Decorating with plants is a timeless design element and there are many wonderful benefits to having plants in your home. But I have found it is not easy for everyone to know how to decorate with plants or pick out plants.

Knowing the best indoor house plants for your home is a great place to begin when decorating with plants. Whether you have lots of space or minimal space, a green thumb or not you will be able to find greenery here that will bring life and style to your home.

Plants are more than decorations; they play a part in cleaning the air you breathe inside your home. Today we are going to talk about the best indoor plants, the most popular indoor plants, how they improve our home air quality, and how to decorate with plants.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links below.  All opinions are all my own.

How to Decorate with Plants

One of the easiest accessories to decorate your home with is plants and one live plant in a room will, for a lack of better words, give the room life. Plants are great for any room in your homes like the living room, kitchen, home office, and bathroom. But my favorite empty spaces to decorate with plants is windows so let's start with adding plants to windows.

Bathroom Plant Decor Ideas

If you are wanting to decorate with live plants then windows are a great place to decorate. Here is a deep window seal in our bathroom where we sit a variety of plants.

A fun way to decorate with plants is to add different coordinating pots or plant bags like white planters, terra cotta pots, and canvas bags. We bought this canvas bag but we made the brown paper lunch bag and have all the directions on this simply DIY paper bag planter.

Another trick to decorating with plants is to mix in a few fake plants. Can you guess which ones are fake plants? The small succulent is an artificial plant.

If your window is not deep then look for tiny pots and plants like my daughter did in her kitchen window. And use different plants in your window.

Kitchen Plant Decor Ideas

Grocery stores are a great place to find tiny plants and during holidays they will have really cute plant decor like this skeleton head potted plant. A succulent plant or air plants are perfect for tiny window seats. Air plants like indirect sunlight and are low-maintenance plants. Succulents like direct light and need good drainage.

Here is my kitchen window where I have three plants. Kitchens windows are a great place for plants because you have a water source right there and because you go to the kitchen daily it is easy to remember to care for them.

Herb gardens are also great in kitchens. I created this herb garden from a Dollar Tree pot that I painted and decorated. All the directions on how to make a Dollar Tree DIY indoor herb garden decoration is in the post.

Porch Plant Decor Ideas

Porches are another great place to decorate with plants. Here is an example of a plant garden in a pot. Your local nursery can help you plan out what to put in your pot or if you are good at planting then you have this covered.

Add container gardens on end tables and smaller plants on shelves like here behind our macrame swing.

An end table and plant stand is a great way to display your plants inside or outside of your home. A large plant can sit on a plant riser or sit on the floor. If you sit large indoor plants on the floor make sure to place a pan under it so water won't damage your floor.

Tall plants, like indoor trees, can be used in small rooms or large and they work nicely in an interior space with high ceilings as well as lower ceilings.

Hanging plants are another way to add plant decor to your porch or any room. Bathrooms love hanging plants too.

Here is a macrame hanger my daughter made and we added small plants to it. This is another great place to put air plants. Remember that upkeep is easy on air plants and since hanging plant holders will be more challenging to water any plants that don't mind being a little dry are easier.

Hanging plants look great in the farmhouse, boho, or cottagecore styles. Here is a post with cottagecore decor ideas.

Plants are great for a large and small space. A small room with one big plant looks as good as a large room.

Now that we have covered how to decorate with plants in different rooms of your home let's talk about the best indoor house plants and why.

Best Indoor House Plants

You know that feeling you get when you are out in nature–walking in a park or down a beautiful trail? All the trees and plants are so refreshing and peaceful!  Well, your home can be a place of tranquility too with plants.  But if you're like me, you may not have a green thumb.  Give me an indoor plant and I will kill it.

Now let me show you how to create a container garden like this one and it stands a chance of living. But indoor plants are another story.

Well, enough about outside let me introduce you to the best indoor house plants starting with the sweetest little plant gem called a succulent.  

This little beauty is very popular right now, it is somewhat easy to care for and you can even purchase them on Amazon.  

I am convinced Amazon has everything now.

SUCCULENTS

So remember me telling you we were going to talk about the most popular plant to decorate with right now?  Well, that would be a succulent.  

There are so many different things you can do with these delicate plants. You can have one plant placed in an ensemble of accessories, a few sitting in a window, placed in a hanging pot or all together in a precious container. 

Basically, just start placing them around your room until you find the perfect spot like my daughter did. They love direct sunlight and need light at least six hours a day.

