Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought flowers to put on your front porch together in pots, only to get home and be underwhelmed by what you have. It’s happened to me….a lot! Front porch flower pots are actually pretty simple once you have a few tips to follow.
Choosing the Right Pot
Your pot can make or break your front porch display. Scale is important so make sure to choose the right size pot. I always err on the side of bigger is better. If you already have big pots on your porch, feel free to add some smaller accent ones. If not, go bigger than you think. And always, always, always, make sure it has a drainage hole in the bottom.
I will sometimes use plastic nursery pots and just set them inside a bigger, nicer pot. It makes changing things around a little easier at the end of a season and can make your pots last longer.
There are a billion DIY pot tutorials around the web, and most are probably fantastic. I love this one by Jenna Sue Design. Everything she does is magic and realistically affordable. I love it.
Thriller, Filler, Spiller
Have you ever heard the term “thriller, filler, spiller” when it comes to front porch flower pots? Basically it means you want something tall and attention seeking in the center, medium stuff to contrast and complement the taller plant, and something to spill out the sides of the pot. While this is great and wonderful and creates a beautiful aesthetic, it’s not the only way to go. Let’s look at some examples of T-F-S.
You get the idea. You’re creating height and balance with each section of the planter. When you play with color and texture it adds even more interest. Following this formula is a simple way for anyone to have stunning front porch pots.
Need some ideas for each section? I’ve got you. For Thrillers try;
- Cannas
- Types of taller grasses like Dracaena or Lemongrass
- Large Geraniums
- Shrubs such asBoxwoods or Yew
- Ferns
- Coleus
For the Fillers you could try;
- Petunias
- Pansies
- Begonias
- Thyme
Some good Spillers are;
- Sweet Potato Vine
- Bacopa
- Ivy
- Verbena
- Creeping Jenny
Pack in the Plants
Whatever you decide to plant in your front porch pots, make sure you are packing them in tightly and putting in more flowers or greenery than you think. Yes it will fill in eventually if you don’t, but for sudden impact you’ll need more plants. This is where you’ll want to grab an extra filler and spiller….or two.
Foolproof Pots
In case you’re still worried about not getting it right, here’s some foolproof ideas for you.
| Sun: white geraniums, any color petunias, bright green sweet potato vine (Ipomoea) | ||
| Shade: fern, begonias, creeping Jenny | ||
| Sun: mandevilla vine, lobelia, verbena | ||
| Shade: dracena, impatiens, ivy (make sure to keep the ivy in a pot and dispose of it in the trash can when the season is over. It can be very invasive and ruin landscapes and forests). |
Where I live, a lot of these flowers are just now popping into nurseries. People here fight over sweet potato vine so make sure to grab some if you see it while you’re out and about. You won’t regret it and people will stop by your door to ask what is coming from your planters. It’s worth it!
Check out my other posts on front porch pots HERE and HERE. There are always lots of ideas on my Pinterest page HERE as well. I kind of have a thing for pots.
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