For the ardent baker, a Bundt pan feeds a crowd of party guests. For the passionate gardener, the same pan feeds the roots of plants and decorates your Dollar Tree Macrame Hanger in the process. And no, the Bundt pan in question isn’t different from the one your grandma used back in the ’70s to make cake. It’s the very same one. It’s just used to good end for a different purpose. However, to be fair, some Bundt pans are better at transforming your patio with plants and flowers than others, due to the potential rust factor, so if you’re going to try this mini-garden DIY, you’ll want to shop for a pan with that in mind.
This cute hack becomes the home for a small garden filled with succulents or low-growing annuals, like marigolds, pansies, and petunias. An herb garden is a possibility here, too. Depending on where you live, the growing zone for all of these plants may overlap, though you should check to be sure. Soft succulents, like aloe plants, really only thrive in growing zones nine or higher, so plan the contents of your Bundt pan planter accordingly.
Putting your Bundt pan garden together
If you’re buying a Bundt pan specifically for this purpose, look for one made from any of the following materials: aluminum, ceramic, or stainless steel. Copper would work, too, and as a decorative bonus, it may develop a green patina over time. These metals are appropriate because they don’t rust.
The soil you put into the Bundt pan will depend on what you’re growing. Succulents typically like potting soil that’s made for them. This is usually a loose mix of soil and pebbles. Some herbs, like rosemary and lavender, like similar soil conditions, so you may be able to grow your succulents and herbs together in the same pan. They both need soil that drains well, though they don’t need as much water, so the liquid in this setup may evaporate fast enough to offer you a workaround for the drainage challenge.
Annuals, on the other hand, sometimes have a drinking problem. They can like a little something of the liquid persuasion as often as every day, so if you’re planning on planting annuals in your Bundt pan, keep this in mind. From a grow zone perspective, they overlap with some succulents, but from a soil perspective, maybe not so much. It’s better to plant them in a pot that drains well if you want to sidestep the issues that come with not watering them enough. If your outdoor planters get waterlogged, this can signal the end for your plants.
How to solve the drainage issue
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If you’re really set on making a Bundt pan planter because they’re cool, you could still be in luck. A strong drill and even stronger drill bit may bore through metal, allowing you to create some drainage holes. An electric drill outfitted with the best tungsten carbide drill bits should be up for this task.
However, you don’t actually need to go that far. There is one type of pan, the silicone Bundt pan, that’s soft and flexible enough to drill through with a regular drill. The SILIVO Store Silicone Bundt Pan is a good option here. Most silicone pans are soft, which is why it’s so easy to pop a Bundt cake out of them. This pan’s soft pliability is also a good choice for your mini garden because you can add drainage holes to it with the help of a standard drill. And it also won’t rust.
The hole in most Bundt pans is just the right size for inserting a garden umbrella through. Some gardeners love this hack because it allows them to elevate their outdoor umbrella by giving it its own mini garden. However, the water may drain onto the table that your garden umbrella is attached to. In cases like these, it’s better to move the Bundt pan away from the umbrella pole and place it on a deck or another surface. Doing this gives you the option of putting a plate underneath it to catch the water drippings while still enjoying the look of your Bundt pan mini garden.
