ReleafAltadena
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Instructions

How to assemble your planter

Combining cedar and plastic has never been this much fun. No tools, no glue — four panels, four corners and a drain plate slide together in about two minutes.

Interactive 3D guide Photo steps
An assembled cedar planter with orange 3D-printed corners

Interactive 3D guide

Assembling your planter

Drag the slider to step through the build, or press Play. Drag on the model to spin it, scroll to zoom. Pick a filament color to see how your corners will look.

Needs WebGL (any modern browser). Open the guide full-screen ↗

Step by step

The photo version

The one rule: panels only ever go into a corner post from the top. Everything else follows from that.

  1. Lay out the parts
    01

    Lay out the parts

    You should have four cedar side panels, four printed corner posts and one perforated drain plate. Check that the engraved faces of the panels are all facing the same way (outward).

  2. Find the groove
    02

    Find the groove

    Each corner post has two slots running down its length. Every slot is closed at the bottom by a small stop, so a panel can only go in from the top — that's what keeps the box from sliding apart.

  3. Slide in the first panel
    03

    Slide in the first panel

    Hold a corner post upright and slide a panel's edge down into one slot from the top until it seats on the stop. Snug is right; don't force it.

  4. Add the second post
    04

    Add the second post

    Slide a second post onto the panel's other edge. You now have a flat panel with a post on each side.

  5. Build the second wall
    05

    Build the second wall

    Add the next panel to one of the open slots, then its post, working around the box. Keep the engraved side out.

  6. Three sides up
    06

    Three sides up

    With three panels and four posts in place the box will stand on its own. Everything should feel loose-but-square at this stage.

  7. Close the box
    07

    Close the box

    Drop the last panel into the two remaining slots from the top. Push each post down gently so all four panels sit on their stops.

  8. Drain plate
    08

    Drain plate

    The orange drain plate goes in from the top, holes down. Its notched corners clear the posts.

  9. Press it home
    09

    Press it home

    Push the plate down to the ledge inside the corners. It should sit level, just above the bottom of the panels, so water can drain through.

  10. Done
    10

    Done

    Looking down you'll see the perforated plate sitting flat inside the four posts. Add soil and a plant — and send us a photo.

Building your own

Cedar panel dimensions

Every planter and kit comes with its cedar panels cut to size. Want to make a spare, or try a different wood? Each side panel is a tapered trapezoid — cut all four the same and they'll seat evenly; a small miter saw or a jig on a table saw works well.

Top width135.5 mm (5 5/16")
Bottom width86.5 mm (3 13/32")
Height152 mm (6")
Thickness10.8 mm (about 7/16")
Side slope≈ 10° side taper

Tolerances: ±1 mm on widths, ±0.2 mm on thickness. Too thick and the panel won't seat; a hair thin is fine.

Four cedar panels, four orange corner posts and a drain plate laid out on a table
Everything in the box: four engraved cedar panels, four posts, one drain plate.
135.5 mm 86.5 mm 152 mm

Care & planting tips

Drainage

The plate has holes; the posts have feet. Set the planter on a saucer indoors, or straight on the patio outdoors — water runs out the bottom.

Cedar outdoors

Cedar silvers with sun and rain and that's fine. To keep the warm color, wipe on a food-safe oil once a year. Skip paint; it hides the engraving.

Taking it apart

Lift a corner post straight up and the panels slide free. Handy for moving, gifting, or swapping in a new color of corners.

Something not fitting? Send us a photo — we've seen it all and we'll help you sort it out.