Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Using Vintage Planters: Quick Tips for Filling Vintage Pots with Greenery


I've said it once and I'll say it again, I love potting up vintage planters. Because using vintage planters is trickier than using conventional modern pots, I thought I'd give you some quick tips for filling your vintage planters with lush greenery.

1. Use small cacti and/or succulents. 

Cacti and succulents grow slowly and are ideal for your tiny vintage planters. However, they do need full sun to thrive. If you can't provide adequate light for your cacti, see below...

2. Shady home? Use small tropicals instead. 

I recommend very small tropicals (your typical "houseplants") for shady spaces. Make sure to transplant your tropical when it appears to be outgrowing its tiny home.


3. Don't plant herbs or vegetables in tiny planters.

Never plant herbs or vegetables in your vintage planters as they grow quickly and require lots of root space.  
4. Use mulch of some kind. 

I use white aquarium gravel in these pots. You can use marbles, pottery shards, or regular garden mulch. Mulch is not only attractive, it keeps the soil moist, allowing you to water your plant less. This is helpful since vintage planters are smaller and dry out easily.  


5. Leave a "reservoir" for your plant. 

Don't fill your planter to the very top with dirt, leave at least one inch as a "reservoir" so your pot won't overflow when you water it.  

Quick Tip: It sometimes helps to add a thin layer of gravel to the bottom of your planter for your thirsty tropicals, this will hold some water for them to drink later and help keep them from getting waterlogged.

Vintage pots are trickier to use than modern ones, but they really come alive with filled with plants! How do you plant up your vintage pots? Any tips to share?
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12 comments:

  1. Pretty! I especially love the little snail one! My one tip would be that if you're going to use the planters inside, to test them for a while before you place them on any surfaces such as wood that might get water damaged. I've found that some planters have very porous bottoms and sometimes, the water will wick out through them onto the surface they're sitting on. This might be because of a tiny crack that you can't see or just because it's really porous. I usually just put a little tray or dish under mine to start out with and a paper towel to get a feel for what is happening. Well, I DID before I had kitties who ate anything and everything! :)

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    1. Good tip! I always try to keep my indoor potted plants on trays for this reason, too! Especially with a rental I don't want to rot my unit's windowsills!

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  2. Cute! I planted in some vintage pots as well, but I did plant herbs. I put rocks in the bottom of the pots and now that I know they need much more room than that, I won't put the herbs in them again. :) They died. Dang. The post is on my blog if you want to see the cute pots, though. Haha.

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    1. I definitely want to check out the pots! Sorry your plants died. :P

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  3. Excellent tips, Van! I bought this gorgeous white elephant planter back in the winter but wasn't sure what I should put in there, since it's on the smaller side. I'm going with a tiny cactus!

    <3 Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting!

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    1. That'll be cute! Be sure to take a pic once it's planted!

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  4. I have one of these by my door that I use to hold Doggie poop bags, so I never forget to take one with me, but they don't look trashy.

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  5. One of the best tips on buying pottery is to shop at respectable stores. This may sound a bit obvious, Pottery for Kids but it is a lot more challenging when you go to antique stores and flea markets.

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  6. There are many dissertation websites while using the net as soon as you grow to be simply mentioned in the website. cement planter molds

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I love reading your comments. Thank you for adding to the discussion! I always reply to any and all questions.

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