adminA copper pipe hanging planter adds color and texture to an indoor plant display using cotton rope, painted wooden beads, and short sections of copper pipe. This project can be adapted to suit different pot sizes and color schemes, and the instructions below show how to make coordinating hangers for three plants.
Supplies for a Copper Pipe Hanging Planter
- Three plants in airy pots, with their containers still attached. Repotting is optional; plants that tolerate less frequent watering, such as succulents, may be easier to manage in this style of hanger.
- One 7/32-inch by 100-foot package of braided cotton clothesline
- Fifteen 3/4-inch unfinished round wooden beads
- Nine 1-inch unfinished round wooden beads
- Eleven 1 1/2-inch unfinished round wooden beads
- One 1/4-inch by 2-foot copper pipe
- A pipe cutter
- Acrylic craft paint and a paintbrush
Before cutting the rope, check that the planned hanger length will suit the space where it will be displayed. Keep the pots nearby as you work so you can check their fit without placing their weight on unfinished knots.
Make the First Rope-and-Bead Hanger
Cut three rope lengths, each 10 feet long. Fold all three strands in half and tie a loop knot at the folded end to form the top of the hanger. This creates six rope ends to work with below the knot.
Paint the wooden beads in your chosen colors and allow them to dry before threading. Sanding the beads first is optional. A lighter coat of paint can leave some of the wood grain visible, while additional coats create a more solid finish. To keep wet beads from marking a surface, set them on a protected area while they dry.
Thread the beads onto the ropes two strands at a time, arranging them by size. Tie knots beneath the beads to hold them in place. Varying the bead heights gives the hanger an informal look; placing them at matching heights creates a more symmetrical design.
To form the net around the pot, separate each pair of ropes and knot the left strand from one pair to the right strand of the neighboring pair. Repeat the process farther down, separating the strands again to create a rounded, basket-like structure. Bring all the rope ends together in a knot at the bottom, then trim them to the desired length.
Add Copper Pipe Accents
For another hanger, cut three rope lengths of about 11 feet each and tie them together at the midpoint with a loop knot. Use a pipe cutter to make 3-inch sections from the copper pipe. Thread the pipe pieces over pairs of rope strands, then add painted beads. The small beads can be left natural if you want a mix of painted and unpainted wood.
Tie the beads at matching heights for a neat, even arrangement, then continue knotting the rope into a net around the pot. Adding more pipe sections and smaller beads gives the rope a more decorated appearance. After cutting the pipe, check the ends for rough edges before threading them onto the cord.
Customize the Finished Planters
Use different rope lengths to adjust how low each plant hangs, or leave longer rope tails beneath the bottom knot. The same basic approach can be scaled down with smaller beads, shorter rope lengths, and copper pipe accents. Make sure the pot sits securely in the knotted net before hanging the planter in its final position.
A colorful copper pipe hanging planter can be coordinated with a room’s existing colors or kept more natural with unpainted beads. As Rachel suggests, the large beads can become the main decorative feature, so choose their colors and spacing to suit the look you want.
