Photo by Camille Brodard on Unsplash
Spring is here and holidays are coming up too. Many want to put some spring-like decorations on the table or use them as a centerpiece. But some don’t know where to begin. LivelyRoot wants to guide you through the process so you can use what you have on the shelves while also using your indoor plants!
What type of container?
Let’s build a table arrangement together. Start with digging through your old Easter baskets, containers of any shape, size, or color (painting is optional later). Set them all out.
Gather The Extras
Then pull together any accessories you might want to use in your display. You can use Easter motifs like eggs, crosses, bunnies, carrots, cabbages, etc. We will use birds, eggs, and nests for our presentation so the arrangement could be in use for longer than just one holiday. You may even venture out on a walk and pick up bits of nature to use too. Mosses, twigs, dried cones, or leaves can also be a part of the collection.
Grouping Plants and What to Consider
Next, gather your houseplants in the 4-6″ grower pot containers that you have. Different heights would be excellent, as well as those that have pretty colored leaves or blooms. For this presentation, the kalanchoes and Neanthe Bella Palm, Snake plant, English ivy gold child, spider plant, and pink polka dot plant are compatible because they all like to dry out between waterings. As you assemble plants in groupings, you’ll want to consider their light needs as well as watering and humidity needs. You may want to use this assembly temporarily or for several weeks. It will be easier to maintain if all the plants take basically the same type of care.
Recycle and Repurpose
If this will be semi-permanent, you’ll want to make sure that your container drains well. If your planter doesn’t have a drainage hole, get out your handy-dandy drill and drill a few holes in the bottom.
You may want to recycle an old Easter basket or gift container you got a gift in prior. You may find something but not like the color anymore! That’s when a paintbrush and chalk paint comes in handy. It’s easy to use and easy to clean up.
If you don’t have a collection of has-beens, drop by the local resale store and rummage through their cast-aways. You’re sure to find the perfect container.
Create Groupings
Once you have your containers, clean them up, paint them and let them dry. Next, assemble your plants and accessories. Do small groupings to see what you like best. Place the plants (in the grower pot) in your chosen container just to see how the arrangement looks before assembling. Take a picture with your phone to remember the setup. Then remove all the items. We use a screen to place over the container’s bottom to help hold the soil so it doesn’t drip through and clog the drainage holes.
Next, select the correct potting soil for the plants you assemble. At this point, you can either keep the plants in the grower pot and set them in the container and cover them with craft moss or pot them straight into the decorative container. It’s up to you. If it is a temporary selection, then the grower pot assembly may be the easiest way to go. We use a cactus and succulent mix with a little well-draining potting mix together for these plants.
Plant and Assemble
You will want to build the soil up a bit before placing the plants. Remember to leave the soil line below the top of the container about 1/2-1 inch so there won’t be water spillover. If using it temporarily, you can keep the plant in the grower pot and place them on the soil. If you’re using it as a more permanent collection, remove the grower pot and place the plant where you want it in the assembly. As you go, fill in around each plant, tucking soil in between each one so the roots are covered and secure.
Do the rest the same way. If needed, make a funnel out of a plastic container or poster board and feed the soil through it to get to the tight spots where your hands don’t fit. Tamp down the soil with your fingers or a spoon. Be careful not to bury the top of the stems in soil but just up to your plant’s soil line. You can add a top dressing of time-release fertilizer or use a balanced liquid fertilizer when watering. Once it all is assembled, use a clean paintbrush to brush any excess soil on the leaves. Then check the soil moisture around each plant and water as needed. Next, top dress with craft moss or colored rocks.
Then slide in your accessories to make it festive!
Mix Nature In
Another fun way to decorate around the house is to use the nature items you might have picked up outside. Bark, twigs, and moss can be a part of the next project. Inspect the items for ants, bugs, or the like before assembly and remove them.
Keep your plant inside its grower pot. Use a hot glue gun to glue the pieces around the grower pot and assemble them in an organic arrangement.
Finish it off with some twine or raffia. Set these on a side table or in a collection together. Or you can use them at each place setting as a take-home gift for your guests.
Now, once you’ve got your decorations finished, snap a photo and share it with us on Instagram or Facebook! We’d love to see your plant creations! Tag us with #LivelyRoot and share the love!
Extra bonus:
Use your children’s leftover Easter baskets to repurpose into a summer arrangement by following the same instructions as above. We didn’t plant them in the soil this time but left them in the grower pots and tucked moss around the containers. When it’s time to water, just disassemble, water, let drain, and then place back into the basket. We included a clear plastic saucer to protect the basket in case of leftover dripping.
More about Lively Root
At Lively Root, the green spaces created have been instrumental in development as horticulturists, for an ideal green space. Lively Root’s plants are home-grown and full-scale fulfillment centers. They only sell eco-friendly products that are packaged and delivered right to your doorstep. Founding members have over a century of horticultural experience as growers, retailers, and landscapers, ranging from small plants, to indoor plants, outdoor plants, large trees, and flowering shrubs. They have planted & maintained trees on residential and commercial properties. Plants improve health by purifying the air, soothing stress, making people feel happier, and offering style and ambiance.
