This flower pot centerpiece can easily be made for around $10 in less than an hour. A beautiful gift using dollar store items and a six pack of annuals. Great for a small rustic wedding or shower or just a pretty decoration for your backyard patio.
My sister showed me a picture of something a friend of hers made. It was a flower pot centerpiece. She knew I would want to make one too, and of course, I did.
This photo showed a terra cotta pot within a pot, planted with pansies and a candle in a hurricane vase. I thought this would make a great gift and the total materials cost just under $10.
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Supplies
- 2 terracotta pots - one that fits inside the other with room around the sides for plants. (Lowes or Michaels)
- a small glass vase and pillar candle to sit inside the small pot (dollar store)
- potting soil
- plants - I used a six cell-pack of white sweet alyssum
- 1+ cups of small gravel
- white craft or chalk paint (optional)
How to Make a Potted Plant Centerpiece
- First, paint the clay flower pots with a dry brush for an aged look.
The original project did not do this. It's totally optional. I just wasn't feeling the orange color of these particular terracotta flower pots and used some white chalk paint
on the outside of the pot with a bristle brush to add a vintage feel to the pot. This does not take long and the paint dries in minutes.
Of course, you can use white craft paint or any paint color you like.
2, Next, I filled the large pot about halfway with soil.
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3. Then fill the small pot with some gravel or pebbles up an inch or so from the top.
4. Place the small pot in the middle of the large pot. Make sure to tamp down on the soil or dirt and get it level.
5. Add your plants and fill in the space between them with soil.
6. Place your candle in the vase and set it on top of the gravel and your project is complete.
Note: If you leave the centerpiece outside turn the vase over when you are not using it. Otherwise, it will fill up when it rains and damage the candle.
I chose an annual sweet alyssum as the type of plant for my choice of flower. They should stay nice and low and trail over the side. This annual plant also comes in a pretty purple if you'd like more colorful flowers.
You can play around with the height of the small pot in the large pot and the height of the gravel to find a pleasing look. A great choice for your front porch, deck, or any outdoor space during the summer season.
Also, if you don't want to deal with the maintenance of real flowers you could use faux flowers and replace the soil with floral foam.
Wouldn't this flower pot centerpiece look beautiful at a wedding or shower? Save it for yourself or give it to a friend. It's an easy and affordable gift. How about a Mother's Day gift?
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Flower Pot Centerpiece
Equipment
- Bristle paintbrush
Materials
- 1 large clay pot
- 1 small clay pot
- 6 pack of nursery cell flowers
- 1 glass vase
- potting soil
- gravel
- small pillar candle
- white chalk or craft paint
Instructions
- Dry brush the pots to give them an aged look.
- Fill the large pot about halfway with soil
- Fill the small pot with some gravel up an inch or so from the top.
- Place the small pot in the middle of the large pot. Make sure to tamp down on the soil and get it level.
- Add your plants and fill in the space between them with soil.
- Place your candle in the vase and set it on top of the gravel and your project is complete.
Sherry Butler
I love this terra cotta centerpiece but I’m wondering the sizes of the pots. The pots are measured in inches, what’s the size of the large and small pots?
Thanks,
Sherry
Patti Estep
Sherry, I believe they were a 4-inch and an 8-inch pot. However, you can play around with sizes if you want.
Kathy
I think this is lovely, how plants did you use in one planter?
Kathy
That should read how "many" plants did you use
Patti Estep
Hi Kathy,
I used a 6 cell pack and I believe only 5 of the six plants. These are pretty small but you could also use a 4 inch pot and gently pull them apart into 2 or 3 pieces if using the same plant. Alyssum.
Hope this helps,
Patti
Laurie
I see you didn't use a saucer under it. Did you plug the hole at the bottom ? I couldn't find a pit without the drainage hole.
Patti Estep
Hi Laurie,
This project was outside so I did not use a saucer, nor did I plug the hole. You want the pot to drain. Especially when it rains. You can find matching saucers at the big box stores and places like Michaels if you are concerned about water draining on the table. One thing I have done in my home is use thrift store plates for my saucers.
