A potted flower arrangement is a great way to accent a house or yard.These arrangements can be made to work in any area and be changed to suit the season.They can be used to bring color or symmetry to a space where planting is difficult or impossible.
Step 1: Decide where to put your pots.
Knowing where it is going is the first step in creating a successful arrangement.You will have a better idea of what plants you need when you choose a spot.If it is a large area, you can put large pots with tall plants like elephant ear.If you want to line a porch with hanging plants, try a sweet potato vine or wishbone flower.If the area you are placing your pots in gets lots of sun or very little, you will have to place different types of plants in those areas.
Step 2: Pick out your colors.
The color of the plants you put into your arrangement will be influenced by the colors in the area you want to place your pots in.If you have a red door, a pot with deep purples and whites would complement it.It is against the red of the door that it will stand out.If you are placing an arrangement on your deck which is deep brown, any bright color like yellows or oranges will look great against the wood.You can change the colors of your pots.Try mixing up the lighter and darker shades of terracotta pots or mixing white and black pots for a chic and sophisticated look.
Step 3: You should plan out the shape.
You can figure out the shape of the arrangement once you know where you are going.You should decide the size of the plants and how they will fit together in a pot here.There are three basic types of plants.Broad/bushy plants are going to grow outward, while tall or upright plants will grow upwards.In every direction, trailing plants will spill out over the sides of the pot.Before you decide which plants you want in your pots, think about how often you can cut down the plants.
Step 4: Look at the growth of the plant.
It is important to know which plants grow well where.Plants that can survive direct light are going to be in demand in an area that gets a lot of sun.It will be difficult to keep the plants alive and healthy if you mix a pot with plants that need light and shade.You need to match up growing conditions before placing them.Consider how much light and shade a plant needs, as well as the amount of water and the condition of the soil.There are some plants that are good to grow in partially shaded areas.If you want to place your pots in a place with direct sunlight, try rock rose, silver queen, and lavender.Plants labeled as annuals orbedding plants are the plants that will survive a whole season rather than just a few weeks.
Step 5: Use one type of plant.
If you want a pop of color, fill a pot with just one type and color of a plant.While keeping a clean and uniform look, this adds a bright spot to any area.You can fill a pot with a single plant, like a fern, which makes a statement without being over-the-top.In areas where you want to keep symmetry, such as on the sides of a front door or along a fence, using a single type of plant is great.
Step 6: You can try a different plant.
Adding different colors of the same plant can help add variety to your pot.Multipacks of flowers like petunias, impatiens, and zinnias make it easy to mix up colors.If you want to mix up your arrangement, choose colors that complement each other, like reds and purples or blues and yellows.Pinks and reds can be used for a clean look.
Step 7: It's a good idea to mix up a little bit of everything.
Each type of plant is represented in the most striking arrangements.A trailing plant, a bushy plant and a tall plant are examples.The most common way to put this arrangement together is to place the tall plant in the middle and surround it with trailing and bushy plants that are similar in height and width.These arrangements usually contain one focal plant, which could include plants with striking foliage, like a coleus, or trailing plants like the ivy.Most focal plants should sit higher than the other plants in a pot.You can build the rest of the arrangement around the focal plant.It's important to keep all the plants with the same watering and light needs in one pot.
Step 8: Play with things.
If you mix up the colors, try to use a variety of foliage as well.Every plant has different leaves.Plants with smooth leaves, rough leaves or even a near artificial look and texture of a rubber plant add a lot of exciting variation to an arrangement.You can change the sizes of the leaves and the colors.
Step 9: Make sure there are holes in your pot.
To prevent over watering your plants, make sure to get a pot with holes or a bottom that will allow water to escape.This will help keep your plants hydrated.If you want to promote drainage, you can place a layer of gravel along the bottom or broken terracotta or Styrofoam packing peanuts.
Step 10: The focal plant is the first to be planted.
It is best to put this in the pot first as it is likely to take up the most space.You can either put the focal plant in the middle of the pot or place the other plants around it.You can put this plant in the back with other larger plants.
Step 11: The rest of the pot should be filled with other plants.
You can fill the pot with your other plants once you planted the focal plant.It is best to keep those of the same size together if you want to place them differently.If you keep trailing plants close to the edge of the pot, they will grow over everything else if they are in the middle.
Step 12: The rest of the container should be filled with potting mix.
You can arrange the plants using a garden trowel by pouring the soil around them.The soil should be 1” to 2” below the lip of the pot.It will be difficult for the plant's roots to grow if the soil is too tightly packed.
Step 13: Water the plants thoroughly.
Water the plants after you planted them.Water at the base rather than over the leaves.You should stop watering when you see water coming out the bottom.If the soil sinks, add more soil and water the plants again.