Forum home› Tools and techniques
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Painting plastic pots.

madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
in Tools and techniques
I have some plastic planters that I would like to freshen up by painting black.
I don't want to faff about too much as I hate painting!
Would a coat or two of emulsion/gloss/hammerite do the trick do you think?
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
«134

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think you might need to prime them, or sand them,  first @madpenguin. Have you got a DIY store near you? There are lots of spray paints too, which might do the job.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • pr1mr0sepr1mr0se Posts: 1,193
    In my experience, none of the above would have durability on plastic pots/planters.  The only paint that will adhere and maintain a proper finish is acrylic.  This can work out quite expensive if you have large planters, though.  Perhaps a bit of research may come up with a more satisfactory solution.
    Emulsion on plastic = run-off and little adhesion.
    Gloss - probable run-off and flaking of any paint that does adhere
    Hammerite - formulated for metal


  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited October 2019
    @madpenguin Get an all-purpose surface spray paint and follow the instructions. I bought it in black a couple of years ago and spray painted a plastic garden storage bench. It could do with a touch up now but it faces south all summer so I'm not surprised. Didn't need priming either - I just washed it down and let it dry.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    Thanks all.
    I seem to remember painting some plastic window boxes with masonry paint leftover from doing the house.Maybe I could try that again!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • the enduring gardenerthe enduring gardener Posts: 122
    I don't think this is a good idea from the plant perspective. Particularly if its for anything edible like herbs.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    Nothing edible and the paint is only on the outside anyway.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d use the all purpose spray paint as advised by @Lizzie27 ... masonry paint will definitely flake. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll be absolutely fine for pots, regardless of what's in them. 
    I've painted pots with the paint I use for timber too - and it works on terracotta. If you can be bothered sanding to get a key, that might work, but you'd need a coat of varnish too, so it depends how much effort you want to put in  ;)
    The spray paints are all designed with a specific purpose, so it's just a question of finding a suitable one, as @Lizzie27 says :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    It is strange that if you paint something 'accidentally' you can never shift it,never flakes etc.....
    ......but when you do a 'professional' job it does!!!!!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I've used masonry paint for a big pot next to a stone wall, it worked fine, has lasted over 10 years and I've used paint for outdoor plastic which started flaking after about 7 years. I used a brush because I used a couple of different shades and swirled it together for a textured look. I gave the pots a quick rub first with rough sandpaper.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Sign In or Register to comment.