Decorating with Succulents

There are so many things you can do with a succulent.  For example, clustering them together in a bowl, like in this photo.  This little home garden is easy to the eye and adds so much to your home decor.  

Just placing it next to some accessories can soften the vignette in seconds or create a windowsill garden as my daughter did in her bedroom.  Using different pots with your plants is a great idea but using certain types of pots like wood or glass jars needs to be considered when decorating.

Look for pots and jars that coordinate with your home decor and make sure they are good for the plant. Something about this reminds me of the '70s.  

Retro is alive!

PLANTS AIR PURIFIERS

Did you know there are many things in your home that produce toxins in the air?  Ammonia, Benzene, Xylene, Formaldehyde, and Trichloroethylene are common chemicals in products you use or have on finishes in your home.  

There are many plants that help clean these chemicals, some clean more than others according to NASA.  Yes, NASA did some studies on plants to help clean the air for the astronauts when traveling in outer space.  I figured if it was good for them, then it is good for me.  

So check out more details on this NASA post about what plants to get to clean the air in your home.  I was surprised at how many of these air-cleaning plants I have used while decorating people's homes.  

I knew plants were good for our air, but didn't realize I was using some of the ones that clean the most chemicals.  That was a bonus for my clients; I just didn't know it at the time.

So here are some of the best indoor plants for cleaning the air in your home and popular indoor plants too.

PEACE LILLY

This is one of the plants I used many times in decorating homes.  I even remember having one in my home. They are pretty hardy and if you neglect to water them, they bounce back quickly.  

This plant cleans all these chemicals listed according to NASA.  So if you need some clean air, go purchase a Peace Lilly at Amazon or at your local landscape store. But check out Gardening Know How before you shop for tips on selecting and caring for these air purifiers.

ENGLISH IVY

When I was growing up, just about everyone had a real or fake English ivy in their house.  This is a great plant to decorate with.  But did you know that it cleans almost all the chemicals in your home too?  

The English ivy is pretty hardy, also.  Here's another link by Gardening Know How that will tell you more about this plant and how to care for it.  And guess what?  Amazon offers English Ivy plants too.  Check it out HERE.

HOW TO CARE FOR SUCCULENTS

Remember me telling you I just about kill every plant I own, which is why you won't find a real plant in my house except for cut flowers.  Well, I decided to do some research on how to care for succulents since my daughter loves them and now has a whole garden in her bedroom.  

So, instead of me trying to explain, go check out this post called How to Grow Healthy Succulents Indoors by Succulents & Sunshine.  It's a great resource from what to purchase and how to care for these cute plants.

Peace lily and English ivy are very easy to care for. If you press on their soil and it feels dry then that means it is time to give them some water. And if you forget to water them and they start to look droopy you can give them some water and like magic, they will perk up again.

But I had learned over the years that most plants love it when you place a tray of water under their pot so they can drink from the bottom. Keep in mind to not let them sit in a tray of water because their roots aren't fond of drowning.

CONCLUSION

I hope this how to decorate with indoor plants and the best plants to buy for a healthier home encourages you to get some plants and start decorating.

If you still have more questions about shopping for an indoor plant check out my screened in porch decorating ideas post. In this post, I worked with the local nursery in my town and we meet in the greenhouse and talked about all kinds of plants and different ways to decorate with them.

Another fun place to get indoor plants a house plant subscription box. These make great gifts but if you are a lover of plants then you will absolutely adore getting these treasures in the mail.

You can also watch an interview with the gardeners and a tour of the greenhouse on my Instagram. The greenhouse is so pretty!

Now that you know about some of the best indoor plants and the most popular indoor plants, I hope you're inspired to purchase some to help clean the air in your house and liven up your decor, too.

Happy Decorating!

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The post How to Decorate with Plants and The Best Plants for Indoors appeared first on LIFE ON SUMMERHILL.

If you love decorating with plants or giving them as gifts then you will adore this DIY paper bag planter. It is simply made from a brown paper bags and coated with a finish to give it a scrumptious patina and make it more water resistant.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission if you purchase using the links below at no extra cost to you. All opinions are all my own.

DIY PAPER BAG PLANTER

Plants are so good for us. They add warmth to our interior design. They help clean the air and produce oxygen. They make a great gift bag. I could go on and on about plants but what makes plants even more beautiful is their pot or planter.

