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    Home » DIY Projects

    DIY Flower Pot Centerpiece

    April 26, 2015 by Patti Estep 29 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card
    Clay pot with flowers and candle

    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.

    Centerpiece planter with clay pots and a candle

    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 particular 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.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there's no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. ) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    Large clay pot, small clay pot and a small pillar candle in a glass vase.

    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)
    White washed terra cotta pots. One large and one small.

    Flower Pot Decoration Tutorial

    1. First, paint pots with a dry brush 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.

    Gravel in small terra cotta pot
    Any kind of gravel or stones works here to make a base for the vase.

    2, Next, I fill the large pot about halfway with soil.

    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.

    flower pot centerpiece with alyssum flowers

    I chose an annual sweet alyssum as the type of plant for my flowers. They should stay nice and low and trail over the side. This annual plant also comes in a pretty purple for a pop of color too.

    Flower pot centerpiece with candle

    You can play around with the height of the small pot in the large pot and the height of the gravel to find a look that is pleasing to you. A great choice for your front porch, deck, or any outdoor space during the summer season.

    potted plant centerpiece with candle

    Wouldn't this flower pot centerpiece look beautiful at a wedding or shower Save it for yourself or give one to a friend. It's an easy and affordable gift. How about Mother's Day?

    Patti signature

    More Decorative Pot DIY Projects

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    Click Here to Save to Pinterest!

    Potted clay plant centerpiece with a candle and white alyssum flowers.
    Centerpiece plant with clay pots and a candle
    Print
    4.25 from 4 votes

    Flower Pot Centerpiece

    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.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Active Time30 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Flower Crafts/Decor
    Yield: 1
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $10

    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.

    Notes

    If you leave this outdoor the vase will fill up with water when it rains, so just flip the vase when you are not using it.
    Make it your own: Paint the pots, choose different flowers, or consider a colored candle.

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sherry Butler

      May 02, 2022 at 4:19 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 02, 2022 at 5:02 pm

        Sherry, I believe they were a 4-inch and an 8-inch pot. However, you can play around with sizes if you want.

        Reply
    2. Kathy

      August 01, 2017 at 3:04 pm

      I think this is lovely, how plants did you use in one planter?

      Reply
      • Kathy

        August 01, 2017 at 3:05 pm

        That should read how "many" plants did you use

        Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 02, 2017 at 8:39 am

        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

        Reply
    3. Laurie

      March 21, 2017 at 6:44 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        March 22, 2017 at 7:20 am

        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

        Reply
    4. Paula

      February 10, 2017 at 5:18 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 10, 2017 at 6:36 am

        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

        Reply
    5. Sandra

      June 09, 2016 at 5:06 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 09, 2016 at 5:37 pm

        Super idea Sandra!!

        Reply
    6. Carly Fahey

      June 02, 2016 at 12:09 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 02, 2016 at 1:16 pm

        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

        Reply
    7. Barbara

      May 08, 2016 at 5:40 pm

      This looks so cute! Can you tell me the size of the pots you used?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 09, 2016 at 11:48 am

        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

        Reply
    8. Julie

      April 12, 2016 at 5:37 pm

      I love this. May try lemon balm and citronella candle for patio or camping!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        April 13, 2016 at 7:30 am

        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

        Reply
    9. Kari

      April 30, 2015 at 12:23 pm

      I'm wondering why soil on the bottom half and why not all rock? Or why not all soil?

      Reply
      • Patti

        April 30, 2015 at 7:04 pm

        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

        Reply
        • Kari

          May 01, 2015 at 7:46 am

          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

    10. Susan M.

      April 28, 2015 at 8:41 am

      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!!

      Reply
      • Patti

        April 28, 2015 at 9:49 am

        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

        Reply
    11. Karen

      April 26, 2015 at 12:20 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Patti

        April 26, 2015 at 2:18 pm

        Thanks Karen,
        I purchased my vase and candle at the dollar store.
        Thanks for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply
        • Julie Huffman

          April 26, 2017 at 3:41 pm

          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

          April 27, 2017 at 6:13 am

          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

          June 10, 2022 at 9:05 pm

          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

          June 11, 2022 at 7:09 am

          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.

    Trackbacks

    1. Farmhouse Friday #8 - Garden Projects - Knick of Time says:
      May 28, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      […] how sweet this flowering table centerpiece is from Garden […]

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