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How To Make Tipsy Pots

Published on June 10, 2019Last updated October 23, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
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Tipsy pots, or topsy turvy planters, are stacked flowerpots that look ready to fallโ€”but donโ€™t! Theyโ€™re a fun and easy garden project to try.

This is part of a series featuring creative garden container ideas.

Tipsy pots planted with pansies.

DIY Tipsy Pots

Clay tipsy pots with pansies in the garden.

The magic of stacked tipsy pots is they look like they are falling over but theyโ€™re not.

Tipsy pots have been around for years although they go by many names:

  • Tipsy pots
  • Topsy turvy planters
  • Plant towers
  • Vertical planters
  • Planter tower
  • Staggered flowerpots
  • Tiered flowerpots
  • Stacked terracotta pots
  • Stacking planters
  • DIY stacked planters

It can be difficult to find them online when you donโ€™t know what they are called but the words listed above should help.

The words โ€˜topsy turvyโ€™ are also used for upside-down hanging planters like these ones used for tomatoes and strawberries (Amazon) but thatโ€™s a whole other thing.

Topsy Turvy Planter | Amazon


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The Secret to Making Tipsy Pots

Clay tipsy pots planted with pansies.
Tipsy pots with pansies

Itโ€™s this simple: a long pipe is secured in the ground and the flowerpots are threaded through the pipe, stacking them one by one.

There are countless variations you could make, depending on the choice of pots and plants.

So long as the support pipe is long enough, strong enough, and fits through the holes in the pots, you are set.

You can also use unusual containers like old metal pots or galvanized watering cans if youโ€™re willing and able to drill holes in them.


Tipsy Pot Supplies

Diagram of support post in tipsy pots.
The vertical white line shows where the support pipe is placed within the pots

Support Post

You could use:

  • Pipe
  • Wood dowel
  • Rebar
  • Metal fence post
  • T-bar

The support post should be:

  • Strong enough to hold the weight of the pots.
  • Long enough that you can drive a foot or two into the ground.
  • The right size to fit through the holes in the pots.

You may want to do a test run.

  • How far the support post will go into the ground will depend on your soil quality (clay, sand, loam, or a combination).
  • You want it sturdy and long enough (above ground) to hold all your pots with the top ending in the upper-most pot without showing.

Pots or Other Containers

Use any pots or outdoor-friendly containers with holes in the bottom.

The hole doesnโ€™t have to be in the middle of the container but needs to be wide enough to fit the pipe/dowel through.

Suggestions:

  • Clay pots
  • Old metal teapots
  • Coffee pots
  • Kettles
  • Cooking pots
  • Watering cans
  • Anything you can drill a hole in (if it doesnโ€™t have one already). The larger the pot, the better the โ€˜tipsyโ€™ effect โ€“ especially if the holes in the pot are off-centre.

Ferns in galvanized containers in the garden.

Related: 40 Unique Container Gardening Ideas


Plants & Potting Mix

The size of the planting area may determine what you can plant.

When it comes to planting containers, itโ€™s all about fill, thrill, and spill.

You could plant annual flowers, herbs, perennials, or even vegetablesโ€”any plant that grows well in a potโ€” varying colours, texture, shape, and size.

Perhaps your theme is a bold pop of color and you use favorite flowering annuals.

If you have a winter storage plan, any perennials could also work.

One sweet idea (pun intended) is to plant strawberries or dwarf tomatoes.

Or, how about a mini herb garden tower?

If the containers are interesting enough, you may like it without plantsโ€”just potting mix or some sort of art in the pots.

Potting Mix: Use a mix made for your plant choices. If planting edibles, be sure to choose organic potting mix made for vegetable growing.

Assembly

  1. Hammer the pipe/dowel into the ground until firmly in place.
  2. Have your pots, plants, and potting soil ready.
  3. Thread each pot through the pipe, one at a time, adding soil and plants as you go.
    Be sure you can water the plants (without spilling) and the plants are securely in place.
    I leave about an inch between the top of the soil and the lip of the pot and water very slowly so the potting mix absorbs the water.
  4. Each pot will need a sturdy resting place. I add soil and stones to secure each pot in place, sitting on the pot below it.
  5. So long as the structure is secure, you can build your plant tower as tall as you want.

Stacked Flowerpot Ideas

Stacked Teacup Planter

This first one does not have a support post.

If you wanted to make something like this on a larger scale, use giant ceramic teacups or other containers that can be drilled for drainage holes.

I use a keyhole diamond drill bit for jobs like this.

Polka dot tipsy pots.
Stacked tea cup flower planter

Stacked Terracotta Pots

This next one is from my garden. I managed to get the support pipe far to one side which really helps with the optical illusion.

Weathered clay pots stacked one on top of the other to form tipsy pots.
Stacked terracotta flowerpots

Garden art made from clay pots.

Related: Clay Pot Crafts: What to Make With Terracotta Pots



Painted Tipsy Pots

I love how the pink petunias stand out against the green pots and foliage.

As you set up your tipsy pots, you will notice there are certain resting points where each pot stays nice and firm. If not, add soil or stones directly under the drainage hole until they do.

Green tipsy pots with pink flowers.
Green tipsy pots with support pipe showing

Hand painted flower pots.

Related: How to Make Hand-Painted Flower Pots



Stacked Clay Pots

If the support rod is near the middle, you may not have a lot of planting room like this next one.

Terracotta pots in a tipsy pot planter with red geraniums and purple petunias.
Stacked tipsy pot planter with geranium (Pelargonium) and petunias

Resources

Empress of Dirt

FREE TIP SHEET

DIY Tipsy Pots

Includes the materials list and basic instructions from this article.

Clay tipsy pots with pansies in the garden.
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This project is included in this ebook:

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25 Garden Art Projects & Ideas

by Melissa J. Will

Grab the top garden art DIY projects and tips from Empress of Dirt

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Enjoy. Theyโ€™re quirky and always get garden visitors saying, Howโ€™d you do that?

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt โ™›

Clay tipsy pots with pansies in the garden.
Print Instructions Pin It
5 from 1 vote

How to Make Tipsy Pots

Makes one 4-foot tall stacked flowerpot tower.
Total Time1 hour hr
Author: Melissa J. Will
Cost: $25

Equipment

  • Hammer

Supplies & Materials

  • 1 6-foot Rebar
  • 4 12-inch Terracotta flowerpots with drainage holes
  • 1 bag Potting Mix
  • Annual flowers and vines

Instructions

  • Hammer rebar into ground in desired location. Bury approximately two feet deep. It must be secure for structure to work.
  • Thread rebar through bottom of first pot and slide it down to the ground.
  • Add plants and potting mix until one inch below lip to help hold water in.
  • Add next pot and settle in place. Use extra soil or stones to secure position.
  • Continue filling each pot with potting mix and plants, staggering the arrangement.
  • Water each pot deeply and adjust where necessary.
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Clay tipsy pots with pansies in the garden.
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Comments

  1. Ana says

    March 14, 2025 at 5:02 pm

    Gracias!!

    Reply

Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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