When decorating your home or giving one as a gift consider planters that add to the plant's beauty. But a homemade planter can make it even more special which is why I couldn't wait to show you how to make a simple brown paper bag planter for your precious plants.

WHAT IS A PAPER BAG PLANTER

A paper bag planter is basically a brown paper lunch bag that a plant will sit inside of to use as decorations in your home decor or to give as a gift to a friend. There are many different kinds of paper bag planters. Some are naturally brown while others are white. You may even see paint designs or ones with writing on them.

Sometimes it is a simple brown paper bag tied with twine or coated with something to make it water resistant. But overall it is a way to add style to a plain old pot.

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE BROWN PAPER BAG PLANTER

Now that you know what a paper bag planter is let's make one beginning with collecting these supplies.

• brown paper bag
• scissors
• tea light candles (Dollar Tree)
• cheap glass bowl (Dollar Tree)
• cheap artist paintbrush (Dollar Tree)
• letter stamps
• stamp ink pad
• plant (grocery store)
• hot pad

Most of these items came from the Dollar Tree and the rest came from WalMart.

MEASURE AND CUT BAG

Start by holding your bag up next to your plant. Mark with a pencil on the bag where the top of the pots is.

Now add two inches to this mark. Then fold the bag down lining up the edges.

Next cut along the crease.

Then fold the top down two times making a one inch band around the top.

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STAMP DESIGN ON BAG

Now fold your bag flat and stamp a design on the bag.

We choose to write a design on ours. On one bag we wrote flower in french on the band and on the other flower bag planter we wrote sprout. Have fun on this part if you don't want a design skip to the next step.

ADD WAX TO BAG PLANTER

Next, let's melt some wax and apply it to the inside and outside of the paper pot. First, remove the solid candle wax from the tea light tin and then slide out the wick.

Now place the solid wax into the glass bowl and put it in the microwave for a minute. After the first minute take it out and stir it a little. Make sure to use a hot pad when removing the bowl from the microwave. The glass does get hot. Sometimes I use a craft stick and other times I use the paintbrush to stir the wax.

After you stir it a little put it back into the microwave for another minute and stir again. Repeat these steps until it has melted the wax and the wax is hot. The hotter the wax the easier it is to apply to the bag. When the wax is ready move it to your work surface but make sure to put it on a hot pad so it doesn't mess up your table.

APPLY WAX TO BAG

Now let's add the wax to the flower pot bag. Work in organized strokes by starting at the top on one side and painting the wax on as you go down. The thinner the brush strokes of wax the better. In other words, don't put too much liquid wax on your paintbrush.

You can start on the inside of the bag first and then the outside or you can start on the outside and then move inside. It is really up to you. Also, don't forget the bottom of the bags but make sure the wax is good and dry before you sit it down on any surface.

ADD PLANT TO BAG PLANTER

Next, all you have to do is sit your plant or flower pot into the bag. If your brown bag planter is a little higher than your pot place a small piece of wood or something in the bottom to elevate it. These make the cutest flower pots. And now you are all done.

CONCLUSION

See how cute and easy these DIY paper bag planters are. It is such a simple way to add style to your plants. One thing to keep in mind when moving around your brown paper planters, remember the wax can crack so be gentle. The wax gives the bag such a great patina and if there is cracking it's just another way of giving it character.

Now for a few ideas on where to put your brown paper bag planter. You can add it to a window full of plants like I did here.

Or you can place it on a bookcase along with books. Spring greenery looks so pretty on bookcases nestled with other accessories or books. Another new place is to add a planter bag in a grouping of accessories or on a mantle. They look so pretty sitting over a fireplace.

Another last thought is to repurpose items for your plants. Old galvanized buckets along with these paper planters would look super cute.

I hope you have found this easy DIY tutorial to be fun and helpful and if you need help with the best plants to buy to clean the air in your home. Here is a post where plants are more than a decoration. And if you love decorating with plants then you will love this Dollar Tree DIY indoor herb garden decoration.

Happy Decorating!

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The post SIMPLE DIY PAPER BAG PLANTER appeared first on LIFE ON SUMMERHILL.

A house plant subscription box can come once a month or a couple of times a year. You can get a succulent subscription box or gardening subscription boxes that begin with seeds. Either way, they are great gifts to give to someone or to spoil yourself.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission if you purchase using the links below at no extra cost to you. All opinions are all my own.

IS THERE A PLANT OF THE MONTH CLUB?

Not only is there a plant of the month club, but there are also several plant of the month clubs you have to choose from.

