, eco-friendly thing we do all the time. From using orange peels in potpourri to composting bananas in your garden, fruit has way more uses than just being a snack. And the coconut is one fruit that’s just filled with hidden potential.

Hanging planters are one of the most practical ways to use coconut shells. Coconut coir is great for hanging baskets because it holds moisture really well. But you may not know that the shells themselves can work just as well? Repurposed coconut shell hanging baskets are lightweight and eco-friendly compared to plastic ones. Plus, if you line the insides with the husks, they can actually improve drainage and keep things moist.

To turn coconut shells into hanging baskets, you’ll first need to crack them open evenly without messing them up. First, drain out the water inside so your work area stays clean. You can save the water for drinking or cooking later. Use a screwdriver or something sharp to poke holes in the “eyes” of the coconut – those will be your drainage holes. Drain the water into a clean container.

Then, in the center, gently tap the shell with a hammer in a circle until it fully cracks open. This should give you two equal halves. Scoop out the coconut meat for your own use. After that, wash the shells with soapy water to prevent mold. Sand the inside and outside to finish getting them ready. You can save the coconut dust to mix into your potting soil. You can also paint the shells for a cool, unique look. Just store them in a clean, dry place until you’re ready to put your hanging baskets together.

Once your coconut shells are all clean and ready to go, you can start putting your hanging baskets together. This is the fun part! There are so many different ways you can style them, as long as you follow the needs of your plants. Just make sure each one has drainage holes in the bottom – three should do the trick. You can even add some coconut husk to the bottom to prevent soil from falling through and help with drainage.

For the hanging basket itself, you can drill holes around the rim and attach wire, twine, or string to create all kinds of cool hanging setups. Single baskets are super popular since the coconut shells are the perfect size. But if you want to get really creative, you can make tiered baskets by hanging them underneath each other for vertical gardening in tight spaces.

Coconut shells also work great as the medium for upside-down baskets with Kokedama moss balls. Just fill the shell with tightly packed soil and some trailing plants, then cover it in soaked moss until it forms a tight ball held together with thin wire. The result is a gorgeous upside-down planter with plants spilling out all over the place.