How To Create Stunning Planters (With Faux Flowers)

How To Create Beautiful Planters with Faux Flowers For Your Spring and Summer Porch.

I have tried, I really have.

It’s just who I am, maybe it’s in my DNA.

Real flowers and plants are just not my thing. Yes, they are beautiful and smell nice but those things do not outweigh the maintenance they bring.

I can’t be in charge of any other living thing in my home except for my children and dog.

I know some will cringe at this but it is what it is. There is no shame in my game. Faux is just the way to go.

I’ve been decorating my outdoors with faux flowers for years now.

I’m going to show you how to make those faux flowers (or plants) look as realistic as possible outside in your planters.

Yes, if you get up close and touch them, they will obviously feel fake but how many times have you visited someone’s home and went up and touched their flowers?

I hope hardly ever.

So with that being said, if you are ready to come over to the dark side, here are my tips to creating beautiful planters with fake (shh-don’t tell anyone) flowers.

(PS..I tried to do this as budget friendly as possible. Things did add up but I really do hope (and think) that I will use these flowers for a few years so it’s cheaper than planting new flowers every year…especially when you kill them after 3 weeks)

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(This post contains affiliate links. You can see my full disclosure here)

1. Select Your Containers

Choose planters that complement the style and color scheme of your porch. Consider various sizes and shapes to add visual interest.

You can use traditional pots, baskets, or even repurpose items like old crates or buckets for a unique look.

I get the majority of my planters from Walmart with the exception of a few. They really do have the best and most affordable planters, in my opinion.

But you are free to try to prove me wrong. Or just go to Walmart and save yourself some time.

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2. Gather Materials:

You’ll need faux flowers and greenery, foam blocks or floral foam, wire cutters, and potting soil or gravel for weight (optional).

Make sure to select high-quality faux flowers and greenery that look realistic and won’t fade in the sun.

But let’s discuss this a bit more, shall we.

I am not too much of a rule follower so if something says indoor use only, I’ll still try to see how it does outdoors.

These flowers are hands down my favorite faux flowers and are so affordable.

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I had them out in my sunroom last year and they have stayed out there all winter long.

They still look brand new.

I am now experimenting with putting them outside in the wild and I will keep you posted.

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Planter//Flowers

If you are a rule follower you can spray them with this spray to weather proof them

The other flowers I used in my planters are intended to be used outdoor so you can all breathe easier knowing this.

These are my exact flowers that I used

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3. Prepare Your Containers:

If your containers don’t have drainage holes, consider adding a layer of gravel or potting soil at the bottom for stability and to prevent water buildup.

If you’re using foam blocks, cut them to fit snugly inside the containers.

I already had dirt in my planters since I originally tried to plant hydrangeas in them last summer.

The hydrangeas are dead, I believe.

I told you I tried.

I also have used empty water bottles to fill up some of my planters .

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I put a few rocks at the bottom of the planter for some weight as well. It’s quite windy where we live so some weight is needed.

4. Arrange Your Faux Flowers:

Start by arranging your faux flowers and greenery in the foam blocks, or dirt (or water bottles)

Experiment with different heights, textures, and colors to create a balanced and visually appealing arrangement.

You can use wire cutters to trim the stems to the desired length.

There is where you just need to experiment to decide on what you want.

I know I wanted to go as neutral as possible in my planters. I wanted whites, green and one pop of color.

But you are free to do whatever you want. It’s your home.

Some planters I just used one type of flower.

Some planters I added in different flowers and grouped them by each flower type, as I would if I was planting real flowers (that I was going to kill)

And some planters, I just kind of threw whatever I had leftover in a planter

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(Completely unrelated, my Polywood loungers are one of the best decisions we made out here. We kept them out all winter long and I never worried about them. The cushions are also from Polywood and so far the white is holding up)

5. Fill in the Gaps:

Once you’re happy with the arrangement, fill in any gaps with additional greenery or smaller flowers to create a fuller look.

Make sure to distribute the elements evenly around the planter for a cohesive design.

6. Place Your Planters:

Position your finished planters in strategic locations on your porch, such as near the entrance or seating areas, to maximize their impact.

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Make sure they’re secure and stable, especially if they’re placed in high-traffic areas or exposed to wind.

7. Maintenance:

One of the best things about faux flowers is that they require minimal maintenance. Simply dust them occasionally to keep them looking fresh, and store them indoors during harsh weather conditions to prolong their lifespan.

You can spray them with a weather shield spray for extra protection too.

8. A few tips to make your flowers look (somewhat) real

There are few ways to help with making things look more realistic with your planters.

Try to use dirt:

Nothing says faux quite like seeing the green floral foam sticking out of your planter. Even if it’s just a layer, some dirt or soil can help make things look a bit more real.

And to make it look extra real, just spill dirt all over the ground like I did.

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Throw in some real flowers:

I know I said that I can’t keep anything alive but once the weather warms up a bit, I will be trying to add in a few real plants around the pool just to keep people on their toes.

You can always plant a few real plants in your planters right along your fake plants.

Bend those fake plants:

The best thing about fake plants is that they are plastic and you can bend them anyway you want. Real flowers do not grow straight up or proportionally. Bend your stems and have them at staggered heights to mimic the look of real growth.