Hope that helps,
Patti
Paula
I just think this is super cute and will be trying it out. I know the post is a little old, but wanted to add a word of caution. Do not water the p,ants while the vase is hot as the glass can Crack and if hot enough explode . Thank you for the great idea.
Patti Estep
Hi Paula,
Thank you for your input. That is something that I had not considered though I have been using this project for quite a while. I may have just been lucky. One other issue I had was letting it sit out it the rain. The vase with the candle would fill up and get a little messy so now if I'm not using it I turn the vase upside down.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Sandra
I think I'll try my hand at this and use a solar light instead of a candle. I'm hooked on solar lights right now.? Thanks for the idea!
Patti Estep
Super idea Sandra!!
Carly Fahey
I love this! We plan to make these and use them as centerpieces for my bridal shower! Can you tell me exactly what sort of "bristle brush" you used to dry brush the outside of the pots?
Thank you!
Carly
Patti Estep
Hi Carly,
I used a regular 2 inch paint brush which was a little on the old side. All you need to do is dip it in the paint and then on a paper towel or newspaper etc... dab most of it off, leaving barely any paint on the brush and do not use any water. Then you can put it on the pot. Start with just a little and see how you like it. You can always add more but it's hard to take it away.
Congrats on the wedding. Sounds like you are going to have an awesome shower!
Patti
Barbara
This looks so cute! Can you tell me the size of the pots you used?
Patti Estep
Hi Barbara,
I'm not at home but I'm pretty sure that they were a 4 inch and 8 inch pot. You can use any flowers but the sweet alyssum lasted all summer long.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Julie
I love this. May try lemon balm and citronella candle for patio or camping!
Patti Estep
Hi Julie,
That sounds like a great idea. You may need to trim the lemon balm occasionally but then you can use it for tea or dried it for potpourri.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Kari
I'm wondering why soil on the bottom half and why not all rock? Or why not all soil?
Patti
Hi Kari,
I used soil in the bottom to help the plants have a place to root and thrive all season. I used gravel in the small pot to make a nice solid surface for the vase holding the candle. I also like the way it looks and thought it might be good for safety as the candle melts but that may not be necessary. Of course you can experiment with whatever you think it best. I hope that answers your question and clears up any confusion for anyone reading this post.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Kari
Thank you Patti. I see I read your instructions wrong and thought you put gravel in the large pot. This makes more sense to me now 🙂 and something to make for Mother's Day
Susan M.
Hi Patti
This is super cute! The bonus is that it's super simple too. I think I'm going to start some allysum from seed because now I'm going to need lots!!
Patti
Hi Susan,
I've never grown it from seed mostly because I see it everywhere in 6 packs around here. Thanks for your kind words and I hope you get a chance to make lots of centerpeices.
Patti
Karen
Patti,
I just adore this! All I need is a candle, and the vase. Of course, I'll have to get a perfect flower...
Thanks so much for sharing!
Patti
Thanks Karen,
I purchased my vase and candle at the dollar store.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Julie Huffman
Would it be possible to keep this inside? I have a spot in my home but not sure how much sunlight the flowers need.
Patti Estep
Hi Julie,
The sweet alyssum can take some shade, however it is not considered a houseplant. If you have a very bright spot indoors you could certainly try it. Begonias are another option for indoors. Also, consider asking the people at your local nursery if they have any plants for sale that would work well indoors or in lower lighting conditions.
Patti
Karen
Hi Patti I love this and I made one . Only issue I had was the glass candle holder wasn’t level in the rocks. How did you do that? It’s very pretty though and I love the idea! I need to get some flowers to finish it! Thank you!
Patti Estep
Karen, I'm sorry that you are having issues. I'm not sure why I didn't have trouble but can only guess. Maybe it's because I used somewhat flat gravel. Also, the candle should help way it down. I hope you are able to figure it out. It's a beautiful centerpiece for the summer.