Asked on Feb 06, 2016

Other ways to fill cement cast outdoor wall planters

I have 3 smaller sized, half basket shaped cement wall planters adjacent to my front door. I can't remove them right now but neither can I maintain plants in them so they just sit empty. The area to be filled is about 6" W by 5"H by 4" deep in each planter. Any suggestions on something decorative (other than artificial plants)? This is a stock photo that gives some idea of what the planters look like. Thanks for any suggestions.
  19 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 06, 2016
    You mentioned live plants were not an option,however what if you planted them with air plants or succulents which require very little maintenance.
  • Meburke Meburke on Feb 06, 2016
    Simple silk( faux) ferns..elegant & classy like the planters.perfect if tropical Florida. đŸŒ´I'm jealous!
  • Ellen DeVilbiss Ellen DeVilbiss on Feb 06, 2016
    How about fairy gardens? The smaller plants used in those don't require as much soil or water as regular plants or you can use dried moss and silk plants for no maintenance.
  • Desiree' Desiree' on Feb 06, 2016
    Succulents will work better than the plants and is easy to maintain. I would do this if I had wall planters or a fountain and put succulents in there. A good conversation piece with anyone. Another option you can put a fairy garden in there too to give a different atmosphere and serene feeling.
  • Mabeline Mabeline on Feb 06, 2016
    Fairy gardens!
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Feb 06, 2016
    Lisa you should consider artificial arrangements. Michael's crafts has beautiful greenery that would drape nicely from your planters. The silk items now are so realistic you'd be impressed with how they would compliment your planters
  • Rgardner Rgardner on Feb 06, 2016
    Desiree is right. Succulents! and Sedums! Just make sure to buy ones that are hardy in your area or plan to bring them in in the winter.
    • Lulu Lulu on Feb 07, 2016
      @Gardner I totally go with live succulents including hanging ones.
  • Cathy Cathy on Feb 07, 2016
    If they are protected, creating little room vignettes would be cute---kind of the fairy garden idea without any plants---put some styrofoam in the bottom to make a level floor up to almost the edge---you could just make them tiny vignettes of outdoor spaces---Collecions, etc has some cute items that you could use and not that expensive to make the vignettes.
  • LD LD on Feb 07, 2016
    If your not able to maintain living plants right now, then an artificial arrangement is really your best option. I live in a condo with a balcony, which gets no sun at all, so I decided to go with silks, so I have beautiful flowers all year round.
  • Teresa C Teresa C on Feb 07, 2016
    Bird Bath or feeder.
  • Judy Judy on Feb 08, 2016
    Ivy will live almost anywhere with little maintenance.
  • Bonnie Woolever Bonnie Woolever on Feb 08, 2016
    I have the same situation. I'm taking some foam balls and covering them with pennies. Others I'm covering with seashells, small pieces of driftwood, tiny pine cones, or pieces of small sticks. I'm doing varying sizes of foam balls. I hope that this can work for you too!
    • See 1 previous
    • Bonnie Woolever Bonnie Woolever on Feb 10, 2016
      Ok, here is what I have so far. I bought the seashell ones and the mirror one. I made the driftwood orb, the leaf orb (dollar store leaves), and the corks and moss. I plan to make orbs with pennies, some with stones, and maybe twigs.
  • Ktg311722 Ktg311722 on Feb 08, 2016
    You could do the little vignettes, you can do succulent arrangements or find some air plants or air ferns. They require little effort. I like Bonnie's idea of decorative items, driftwood, foam balls covered with moss, stone balls, painted pine cones, etc.
  • Me Me on Feb 09, 2016
    my friend has hers filled, about half-way, with glass gems and baubles. The rain keeps them clean and sparkly.
  • Snapoutofit Snapoutofit on Feb 10, 2016
    find a pot that will fit in it and plant live plants in it
  • Bonnie Woolever Bonnie Woolever on Mar 30, 2017

    Lisa, what did you end up doing?

  • Elaine Elaine on Mar 30, 2017

    In my (humble) opinion, there's nothing nicer - or more elegant - than a simple fern cascading down. Since you live in Florida, Asparagus Fern is what I would pick since it grows like a weed your way and takes lots of sun. It also has nodules on the roots that store moisture so you don't need to water every day. Now that said, most people know that Asparagus Fern has a fast growing, strong root system. I have some myself that I like to keep confined to a certain pot size and you would too, if you chose this fern because your planter is small. However, an easy way I deal with the fast-growing root ball is I "root prune". And all that involves is (first soaking the plant) then gently lifting the plant out, then simply taking a sharp knife and reducing the sides and bottom of the root ball. I promise you - you won't kill it!! Then stick it back in your planter, pat the soil down and water and you're done. Root pruning would only need to be done about two to three times a year depending on the size of a planter. Tiny things such as Fairy Gardens won't show too well - they are best for say, a dish garden that sits on a table where the viewer can look down at it.


    Another suggestion, of course, is faux plants. One word of caution though - if the planter is in sun, your (green) faux plants may eventually discolor and go a funny looking blue color.

  • Inetia Inetia on Mar 31, 2017

    Planters don't have to have plants in them.

  • Diana Carnes Diana Carnes on Mar 31, 2017

    A tiny fish environment with a solar fountain? My first choice!