A new use for old snoes

March 29, 2008 1:37 PM

Old sneakers as planters. Has anyone done this? I'd like some advice on what kinds of plants work best. Other than one article stating to use hearty plants, the tubes have not provuded much. I'm going to talk to the the person at the garden shop as well but figured I'd try here first. Oh, and I live in Centralish Florida, if that helps narrow the choices. Thank you!
posted by Epsilon-minus semi moron to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

I kept a tiny succulent garden in an old shoe.
posted by hortense at 1:49 PM on March 29, 2008

Someone in our neighborhood has had Hen & Chick plants growing in a pair for years now.
posted by bunji at 2:31 PM on March 29, 2008

succulents - these are in my uncle's garden.
posted by chr1sb0y at 2:36 PM on March 29, 2008

sounds like a big "duh", maybe but be sure to use some kind of plastic liner. :)
posted by robinrs at 2:57 PM on March 29, 2008

There's a shoe garden in San Francisco. That might give you some leads.
posted by vacapinta at 3:02 PM on March 29, 2008 [2 favorites]

I was thinking that you *wouldn't* use any sort of plastic liner. You know, for proper drainage, etc. It's not as if the shoes will be worn again. :) But I do not actually know this answer ... what say others? (The shoes in the SF garden look pretty au naturale.)
posted by iguanapolitico at 3:12 PM on March 29, 2008

Alpines. Go to your local garden centre, and buy pretty much anything pretty from the alpines section. Drill a few holes through the base of the shoe, fill with compost, insert plant.

Don't try to go for anything big. There just isn't enough root space. For the same reason, you'll need something drought tolerant. If you go for houseleeks, put a shoe on your roof. It will protect you from lightning.
posted by Solomon at 3:47 PM on March 29, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks everyone...I'm pretty excited about doing this. I've always wanted to have a little garden but laziness and procrastination always won. Now that I'm really motivated, I have no space for a garden at my place. But I do have quite a few pairs of old shoes. I know boots and athletic shoes work best, but what about others? I have old pairs of converse that I absolutely can no longer wear, would those work well enough?
posted by Epsilon-minus semi moron at 4:06 PM on March 29, 2008

An obsessed sedum gardener of my acquaintance makes these out of various different kinds of shoes, and they are super-cool. Heavy leather walking shoes and boots seem to work the best. Sneakers are essentially held together with glue and might not hold up to dampness. But what the hell, if sneakers are what you've got, go with it. A cool effect is to plant not only in the foot opening, but also into holes you've worn or cut between the sole and the upper.
posted by ottereroticist at 5:06 PM on March 29, 2008

The Crafty Gardener uses rubber and duck boots as boot planters.
posted by KathyK at 6:08 AM on March 31, 2008

To iguanapolitic: You could put some holes in the bottom of the liner for drainage but if you don't line it the shoe will get all yucky, I'd think.
posted by robinrs at 4:45 PM on April 2, 2008