We've narrowed down the list for you and picked out a few of our absolute favorites.

House Plant Subscription Box

HOUSE PLANT SUBSCRIPTION BOX

15 Popular house plant and succulent subscription box ideas for yourself or a gift.

These subscription boxes range from house plants, succulents to gardening. Detailed information about each subscription along with support on caring for your plants with some subscriptions.

House plants are so popular right now. They make beautiful decorations and they can improve your air quality by cleaning the air and creating oxygen.

They work in any style home from boho, farmhouse to coastal. If you love plants then you will want to see what treasures we have in these boxes.

Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Easy Come Easy Grow

With an Easy Come Easy Grow subscription, you will receive 3 different in season herb or vegetable seeds to grow each month. The seeds can be grown from your windowsill or in your backyard.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Seedle

Seedle is a monthly subscription service that provides you with varieties of vegetable seeds. They provide seeds that are organically or bio-dynamically grown, information about how and what you are planting, and support that will have you nurturing your own vegetable patch in no time.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Garden Outside The Box

The Garden Outside The Box subscription will get you six different herb themed collections monthly. Complete with detailed growing information. You get to select indoor or outdoor when subscribing and will then receive either a Tabletop Greenhouse for indoor growing OR our Fabric Growing Collection for outdoor use.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

My Garden House Box 

My Garden House Box is a subscription box for someone looking to start an indoor organic garden, made for inexperienced and experienced gardeners. Everyone has a green thumb with My Garden House Box seed starter kit! Every month you'll receive a carefully curated micro-green kit and 4 mystery non-GMO seeds ranging from herbs, peppers, succulents, and bonsai tree seeds.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Urban Organic Gardener

Each month, members of Urban Organic Gardener receive a collection of high-quality seeds (heirloom/OP/non-hybridized/GMO-FREE) & gardening supplies. Customized your garden characteristics, preferences, location, and more.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

The Seed Box

The Seed Box delivers seeds every month for you to grow in your home garden. The box includes 2 packets of seeds, cow pots, and soil to get you started right away.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

My Garden Box

You can get a unique plant themed subscription box from My Garden Box. Indoor and outdoor plants are included, as well as instructions.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

House Plant Box

House Plant Shop delivers a custom crafted collection of house plants and house plant products in a simple monthly package. They have a large array of plants in their greenhouses and put together a uniquely themed box every month.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

The Plant Club

With The Plant Club, you will receive a new houseplant variety every month. You'll also get a pot to plant it in, along with great accessories.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Air Plant Monthly Club Box

The Air Plant Monthly Club Box sends four handpicked air plants every month. Included will be a variety of clumps, blooming plants, single larger plants, and rare/uncommon plants.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Succulents Box - Monthly Subscription Box

Succulents Box offers four different options. This is a great option for succulent lovers or someone who wants to go green.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

The Succulent Source

The Succulent Source sends out five succulents each month that measure 2.5". With over sixty succulent options, there is a guarantee that you won't receive a duplicate.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Monthly Succulent Studios Subscription Box

Succulent Studios Subscription Box includes two potted succulents every month. Care instructions are included.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Adopt a Plant Box

Adopt a Plant Box sends a monthly box which each includes a baby plant, a pot, soil, decorative accents, and a care instruction card.

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Photo Credit: Cratejoy

Succulents Monthly

Succulents Monthly offers two box options. In the Succulents with Style option, you will receive the featured succulent, a container to plant it, instructions to care for the succulent, and soil that is needed for healthy growth. The second option is the Premium Mix Collection that includes the featured succulent, an air plant, containers, or a piece of display art, care instructions, and some other extras.

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WHAT ARE THE BEST CONTAINERS FOR SUCCULENTS?

If you're ready to jump into growing some house plants, you might be asking what are the best containers for succulents, since they are very popular house plants.

Consider growing your succulents in either a ceramic or a terracotta pot. The natural materials allow the roots to breathe and if you sit them in a tray of shallow water they will soak up what water they need.

Another important tip for selecting the right pot for your succulent is finding one that has drainage holes and make sure that the pot is larger than the root base on the plant.

Just like people plants need room to grow.

CONCLUSION

If you love these house plant subscription box ideas and would love to know about more of our favorite Subscription Gift of the Month Ideas, we gathered them together in one place for you.

There are so many amazing ideas in this post for decorating your home from classic books, mugs to holiday decorations.

Seriously! These gifts keep giving all year long.

