Save Money Making Large Flower Containers

Single Girl's DIY
by Single Girl's DIY
3 Materials
$20
1 Hour
Easy

I added two big blue turquoise flower pots on my front porch this Spring. I love the way they look and how they are tall next to my front door. But large containers also tend to have larger expenses.


Here are smart money saving ideas for filling a large flower container on your porch, patio or in your garden. These are tips to help you save on the cost of soil, the cost of the pot, and the expense of the plants.

Buy Inexpensive Pots


It is easy to find inexpensive fiberglass pots that resemble concrete, stone or porcelain. The cost will be a lot less than buying the real thing. Plus, they are probably more durable over time, too.


I have found inexpensive large planters in home goods stores such as Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Ross. That's where I've found the most surprising savings.


Thrift stores often have planters. I got these two huge brown flower pots for just $10 at my thrift store.

Use Pot Fillers


Potting soil is expensive. Bags of potting soil can range from $8 - $15. And I would have needed one entire bag to fill just one of my large pots.


I added pot fillers (here are 27 ideas of what to use) to my container to take up space and reduce how much soil I would need. Many of these pot fillers can be found in your recycling bin, which saves you a lot of money.

Find Inexpensive Plants


Large pots of annuals can be expensive. So look for smaller multi-packs of flowers that you can spread through the pot. These plants are smaller individually, but when combined en masse they look like a bigger pot of flowers.


Another pro tip is to look for inexpensive hanging baskets. In my garden centers, hanging baskets are often on sale, while plants in pots are not. You can remove the plant from a hanging basket and put it in the large container.


Buying one large plant, even thought it might be a little expensive, can also be a smart money-saving idea. For instance, a large fern could cost $12-15, but just one plant will fill up the container. While buying lots of individual plants could cost the same amount of money or more, depending on what you buy.

You can see my flower pots and how I put them together in my YouTube video above.


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  • Angie Weisheit Angie Weisheit on Mar 23, 2021

    Where did you find pots like these that are tall? I really like them! Good ideas for the pot fillers...I never thought about using lightweight items. I normally fill up space with rock, etc. but that makes them so heavy.

    I've been making my own outdoor pots and hanging baskets for many years, mostly because I wouldn't have been able to afford them any other way. Plus there's a great deal of satisfaction in creating your own!

  • Fran Fran on Mar 01, 2024

    Does this work with vegetable plants as well as flowers?

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  • Monique Monique on Mar 21, 2023

    Cut up pool noodles also make great pot fillers + good for drainage!!

  • Judy Judy on Feb 29, 2024

    I truly love this idea, Miracle Grow is expensive!! but, first time I did this put too many bottles in !! Dummy me, plants did not grow has large has usual. Soo... Listen to the experts here & don't be like me!! This really does save you money on potting soil

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