Well, depending on your artistic sensibilities, I would suggest things like wooden packing crates.....which can be stained or dressed up with paint, additional trim ,etc. you could either line them with plastic, or simply place less attractive cheap plastic containers inside them.

I obtained softwood pallets from a local big box store (for free), knocked them apart and used the wood to build planters. The price was right, and with a little preservative, they last for a number of years. I found that I could make a planter easily in one evening after work, so it was a simple task.

In my area nurseries usually have those large half-barrel wooden planters for around 20 bucks. They are the ones used for trees and large plants. They look pretty nice too.
Or, like Don said.. making them yourself is probably the cheapest way, and you get to customize it exactly to your liking.
Just don't make my mistake and use particle board to make a planter.. It falls apart after the first rain. :)

One thing that does the job, but doesn't look very good are those square rubber maid storage bins. The are cheap and functional, but making some wood ones sounds the best. I'd like to learn a little more about making some, for my larger palms.

Here's some plans for wooden planters.
You could also use galvanized watering/wash tubs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Planter boxes

Buy the cheap tubs at WalMart, get some outdoor adhesive, and some heavy jute rope. Glue the rope all around the tubs - they look very nice, and are inexpensive. I have done this with 5-gallon plastic buckets,too. You might also consider gluing tree branches or bamboo stakes on containers, too.

HomeDepot has round, bright blue 19-gallon tubs with rolled edges for strentth and rope handles. $6

I have some bamboo temporarily in 35-gal "home oragnization" plastic tubs from Wal-Mart. Work great, but the long sides bulge out with the weight of the soil.

Look up barrels in the yellow pages, might find a used metal/plastic barrel dealer. 40 gallon high-density polyethylene, HDPE, barrels can be cut cut in half to make 2 20-gallon containers. very tough, last forever. Most are white or bright blue, often used for bulk food like mayo, oils, ketchup, syrup, etc. My local guy sells them for $7. The hole(s) in the top or the side don't matter since the top will be the bottom that will need holing anyway for drainage.

I get huge containers free. I live in a condo and on trash day (yeah I dumpster dive), I pick out at least 4 or 5 very large pots every year. Nice ones with drainage trays! Also, check at the local trash dump. They may have an area set aside for those recycliing items. And finally, sign up in your area for freecycle.org. Once you get onto their site, you will start receiving items that people don't want anymore, like pots, and they are all FREE!

haunt the yard sales. I always get some good planters there every year.

That depends on if you want just a functional object or fabulous and practical. Old metal garbage cans with handles painted a great color. Laundry basins cement or plastic can be stained or dyed....Then install short legs, the hole is already there. Your local www.craiglist.org. for sources as well as bartering at a local nursery perhaps. Personally prefer laminated ferrocement for cost, design, durability and strength. Just about whatever you imagine can be done. Mail me for details if interested. This is something a novice can easily tackle.

Another thought, and one I've done many times, is to beg, borrow, and steal those large black plastic pots that the larger plants come in. Clean it really well (I use ammonia, a little dish soap, and water), rinse well, and let it dry. Then spray with Krylon Fusion paint in the color/colors you want. May take a few coats but it does work.

If you happen to see landscaping being down somewhere, like in a new retail construction area, stop and ask the people installing the plants if you can have some of the containers. I've gotten many tree sized pots for free this way. A little cleaning, some Fusion and I was all set.

Jenna

Try second hand stores. I have usually found pots there. Plastic lined baskets will work too and look very tropical and are much cheaper.
Brian

Hi,
I love those black plastic nursery pots- they have flat bottoms , rarely blow over because they are so stable, and can be painted (mine are left black- you don;t even notice them with the plants in them.)

I fund some for free at Home Depot in the dumspter area. You can also ask your local landscapers for their toss away pots!

Use BIG pots (15"-32" across)

check out the look--- photos below

Boca Joe

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1302011}}