Planting flowers in a pot or container is a wonderful way to bring color and beauty to your home or garden. This simple guide shares the best tips, techniques and ideas for building a planter full of blooms!
As my children have grown, I've found more and more time to fill my home, inside and out, with real living plants. I used to be totally on board the faux-tanical trend. But my new passion began with a few easy-care indoor plants and has grown into a whole new hobby!
A few years ago, I started buying inexpensive planters and learning about annuals, perennials and more! I discovered the filler, spiller, thriller technique for building a beautiful layered container. And the rest is history!
It also helped that the previous owner of our home had lovely flower beds, which I had to figure out on the fly.
But if you don't have large flower beds to care for, a simple pot or container is a perfect place to start if you're new to gardening. It's not a big investment, and you can begin small with just one or two pots and grow from there!
The Thriller, Filler, Spiller Method
This layering formula (as seen above) is an easy way to create an effortlessly beautiful container garden. Essentially, you choose one or two plants from each category and position them together in the container.
Thriller plants: These are taller plants that add height and drama to the planter. They're usually placed toward the back or middle of the pot. Examples include spike dracaena, mandevillas, canna lilies, verbena, salvia or even a boxwood topiary.
Filler plants: These are rounded, mounding plants that fill out the planter but won't grow as tall as the thriller. They include flowers like petunias, begonias, angelonia, heuchera, geraniums, impatiens and pansies.
Spiller plants: These flowers or vines trail over the sides of your planter, creating beautiful movement and color. Examples include creeping Jenny, sweet potato vine, ivy and trailing lobelia.
The thriller, filler, spiller method isn't the only way to plant flowers, though! You can also use a single flower or bush to make a beautiful planter!
Choose the Best Flowers
Picking the right plants for the right spot takes some research before you head to the garden center. Choose where your planter will go, then note how much sun it gets throughout the day.
Does it get full sun, partial sun or mostly shade? Does the sun arrive in the morning or afternoon? If your planter will sit on the front porch, it will likely be in shade most of the day. So choose plants according to their sun or shade needs.
Many nurseries group plants by their climate needs, which helps when you're looking for plants that layer well together in a large container. If your planter will be in shade, buy plants from the shade section; if it will be in sun, choose from the sun section!
Here's a quick tip I've learned recently: if you're adding ferns to a covered patio or porch, go with a Boston Fern. But if you're planting a fern in a large container outdoors, choose a Kimberly Queen Fern. Paying attention to sun or shade needs will help you pick the right plant for your space every time!
What You'll Need to Plant Flowers
- Flowers or Seeds – suited to the climate where they'll be planted
- Planter – I recommend 12-16 inches in diameter to start (see my favorites at the end of the post)
- Potting Mix Soil – I love this brand!
- Gardening Gloves – I love these!
- Small Trowel or Spade
- Planter filler, optional – e.g. cut-up pool noodles, buckets, cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, etc.
- Watering can or a nearby water source
How to Plant Flowers in a Container, Pot or Planter
Before starting your beautiful potted garden, you'll want to think through a few preliminary options. These helpful ideas and tips will keep your flowers looking gorgeous all season!
Let's dive in!
1. Choose the right pot
Select a pot sized appropriately for the flowers you want to plant. I'd start with a container about 12-16 inches wide. Make sure it has drainage holes at the bottom so the plant doesn't drown. Water is a good thing, but too much will kill plants!
2. Gather your materials
You'll need potting soil, flowers or seeds, a trowel or small shovel, gardening gloves, filler (optional) and water. It's helpful to have a hose or water source nearby too, so choose your planter's location accordingly.
3. Prepare the pot
Fill the pot with good-quality potting soil, leaving some room at the top for the flowers and water. I love Miracle-Gro Potting Mix and replace it every six months when I change my planters.
If you have a really large pot, consider adding filler to the bottom so you use less potting soil and the pot isn't too heavy. I've used a mix of cut-up pool noodles and paper, and I've also used packing peanuts, cardboard boxes or upside-down buckets.
Keep the soil about 2 inches below the rim of the container so it doesn't spill over the sides when you water.
4. Dry Fit the Plants
Space out the plants in the container. Before planting, dry-fit them in the pot to get a good sense of how they'll look together.
5. Prepare the flowers
If you're using young plants or seedlings, gently remove them from their containers and loosen the root ball. Loosening the root ball keeps the roots from circling around themselves and becoming root bound. If you're using seeds, follow the directions on the packet.
6. Plant the flowers
Dig a small hole in the soil, deep enough to hold the plant's root ball. Set the plant in the hole and cover the roots with soil. Gently press the soil around the plant to secure it. Make sure there are no air pockets in your pot.
7. Repeat the process
If you're planting several flowers in the same pot, space them appropriately to allow for growth. Make sure each plant has enough room to thrive.
8. Water the plants
After planting, water the flowers thoroughly to help settle the soil and moisten the roots. Keep watering until you see water draining out the bottom of the pot. If you're using a hanging basket, water drains faster and the soil dries out more quickly, so you'll need to water more often.
9. Provide care
Place the potted flowers where they'll get the right amount of sunlight for each variety. Follow the care instructions for the flowers you've planted, including watering, fertilizing and pruning when needed.
10. Monitor and maintain
Check the soil's moisture regularly by pushing your finger about an inch deep. If it feels dry, water the flowers. Be careful not to overwater, as that can lead to root rot. To take the guesswork out, you can use a soil moisture meter to see whether your plant needs water.
11. Enjoy your blooming flowers
With proper care, your potted flowers will grow and bloom, adding beauty to your surroundings. Remember to deadhead faded blooms to encourage more flowers.
By following these steps, you'll be able to plant flowers in a pot and create a stunning display of color in and around your home. Happy gardening!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant flowers in pots?
You'll typically plant flowers in spring, after the last frost. But you'll need to look up your specific zone and find out when that is for your exact location.
How far apart do you plant flowers in a pot?
Annual plants in containers can be placed closer together than plants in a flower bed. So if the plant tag recommends 6 inches apart, you can plant them 3 inches apart in a container. You can always space them further apart, since they'll fill in as the season goes on.
How many flowers can you plant in one pot?
You can plant as many as will fit in your pot with some room between each one, but this depends on the planter's size. A good rule of thumb is three to four plants in a 10 to 12-inch planter, four to six plants in a 14 to 16-inch planter, and six to eight plants in a 16 to 20-inch planter. This fills containers nicely while leaving room for the plants to grow without crowding.
Our Favorite Planters for Beautiful Container Gardening
If you don't have a local nursery or garden center, you may want to order planters online. There's a wide range of styles and prices, and I've picked out some favorites for every budget. Honestly, some of the least expensive options are my favorites!
My two very favorite planters are this large 16-inch fluted white planter and this faux concrete planter, both from Walmart. This isn't sponsored, but the prices are so good and they look fantastic! You'd never guess they were so budget-friendly. I highly recommend them!
SOURCES: Chippendale Style Planter | Self-Watering Planter | Terracotta Fluted Planter | Faux Concrete Planter | Woven Resin Planter | Classic Lion Head Planter | Tuscany Urn | Fluted Resin Planter | Fiberglass Planter Box | Ceramic Urn Planter
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