How to Build a Simple Staircase Plant Stand

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This staircase plant stand is inexpensive, easy-to-build, provides a lot of vertical growing space, and works both in the home and garden.

For more creative DIY ideas, also see Creative Garden Art Projects.

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Get a Rise out of Vertical Gardening

A staircase plant stand provides a simple way to give container plants of various heights room to grow and soak in the sun.

What makes this project so simple is, you can buy the staircase risers ready-made, so you just have to add wood for the steps and support posts and you’re done.

Cool Benefits to a Staircase Plant Stand

Fast & Frugal

The materials to build the stand cost just $100 Canadian. It will be less in the United States.
It’s designed for a beginner builder and can be made in an hour or two.

Kitchen Garden-Friendly

So many different fruits, vegetables, and herbs grow nicely in containers.
On a stand like this one, you can move the pots around to suit the light needs of the various plants and keep everyone happy.
It’s also very handy to have everything in one place for watering.

Tons of Growing Space

If you make use of the steps, side supports, and the top copper bar, there is a lot of room for potted, climbing, and hanging plants.

Bonus Tip

If you get the wood cuts done at the store, you should be able to fit all the materials in a mid-size car. That’s what I did.

Year-round Use

Use it outdoors in the summer and bring it indoors for winter plant storage in front of sliding glass doors.

How to Build a Staircase Plant Stand

Materials

Brown pressure-treated lumber was used in this project.

(2) 4-step riser
(2) 2-in x 4-in x 6-ft cut lumber
Cut 2-in x 4-in x 12-ft lumber into two 6-foot pieces.
(2) 2-in x 4-in x 6-ft cut lumber;
Cut 2-in x 4-in x 12-ft lumber into two 6-foot pieces.
(2) 2-in x 4-in x 3-ft cut lumber;
Cut 2-in x 4-in x 8-ft lumber into two 3-foot pieces.
Discard the remaining 2-foot piece.
(8) 5/4-in x 6-in x 3-ft cut lumber;
Cut 5/4-in x 6-in x 12-ft lumber into four 3-foot pieces.
Repeat process to collect 8 pieces total.
(1) 3-foot 3/4-in copper pipe
(2) 3/4-in galvanized floor flange
(48) 2 1/2-in deck screws
(8) 1-in deck screws
Wood stain (optional) and clean rags
Black exterior spray paint for metal flanges (optional)

Tools

Tape measure
Pencil
Circular or hand saw
3/32-in drill bit (for pilot holes)
#8 screwdriver or driver bit
Electric drill
220-grit sandpaper with sanding block or palm sander

DIY Videos

Before You Start

If you want to spray paint the metal flanges or copper pipe, do this first.
Smooth any rough wood edges with sandpaper.
Pre-drill all screw holes with a 3/32-inch drill bit before attaching pieces together.

1. Pre-drill the step boards.

Pre-drill the step boards.
The staircase is made from two 4-step risers and eight 3-foot boards.
Four 3-foot boards will be used for the back step pieces.
Set aside the remaining four 3-foot boards for Step 2.
Each board is attached to the step riser with four screws (two at each end).
Pre-drill the pilot holes. These holes should be 3/4-inch from the board ends and 1-inch in from the sides. The screws should land right in the middle of the riser wood.

2. Attach the back step boards to the risers.

Attach the back step boards to the risers
Place the stair risers securely against a wall; you may want someone to hold them in place while you work.
To place the risers in the correct position, be sure the 8 1/2-inch sections are horizontal and the shorter 7-inch sections are vertical (see diagram above).
Starting with the top step, line up the edge of the first board with the outer edge of the stair riser and secure in place with a 2 1/2-inch deck screws.
Repeat on the other end.
Attach the three remaining boards.

The entire unit should be 3 feet wide when assembled.

3. Attach the front step boards to the risers.

The front step boards extend slightly beyond the risers.
Leave a slight gap between the front and back step boards to allow for water drainage.
Drill pilot holes and then attach the front boards to the risers. Be sure to place these screws so they attach to the riser wood, not in the overhanging section.
Attach the front step boards to the risers.

4. Assemble the support frame with copper pipe.

Assemble the support frame with copper pipe The support frame is made from two 6-foot pieces of lumber, two 3-foot pieces, and a copper pipe for hanging plants.
Assemble the support frame with copper pipe.
Use 1-inch screws to attach each floor flange to each 6-foot pieces of lumber above the copper pipe. The top edge of each flange should be three inches from the top of the lumber.
Secure the copper pipe in the flanges.
Assemble the support frame with copper pipe
Drill pilot holes and then attach the 3-foot pieces of lumber between the tops of the 6-foot pieces of lumber above the copper pipe.

5. Attach the support frame to the staircase steps.

Attach the support frame to the staircase steps.
Place the staircase steps in a level position and line up the back edge of the support frame with the back edge of the risers.
With the staircase level, secure the support frame to the sides of the risers with four 2 1/2-inch deck screws.
Attach the remaining 3-foot piece of lumber between the support frame, behind the staircase steps, approximately 16 inches from ground. This gives the whole unit extra stability.

6. Stain or paint as desired.

Stain or paint as desired. I opted to give my plant stand a final coat of brown wood stain.

7. Add plants

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

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