Good sources for wooden barrel planters and modifications and considerations

[Petey]

Hi —

Looking for good sources for wooden barrel planters (or barrels to turn into planters). Curious about vendors, or hacks to find them (I emailed two local vineyards).

Also curious about good methods for making sure they are well sealed and have handles, since i intend to put some of my seasonal plants in them and bring them in and out of basement. Also curious about any impacts on soil that I should think about.

[Perkolator]

What about plastic barrels? 55gal food-grade poly barrels can be found used for like $10-20 each and makes two large pots when cut in half. Drill holes and install rope with knots on inside, for handles if you want. They’re already sealed, drill as many/few holes as you want. If you don’t like the color, paint the exterior.

I’ve used wine barrels in the past and IMO they’re not ideal unless you have them already. They wick moisture and can rot out if you have healthy soil that will start eating away at the wood. Heavier than a plastic barrel too.

[Petey]

I just tend to not like the plastic aesthetic - no matter how painted.

Thanks for letting me know about those problems. I knew about the weight but not about some of the other dynamics.

For some of my larger plants that I’m trying to overwinter in the basement — a Cattley guava, a sumo mandarin, a dragonfruit — I was thinking a half barrel planter would be a nice looking alternative to a very large clay pot. But it looks like they are comparably expensive and heavy without the benefits of unglazed clay. Although some of them do have handles which helps with the twice-a-year move.

So (unless other people emerge with good tips) I’ll probably look at some clay pots or maybe see if I can find some plastic/resin pots with aesthetics I don’t hate.

[krismoriah]

How long should a wine barrel planter last?

Renewing a Whiskey/Wine Barrel Bottom

I have a half whiskey barrel planter and am thinking about replacing the bottom,that rotted away.I probably should of had bricks underneath it,to begin with. I was reading about the proper way to do it,by taking some hoops off but there are rivets and the rest of the thing is not in great shape.It could last a few years though. Maybe cut a circle of plywood,a little larger than the bottom and pound it in from the top? [IMG_20210113_164926684] [IMG_20210113_164852205]

[TNHunter]

Our local TSC store has several of the wooden half whisky barrell planters.

They are expensive … like 55 bucks and dont get all that great reports on reviews.

They have a plastic version that looks good and holds up well for 21 bucks. It gets better reviews than the oak ones do.

I have had a novamac apple on b9 rootstock planted in the plastic version for 4 years now.

It is quite happy… i dont move it in and out… it stays put all year on the south side of my home. It is espellar trained.

TNHunter