Sold in a variety of shapes and sizes at masonry yards, clay chimney flue liners cost less than terra-cotta pots. Use them to display a bevy of brightly colored plants, such as (left) Bouvardia ternifolia, Abutilon 'Dwarf Red,' Duranta erecta 'Golden Edge,' Coleus 'Sedona,' Ruta graveolens 'Blue Beauty,' and Colocasia esculenta 'Fallax.' If desired, have a mason cut liner to the height you want, then seal the base: Place the liner on a sheet of plastic. Cut a piece of chicken wire to size.

To create a drainage hole, snip wire in center to accommodate a 3-by-1-inch dowel (below). Combine concrete sand mix with acrylic fortifier and water, following manufacturer's instructions. Wearing rubber gloves, cover chicken wire with a 3/4- to 1-inch layer of sand mixture. Follow directions on curing, which will take 3 to 5 days. Once solid, remove dowel, and peel plastic off bottom. Add soil, and plant.