We also have tips on the Best Indoor Plants That Help Clean the Air and Look Pretty.

Did you know that house plants improve the air quality of your home? Yep, that is right! Just like the outdoors plants produce oxygen and some plants help clean the air.

Our homes are filled with products that have toxins in them so opening your windows and having certain house plants will help with the inside air.

But if you are an outdoor lover and you especially love gardening then I have a post for you. Our Easy Container Flower Gardening post will steer you in the right direction on container gardening.

Let's be honest. It doesn't matter how you do it. Just get your hands dirty and try out your green thumb. Growing plants is great for everyone and a house plant subscription box makes life easy.

Plus it makes a great gift!! 😉

Happy Decorating!

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The post 15 HOUSE PLANT SUBSCRIPTION BOX IDEAS appeared first on LIFE ON SUMMERHILL.

Selecting an ivy is fun but keeping it under control can be a chore.  After years of taking care of our creeping ivy on our mailbox, I have finally come up with a quick way on how to manicure ivy the fast and easy way.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links below. All opinions are all my own.

How to Manicure Ivy

Before we jump into how to manicure ivy let's talk about selecting ivy. I am no expert but after researching the ivy on my mailbox I found out a few things I thought you might like to know.

First, select where you want to grow it and make sure it is safe for that wall.  I chose my mailbox because it is a small area to maintain.

Then, do some research and decide which kind of ivy you want and determine if it is okay to grow on the wall you have selected.

I decided on creeping fig because it is very petite and can be manicured very close to the wall.

And I chose my brick mailbox because it is a small area to work with.

Next, consult your local nursery on what to purchase, planting, and caring for your ivy.  After working with my local nursery, Tallahassee Nurseries, to select plants for our screened in porch decorating ideas I realized how valuable they are when selecting plants.

They know what will grow the best in your environment. After you plant your ivy before you know it the ivy will need trimming.

What do I need to Trim Ivy on my House?

• Pruning shears or garden scissors (I use kitchen scissors)
• Hedge trimmer (I like the cordless Ryobi hedge trimmer)
• Tarp (to catch the cuttings for easy cleanup
• Leaf blower (I like the cordless Ryobi blower)

How to Trim Creeping Ivy on a House?

Trim Back the Vines

Talk about out of control.  Boy, does mine need a cutting?

So, here is how you manicure your creeping fig ivy.  Start with running your power hedge trimmer, I use the Ryobi hedge trimmer, parallel to the wall and trim back any wild vines that are coming out of the ivy.

I like to go in an upward motion because that is the way the ivy grew. I feel like it is safer for the vines if you move up rather than down with your hedge trimmer.

Make sure not to cut to close to the wall.  You want the greenery to stay nice and full but nestled to the wall.

Cut the Design

Use some pruning shears, garden scissors, or kitchen scissors, which is what I use, for this step.

Gently pull a loose vine out and snip it along the edge of the design you are trying to follow.

When you come to an edge or something like the number plate on my mailbox angle your scissors at 45 degrees and miter towards the edge or plate.

Once finished this is what it looks like.

Clean Up

Here is a quick clean up tip.  Before you start the project lay a tarp down around the base of the wall, mailbox or wherever your ivy is growing.

When you are finished pick up the tarp and toss the clipping.  Talk about easy!!!

Or if you are impatient like me go ahead and start trimming away and rake the trimming into a pile and discard them. Next, grab your leaf blower and blow away any excess cutting.

Conclusion

It is much easier than it looks to care for creeping fig.

I actually do not have a green thumb and I have no training in landscaping.  So if I can do this I am sure you can do it too.

Here are a few after photos on how to manicure ivy.

It's really that simple and easy!

Now that your ivy is manicured try out some container flower gardening. I have two posts and a video showing you the steps to creating beautiful container gardens.

I hope your ivy turns out beautiful and I hope you have a great day!

Happy Decorating!

If you enjoyed these ideas, please sign up for emails, so you don’t miss out on more fun decorating tips and ideas HERE

The post HOW TO MANICURE IVY THE EASY WAY appeared first on LIFE ON SUMMERHILL.

After you purchase your plants and flowers this next container flower gardening for beginners tutorial will show you how planting plants is so easy.

CONTAINER FLOWER GARDENING

With so many options at the local nursery to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know which flower to select for your container garden.  Fear not because my last “how to” post on container flower gardening will help your trip to the garden center be so much easier.

