Allotments 4 All

I got a pale green toilet on Freecycle, to use as a planter (why the colour is relevant I don't know!).

What do you all think I should do drainage-wise? Would any of you risk drilling a hole in it? It must be very thick porcelain. And if I don't drill a hole in the bottom, what could I do to stop it getting waterlogged...

Anyone tried toilet-planters before?

(I have a feeling this one divides people on grounds of taste!  ;D)

How about planting it up with bog plants? ;D

How appropriate, bog plants in the bog!

we've put mint in ours  ;D

Topic of conversation anyway ;D Anything but tyres,that is my pet hate on allotments.

I remember that toilet manicscousers!

I think because ours is outside our house, I want some plants which stay green in winter. I was thinking of a geranium (outdoor kind) or lavender at the back, and some snow in summer at the front. I've grown snow in summer from seed this year, and I've never had it before - I think maybe it's evergreen too?

But I don't suppose they'd like it getting too wet.

I wondered whether it would work, if I block up the part below the outlet pipe, so water can't settle... I don't know quite how I would do that! :)

cement?

Don't drill it, porcelain as thick as a toilet I am certain would crack.XX Jeannine

Quote from: pigeonseed on May 02, 2010, 19:54:07
I wondered whether it would work, if I block up the part below the outlet pipe, so water can't settle... I don't know quite how I would do that! :)

Ok you've got me thinking - if you fill the base up with crock or polystyrene up to the outlet pipe, and then plant up would that work / help drainage?

Hope you have a great bank hol  :D

I've drilled granite, brick, concrete and breezeblock, and nothing's cracked yet. It's a question of using a proper masonry bit and going gently. I'm sure you could drill a toilet, but this has got me thinking. I've got two old chemical toilets sitting behind the shed doing nothing, and I really like the idea of bogs in bogs. So maybe some sarracenias?

betula tyres are my pet hate too..and baths are even worse,unless they are actually used as butts,full of water

Get it planted up as soon as possible otherwise, the kids might use it as an outdoor bog.  Mine did.  Don't know what the neighbours thought.

Snow on the Mountain is lovely but it does spread.

Quote from: pigeonseed on May 02, 2010, 19:28:11


(I have a feeling this one divides people on grounds of taste!  ;D)

You're right, I think it's a crappy idea. ;) I would get a statue of the piddling boy,  rig up a pump to it and use it as a water feature. Even better with a bit of watercress in it. Cut and come again, you would have it fresh all summer.

I've planted it up! I filled the bottom with polystyrene, and planted it up with pink cranesbill geranium, snow in summer and some freesia bulbs - yes this toilet will smell sweet  :)

At first I tried the idea of tilting it back a little, so it will always drain. But it annoyed me somehow, it looked a bit strange, so now it's flat.

If the plants get waterlogged I'll think again... It looks bare, as it's only just planted up, but geraniums grow so quick, I think this summer it will already look fine.

Oh well, a planter for nothing!

I think it's a great idea, though you'd have cracked it if you'd tried to drill it with a masonary bit.

I'd have planted peas.

Drilling holes in toilets is actually very easy,its only about 9mm thick.
The trick is to start off by not letting the bit slip,use a wee bit of masking tape in each spot is ideal. Slow speed is the crucial step,take your time and don't push too hard on the drill.The stuff they're made of is very soft and easy to drill once your through the glazed bit.
A sharp bit also helps ;)The tile/glass arrow head bits are very effective.

Freecycle and other similar sites are great for 80's peach and avocado toilets :o

Thanks for advice on drilling - I don't have a drill with adjustable speeds. But I might have to try and borrow one, if drainage proves a problem.

I actually really like coloured bathroom stuff - I think as they're now becoming scarce and old fashioned, it won't be long before they're fashionable again. My husband's grandmother had pale pink bathroom suite with pale yellow tiles - lovely. Now she's gone, I bet someone's ripped it all out.

But I digress  ;D