The Complete Guide to Planting in Large Planters

If you're looking for an easy way to wow your customers or clients with impressive decor, a large planter overflowing with a bounty of beautiful blooms is the best way to do it. Perfect for breaking up the monotony of a bare space, such as a foyer, courtyard, or seating area, oversized containers add instant curb appeal. Plus, they allow you to grow a wider variety of plants, including more dramatic greenery like tropical palms or boxwood shrubs neatly pruned into ornate living sculptures.

If you genuinely want to make your pots pop, consider purchasing fiberglass planters. Not only are they incredibly lightweight and durable, essential if you're opting for a sizable container, but they can also be manufactured in almost any color and shape and even give texture to mimic natural materials like stone and metal. Keep reading to discover all you need to know about how and what to plant in large pots.

How to Plant in Large Pots

When it comes to container gardening, rule number one is never to use ordinary soil taken from your yard as it's too dense and heavy, preventing water from draining adequately, and can be contaminated with weeds, pests, and fungi. Instead, you should either use a good quality soilless potting mix or make it yourself — you can find loads of helpful guides online. These potting mixes are well aerated and contain all the minerals and organic materials your plants need to thrive.

However, the cost of filling large planters with this expensive soil, not to mention the extra weight added to these already supersized pots, can be a real turn-off for some people. To get around this, fill the bottom third of your planter with a lightweight, non-toxic filler material, for example, milk jugs, tin cans, or bagged packing peanuts, and cover with a layer of landscaping fabric, saving you from having to fill the whole container.

Where Should You Position a Large Planter?

Even when your large commercial planters contain a mix of fillers and soil, they can still be a pain to shift about, so it's a good idea to find a suitable place to position them before planting. To find the perfect spot, always check the labels on your foliage first to see whether they prefer shade or require regular sun. Another top tip is to situate them as close to a hose or water source as possible, so you don't have to make numerous trips carrying a hefty watering can.

What to Plant in Large Planters

When picking plants for your containers, avoid smaller, more compact species as they're easily overwhelmed in a large planter, and, as you'll need more of them to fill up the space, it'll be pricier, too. As a clever alternative, follow the thriller, filler, spiller approach.

First, add your star piece, the thriller, typically a plant with an eye-catching hue, unusual foliage, or intriguing flowers, such as yucca's sword-shaped leaves or the billowing plumes of purple fountain grass. Then, choose a filler, either one variety or a mix, to occupy any empty spaces in your pot — lantana, begonias, and petunias work brilliantly. Lastly, it's time to pick your spiller. These plants tumble or cascade over the edge of your outdoor planters, like sweet potato vine, ivy, and nasturtium, but go for those in vivid hues to make a real statement.

Our collection of large commercial-grade planters are sure to make an impact. Plus, as they are manufactured from ultra-durable fiberglass, you can rest assured they'll last for years and years. If you would like more information about picking the best pots and planters for your business, please call (855) 627-1066 or email sales@potsplantersandmore.com.