Before you know it, you will have a basket full of flowers to place into your large garden planters.

So now that you have your flowers, it is finally time to water and plant them!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links below.  All opinions are all my own.

LARGE GARDEN PLANTERS HOLES

Make sure before you begin that there are holes in your pot.

Notice that I am using a bucket instead of a traditional pot from the garden center.  Because my planter is pretty deep, I thought this time I would try a deep bucket.

I had to drill some holes into the bottom so the water will drain out.

Plants love water, but they don't want to drown!  If you know what I mean.

WATER THE PLANTS

At the beginning, give your plants a proper watering.  Water will make the process easier for both them and you because they will be easier to remove and will be happier then you transplant them.

ROCK

Once you have selected your large garden planter, it is time to work your way from the bottom up.

To begin, I like to place small rocks in the bottom. Rocks allow the roots to not sit in water when I give it a watering each day or so.

You do not have to add rock, but I find it to be agreeable with the plants.

SOIL

Now it is time to add some soil.

I like to use a good moisture control potting mix.  With the hot sun beating down on my front porch, these plants need some extra help with moisture.

Next add some organic plant food to the top.

Follow along by assessing the height of the pots of your plants you brought home from the nursery.

Fill up your large garden planters with soil but leave enough room in the top for the base of the plants.

PLACE ONE FILLER PLANT

Starting with one filler plant, scoop a little soil inside your large garden container to set that first plant.

Now take your filler plant in your hand and give the small pot a good squeeze, working around the pot squeezing it. Then grab the base of the plant and wiggle it out.

Once you have the plant out of the small pot, squeeze the roots and maybe even dig your fingers into them a little to loosen them up.

Loosening the roots will help them to establish in their new environment.

Last, sit your plant down into the soil and press down around it to secure it into place.

PLACE TALL CENTER PLANT

Now for the tall plant.

Follow the same process as before and remove it from the pot.  Place it in the very center of the pot and give it a good pressing down so it will not move on you.

The filler plant helps it stay anchored, which is why I like to start with one filler plant first.

PLACE FILLER PLANTS

Next, follow the same directions as before and remove the remaining filler plants.

Place them out from each other around the edge leaving room for your trailing plants between them in your large garden container.

PLACE TRAILING PLANTS

Finally, remove the trailing plants from their small pots and fill in all the areas around the edge.

Don't forget to add a hand full of the organic plant food into the holes before you install the new plant.

MORE SOIL AND PRESS

Now add more soil around the top and give it a good pressing down as you go.

This gives the plants security and makes sure they have plenty of soil around them.

WATER

You are almost finished so give the plants another proper watering.

TOPPING

Once you have finished creating your work of art in your large garden container, consider adding something to the top of the soil to polish the look.

I like to use moss purchased at the garden center, but I have used pine straw from my yard as well.

CONCLUSION

The best part about creating a container flower garden for your large container planters is enjoying all the beautiful flowers for days to come.

Here are the steps again all in one convenient place so you can create your own lovely arrangement:

• Drill holes in the bottom of the pot if needed
• Water plants
• Add rocks to the bottom of the pot
• Place moisture control potting mix about a quarter of the way from the top
• Drop a couple of handfuls of organic plant food
• Add one filler plant along the edge
• Position a tall plant in the middle
• Add remaining filler plants leaving space between them for a trailing plant
• Place trailing plants
• Add more soil around plants and give it a good pressing
• Water again
• Add topping (like moss or pine straw)

Well, there you have it!  A simple, easy, and fun way to create a gorgeous container flower garden for your large container planters.  And now that you have a pot of color you might need some ideas on where to place it.

If you have a small front porch check, you will want to check out these ideas. And if you love birds and butterflies you will enjoy this DIY glass bird bath project. It will look adorable on your porch too as well as your garden.

And last if you want to see what we have been doing inside our garden shed check out how to build a loft in a shed.

Happy Decorating!

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The post CONTAINER FLOWER GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: PLANTING PLANTS appeared first on LIFE ON SUMMERHILL.

I was inspired to write container flower gardening for beginners: selecting plants because when I started creating pots full of different plants I truly needed a container gardening basis book or something to help me. So I am giving back all the things I have learned over the l years and tips and tricks to making an amazing container garden.

You will find this is actually very easy if you know the right steps and tricks. I am excited you are here so let's get started.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links below.  All opinions are all my own.

