Upcycled Lightbulb Planter - Natural Home Décor on a Budget

My mom's birthday is just around the corner, and I wanted to get her a nice decorative plant, as she has always loved gardening and enjoys being around nature. I searched the internet for what I had in mind but was shocked by the cost. After watching some YouTube tutorials and looking at tons of reference photos, I became confident that I could make one myself for a fraction of the cost using things that I already had at home.

In this project, I'll walk you through making your own budget lightbulb planter to bring life into any space. I'll show you how to safely hollow out an old lightbulb, craft a teepee-style wooden stand, and customize your planter to fit your space. Let's get started!

To make your own budget lightbulb planter, you will need:

Materials:

1. 1 Round-bottomed Incandescent Lightbulb
2. 3 Wooden Pencils, Skewers, or Popsicle Sticks
3. Hot Glue
4. Painters Tape
5. Twine or Yarn

Tools:

1. Screwdriver
2. Razor Blade or Exacto Knife
3. Needlenose Pliers
4. Ruler or Measuring Tape
5. Hot Glue Gun
6. Scissors
7. Handheld or electric saw
8. 1 Tablespoon of Table Salt (optional)
9. Safety Goggles

One day a few weeks ago, I was doing chores when I saw this big bucket of broken lightbulbs in the laundry room. Every time we change out a lightbulb, my family puts the old and broken ones in the bucket in case they can be reused or until they can be properly disposed of. By upcycling the lightbulbs instead of throwing them away, we can cut down on waste and give them a new life, while making a great budget-saver for the project.

When picking out your lightbulb for this project, go for the classic shape with a large round bottom. Make sure that your bulb is an incandescent light bulb and not an LED bulb, as it can be hard to remove the LED module, and the bulbs are typically made out of opaque plastic and not glass.

The first half of this project is hollowing out the lightbulbs, so put on your safety goggles, and make sure to work on a solid, clean surface. If you are working on a rough or hard surface, place the lightbulb on a clean dishtowel while working to make sure that the bulb doesn't get scratched.

Gently run your razor blade along the edge of the metal contact on the top end of the lightbulb. Work your way around the metal contact, turning the blade to lift it up from the base of the bulb. Once it it sufficiently loosened, use needlenose pliers to remove it from the bulb.

Hold the light bulb securely in one hand, and ensure that you have a firm grip on the bulb. With your other hand, use the needle-nose pliers to carefully grip the black connecting glass at the base of the bulb. While gripping the glass tightly, use a twisting motion to slowly break off pieces of the black connecting glass. Slowly work your way around, breaking off small sections of glass at a time. After successfully removing the black connecting glass, carefully inspect the base of the bulb and the surrounding area, and remove any remaining fragments or sharp edges.

Hold the light bulb securely in one hand, taking care to maintain a firm grip without putting excessive pressure on the bulb to avoid breaking it. Take your screwdriver and insert it into the opening at the base of the bulb. Using the screwdriver, apply pressure to the glass seal using a prying motion until it cracks and breaks. Work your way around the bulb to make sure that all of the seal is broken off, and then turn the bulb upside down and shake out the broken glass.

Using your needle-nose pliers, reach into the bulb and remove the filament assembly. For some bulbs, the filament assembly is larger than the bulb opening. If that is the case with your bulb, use your needle nose pliers to break the filament assembly, and then turn the bulb upside down and shake out the broken glass and filament. Be careful not to scratch the inside of the bulb when using the pliers.

If you are using a lightbulb with a frosted or opaque coating on the inside of the bulb and would like it to be clear, take about one tablespoon of salt, and pour it into the bulb. When you swirl the salt around the bulb, it will remove the thin coating and leave the class clear and transparent. Make sure to tilt the bulb when swirling the salt around so that the salt runs across all of the glass, and there are no spots of coating left.

To make sure that there are no fragments of glass, dust, or salt left in the bulb, rinse the inside with water. If you would like to remove the information marking on the bottom of the bulb, use isopropyl alcohol or acetone on a clean towel.

For the base of the planter, you'll need 3 wooden pencils, skewers, or popsicle sticks. For mine I went with these wooden pencils I had lying around because I liked the color and they didn't have any bright markings on them. Using pencils for the base comes with the added benefit of the erasers on the bottoms of the pencils, as when the stand is built the rubber tips create a lot of friction with whatever surface the planter is displayed on, acting like non-slip feet. If using popsicle sticks or skewers, go for the thicker ones as they will result in a sturdier end-product.

First, we need to trim the pencils down to size because, at their full length, they obstruct the view of the planter from some angles. The ideal length will depend on the size of your bulb, but I've found great results with a length of 5 inches.

Using the ruler or measuring tape, make a mark on the wood where the cut will be for future reference. Hold the pencil steadily against a table or workbench with one hand, and with a repeated rocking motion, make the cut with the saw in your other hand. Be quick and decisive, as slow cutting can create cracks in the wood and leave an unclean cut. Once cut, if your pencils have any branding or coatings, sand them down with medium-grit sandpaper. Repeat this process for all 3 pencils, popsicle sticks, or skewers.

Now for the tricky part, gluing the base together. The best way to hold the pencils in the teepee-hut shape is to tape down the ends to the table, and then prop them up against a small spherical object like a ping-pong ball. This way, they stay in place while you add the glue and you don't have to worry about keeping them in shape. Lay the pencils over each other as shown to create a base for the bulb, and make sure that the ends of the pencils are evenly spaced apart from each other at the top and bottom.

Once the pencils are arranged in the triangular teepee shape, apply a small amount of hot glue into the center where the pencils meet. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes, then remove the tape. If the base tilts over or looks like it will collapse, add a little more glue to the top and underside of where the pencils meet for added strength.

Wrapping the base in twine helps hide the glue joint, and creates a more rustic appearance that the pencils are bound together. Using a dab of hot glue, secure the end of the twine to the base. Start wrapping the twine around the hot glue connection, working your way up and down to create an even layer of twine. When all of the glue joint is covered and it's aesthetically pleasing to you, cut the twine and secure the loose end with a touch of hot glue.

With your planter done, it's time to get creative and personalize it to your living space.

1. Fill the bulb 1/3 with small sedimentary rocks and sand, and add a succulent for a desert vibe
2. Fill the bulb 2/3 with water, and add any plant cutting or flower for a hydroponic approach
3. Or my favorite -- Fill the bulb 1/3 with nutrient-rich soil, and add a few seeds or transplants and watch them grow. You can see the roots through the glass as the plant grows, and it looks awesome on display.

I've found that the best way to fill the bulbs with any substrate is to cut a plastic water bottle in half, and use the top as a funnel, as the rim of the waterbottle matches up perfectly with the hole made in the bulb.

Now all that's left is to find a place to show off your lightbulb planter. Anywhere with a few hours of daily sun is perfect, like windowsills and bookshelves near windows. You can admire the beauty of bringing a little nature into your home, and that best of all, it didn't break the bank.

This was a super fun project to make, and my mom loved it! Thanks for reading!