How to Plant a Succulent in a Teacup

This post shares how to plant a succulent in a teacup, the perfect project for thrift store finds!

How I planted a cactus in a teacup

This is a really special DIY for me. Many years ago, my Uncle Clay passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. A few years after he passed away, his wife, my Aunt Rose, gave me a tea set that Uncle Clay had given her.

I was honored, but I don’t really have room for extra stuff in the kitchen, and we don’t have a dining room, so I’ve kept the tea set at my mom’s house for the past few years.

I’ve thought a lot about what to do with the tea set–will I ever want to have an actual tea party? Probably not. Will pink floral tea cups ever fit with my apartment’s decor? Also probably not.

So I decided the repurpose a few of the teacups so that I could bring them home and incorporate them into my apartment decor. (I asked my mom–Uncle Clay was her brother, and she said she loved the idea!)

More specifically, I decided to paint them black and make them little cactus planters. Painted black teacup cactus planters? Am I crazy? I know it sounds a little drastic to paint pretty little feminine tea cups black, but I just thought they’d look neat.

And they do! I’m thrilled to know that the tea set is now part of my life instead of sitting collecting dust in my old bedroom at my parents’ house. And it was really easy to transform these little guys, too.

If you want to make planters like these, hit up some antique stores or even Goodwill stores in your area to see if you can find something for cheap. It doesn’t have to be a nice piece since you’re just painting it.

And here’s how I did it.

(Remember to wear an appropriate mask while working with paints, stains, and finishes. Follow the directions and warnings from your particular brand.)

Step 1: Clean and paint

I wiped down the teacups and gave them a few generous coats of Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Flat Black. I wanted these to be super matte–almost like chalkboard paint. Here’s the first coat…

…and then the second coat after that. Depending on what pattern your mug or teacup has and what color paint you use, you might need anywhere from one to three coats.

Step 2: Plant!

I chose cactuses because the teacups don’t have any drainage and I didn’t want to risk drilling holes. And cactuses can withstand harsher conditions than some other plants can. Plus, I just thought the prickly cactuses would look awesome in dainty teacups.

If you want to add in some drainage, you can see my post on How to Drill a Hole in a Ceramic Pot. Also check out my post on How to Plant in Pots Without Drainage Holes for some more tips.

I love these and am so happy I was able to incorporate part of this tea set into my decor. I know Uncle Clay would love that I made them my own. 🙂

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