CONTAINER FLOWER GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: SELECTING PLANTS

After creating ideas for my small front porch to share with all of you, I thought about sharing more details about each element of the porch.  For example, how I created the evergreen and annual container flower garden.

Let's assume you already have a pot and know where you want to display your flowers.

So what's the next step?

That is why I am here to help! Read on to learn what to do next.

SUN OR SHADE PLANTS

Next, ask yourself what the climate is like and where the pot will be sitting.

My pot is on my front porch, and it gets very hot there in the afternoon.  Lots of sun requires me to look for full sun plants and maybe even ones that don't mind being dry.

It is hard to keep the soil moist in this area because of the hot, Florida sun.

Now that I know that I need sun-loving plants that don't mind being a little dry it's time to head to the local nursery or anywhere that sells plants and flowers.

LOCAL GARDEN CENTER

I would encourage you to take your pot with you if it is easy to transport. If not, take a photo of it for your excursion.

It just helps to place the plants in the pot at the nursery so you don't end up over-purchasing plants or not having enough.

SELECTING PLANTS

Now the challenging part is selecting the right plant for your space.

But, this is why I suggest going to your local nursery.  They typically have signs that give you the good information you will need to select the right plant for the right climate, size, and color.

For example, I need sunny plants of varying sizes. I was able to find this beauty at my local nursery.

Note that this Diamond Frost Euphorbia likes full to part sun.  That means it can handle being in full to part sun during the day.

SIZE OF PLANTS

You will need to look for three different sizes of plants to create a container garden like mine. Tall, filler, and trailing are the three ones to remember.

TALL

There are many wonderful tall options, but my favorites are the evergreens. Those will not die during the winter months.

Liriope is also a great tall center plant that lasts all year long. For this pot, however, I decided I wanted something a little lighter in color.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of its information to share.  If you know what this plant is please comment below and I will add it.

So on to the next piece: the filler piece.

FILLER PLANTS

Petunias are a great filler plant when container flower gardening! My center plant can get much higher than 12 inches, so the petunias are a great step down.

TRAILING PLANTS

White Knight Aslyssum is such a beautiful trailing plant!

The delicate flowers are also a nice step down in size from the petunia flower.  And the white color is a way to freshen up all the colors. Not to mention it looks nice against my dark brick wall.

COLORS

Colors are important when selecting different plants. Think about the color of your house or the walls closest to the pot.

In my case, my home is a dark reddish colored brick, and my front door is Sherwin Williams SW 7006 Extra White and Benjamin Moore HC-143 Wythe Blue.  So I wanted to go with colors that look nice up again those house colors.

If you are looking for a good door color try out some of these Sherwin Williams popular colors.

So now that we have talked about the design elements of plants let's talk about what are easy flowers to grow.

WHAT ARE THE EASIEST FLOWERS TO GROW IN POTS?

Whether you are a beginner or seasoned planter it is much easier to maintain container gardens if you know which flower plants to purchase that are easy to grow in pots. Here are the best container flowers to grow in pots.

• Vinca
• Petunias
• Impatiens
• Geraniums
• Begonias
• Euphorbia
• Zahara Zinnia
• Marigold
• Pansies

Next let's talk about how to plants flowers and plants in containers starting with a good soil.

SOIL

Now that you have all the plants selected, it is time to select good soil or compost to put inside your pot and around your plants.

I like to add some small gravel in the bottom of the pot, but that is not required.

Ask the people at the nursery for recommendations on potting soil for the plants you have selected.

Again, they are typically very knowledgeable.

TOOLS

Last,  you will a need a few tools for your project.

Look for a small shovel, gardening gloves (if you feel you need them), a watering can, and a potting bench.  You don't necessarily need a potting bench, but for many years I would do my potting on the ground.

Now I use this bench we made on the back of our shed to save my back.

You can also use your water hose from the spigot, but if the project is small, then a watering can works nicely, too.

CONCLUSION

Well, to wrap up what you need to do and what you will need to gather to create your container flower garden,  here is a checklist of what you will need:

• Select a Pot and/or planter box for your container garden
• Determine climate of the area
• Shop for Tall, Filler, and Trailing plants in varying colors and flower petal sizes
• Find a good soil or compost
• Gather tools like a small shovel, gardening gloves, watering can or water hose, potting bench

Now that you have all the tools and plants, it is time to plant them in a pot! Here is where I show you how to plant plants in this container gardening 2 post. And if you love birds and butterflies then you will love this DIY glass bird bath.

Happy Decorating!

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