Build a small planter box around a nursery pot

Keep the plant in a separate container

This project is a wooden sleeve for an existing nursery pot and watertight saucer. Soil and drainage water stay in those removable components. It is not a waterproof planter. Start by measuring the pot at its widest point and the saucer across its rim; the larger dimension controls the opening.

For a small pot-and-saucer assembly no wider than 150 mm, a 170 mm square clear opening leaves room for removal and airflow. Use straight 12 mm thick boards, with the grain running horizontally around the sleeve.

• Front and back: two boards, 194 × 160 × 12 mm.
• Sides: two boards, 170 × 160 × 12 mm.
• Two support rails: 170 × 20 × 20 mm.
• Two removable bottom slats: 165 × 65 × 12 mm.

Understand how the base works

The side boards fit between the front and back, giving an outside footprint of 194 × 194 mm. Fit a support rail along the inside bottom of each side board. Keep their lower faces flush with the sleeve’s bottom. The two bottom slats bridge between these rails and remain removable.

Arrange the slats under the saucer, not merely at equal spacing. Their 165 mm length leaves clearance inside the 170 mm opening. This is a concept for a small tabletop plant; it has no established load rating. Reduce the plant’s weight or redesign the supports if the assembly flexes.

Build and protect the sleeve

Dry-fit the walls and verify that the pot can be lifted out without tilting it dramatically. Assemble the corners with a suitable exterior-rated wood adhesive and appropriately sized predrilled screws. Set the screws away from board ends and keep their tips enclosed. Attach the support rails with the same attention to pilot holes and screw length.

Sand the reachable edges before the plant goes inside. Choose a finish rated for the sleeve’s intended exposure and follow its application instructions. An adhesive or finish described as water resistant does not make a wooden box suitable for standing water.

Plan the watering routine

Remove the pot for watering, let it drain, and return it to its saucer only after the outside is dry. Empty collected water and inspect the sleeve regularly for staining or soft areas. Keep the wood away from damp windowsills using suitable nonmarking feet.

Clamp boards securely for drilling, and support the work instead of holding it against your leg. Do not use unknown treated or painted scraps around a living space. If you want an outdoor planter filled directly with soil, choose a different design with suitable drainage, materials, and a reviewed structural plan.