Tips for planting flowers in pots

As we started to get a little warmer here, I’ve started planning out the summer patio décor. Using flowers and planters is the easiest way to add color, personality and life to any outdoor space whether it’s a patio or deck. And while it’s easy enough to pop some flowers into a planter and call it a day, you can create a lot more impact if you consider a few different things. This season I’ve partnered with Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart to help give you tips for planting flowers in pots.

Think about available sunlight

You should consider your sunlight in a certain space when picking the plants for it. If your space gets full sun, pick plants that thrive with that kind of light. If the space is shaded, consider ferns and ivy and other plants and flowers that do well in shade. However, because planting flowers in pots is not the same as planting flowers in a stationary space, you also have some flexibility here too. If one spot is not working out well for the plants, you can pick up the pot and move it. Our porch gets indirect sunlight almost all day long, and some of the spaces along the edge of the porch get full sun. I’ve found I can get away with planting shade plants in the indirect sunlight AND full sun plants.

Sun loving container plants include:

• Petunia
• Verbena
• Osteospermum (This is also in the sunflower family and is one of the plants Better Homes & Gardens offers. It’s the pink and yellow flowers in my photos.)
• Calibrachoa
• Lantana
• Marigolds
• Zinnia (Often grown as a cut flower but there are some varieties that work really well in pots.)
• Diamond Frost Euphorbia
• Snapdragons
• Scaevola
• Dwarf Canna Lilly
• Begonias (Only certain varieties.)
• Sunray Sunflowers (They get just 22 inches tall.)
• Geranium
• Clematis (Some varieties prefer full sun, although the roots of Clematis almost always prefer full shade.)

Shade loving container plants include:

• Inpatients
• Ferns
• Caladium
• Dead nettle (Lamium)
• Lobelia
• Succulents
• Fuchsia
• Heucheras
• Clematis (Check the variety for shade tolerant types.)
• Begonias (They do like some sunlight but they do best if the sunlight is filtered.)
• Bleeding hearts
• Hostas (Usually planted on the ground but will work in large containers.)
• Astilbe
• Lungwort
• English Ivy
• Rosemary
• Mint (I recommend you always plant this in a pot and never in the ground.)
• Creeping Jenny (I also recommend you always plant this in a pot.)
• Loropetalum

Include greens for visual interest and texture

I called this post tips for planting flowers in pots, but don’t just stop at flowers. You should include some greenery and other non-flowering plants because it will help to visually compliment the flowers and creature texture.

Some great options are listed above, but one of my favorites is English Ivy because it gets full and spills over the side. Another one that I like is Dusty Miller (on the right in the photo below) because it has a silvery, almost white look to it and a different texture than most plants.

Play with height and vines

When planting in containers it’s always fun to play with the different heights and textures you can create. Some of the Better Homes & Gardens plants already come in containers that do this perfectly like this one below. The center grasses give the arrangement heigh as well as texture.

Planting flowers in pots like Clematis and vines like English Ivy and Creeping Jenny in a container will give your arrangement another “heigh” element as they grow and creep up or down the planter.

Group pots and create levels to make interest

When planting flowers in pots, not only do you want to play with height in the planter itself, but also within the overall arrangement on the porch or patio. You can do this by simply using different sized planters grouped together. You can also do this using tables or stools on the patio.

The Better Homes and Gardens pots from Walmart are perfect for this because they come in so many different sizes. I was easily able to create a grouping of three that were each a different size and each had a different look too.

Include helpful herbs

Including herbs when planting flowers in pots can not only add dimension and texture but herbs can also help with bugs. Most bugs hate the smell of mint so including that as a vining plant when planting flowers in pots will also help to control insects. Rosemary is also said to repel flies and mosquitoes and plants like Catnip, Lemongrass and Citronella are also said to help with controlling flies, fleas, no-see-ums and mosquitoes. Chives will also repel aphids and Japanese beetles.

Not to mentions, it’s always nice to have fresh herbs on a porch close to where your cooking or grilling.

Use drainage in large pots

If you’re planting in really tall planters, make sure to fill the bottom with a couple inchesof stone or pea gravel to help with drainage. If you don’t have rocks available, or don’t want to purchase pea gravel there are also several other items that work well.

You can use plastics on the bottom of pots like old juice bottles or flower containers to help with drainage. Not only does this save them from going into landfills but it also makes the containers lighter if you plan to move them around. Adding a layer or two of plastics to the bottom of the pot will allow for air pockets and help to prevent root rot. Since it’s plastic, it will also hold up throughout many seasons. Pick things like juice bottles, milk jugs and more ridged plastic flower containers so they aren’t completely flattened under the weight of the soil.

Make sure to use potting soil

Different soil types have different purposes and soil like Better Homes & Gardens Natural & Organic Professional Container Potting Mix is specifically formulated to help your plants and flowers in pots thrive. The Better Homes & Gardens potting soil is designed to continuously feed your plants through the season, which is important when it comes to plant growth in pots. Full pots always look best and the right potting soil is key to achieving that look.

Clean up the plants before planting

If you purchase plants with any dead flowers or broken leaves, remove those before planting so that your flowers and plants can go into the pot looking and feeling their best. Dead leaves or flowers can still be leeching nutrients from the plant, causing stunted growth or even disease.

Loosen the roots for best growth

If you get a plant where the roots have essentially grown in the shape of the pot, that plant is considered root bound. It’s probably been growing in that little pot for a long time and its roots need to be loosened before going into your planter. Loosen any area that is showing signs of circling so the plant can grow in the healthiest manner.

Determine the planting order

When planning in pots it’s best to start with the largest plant first. Most times (but not all), this will be your central plant so it works out.

Once you do that you then want to plant each plant to the same depth it was planted in the pot. Planting it at the same depth allows it to get water to all the roots. Make sure the original root ball isn’t sticking up out of the pot’s soil.

Watering the flowers and plants

Right after planting, make sure to give the flowers and plants in your planter a good drink. Use a gentle shower setting or use a watering can to water from the roots. The goal it to completely soak the soil so you may have to do this a few times right after planting. This will ensure the roots have the proper hydration right away.

Shop this post

• Kennedy Pointe Steel Wicker Chairs, Set of 2
• Navy Jeweled Medallion Woven Outdoor Rug, 5′ x 7‘
• 12 inch Teramo Round Ceramic Planter
• 8 inch Teramo Round Ceramic Planter
• 2 x 12 x 7.45 Round Blue Ceramic Planter
• 6 Toramina Round Ceramic Planter
• 6 inch White Glazed Ceramic Basket Pot
• 8 inch White Glazed Ceramic Basket Pot
• 6 inch Savona Round Ceramic Planter White
• 8 x 8 x 8 Round White and Brown Ceramic planter

For more information on the Better Homes & Gardens flowers and soil at Walmart, click {HERE}.

Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope that you will come back again to see what else we’re up to at Sugar Maple Farmhouse. For more garden posts, click {HERE}.