Birthday
HydrangeasThis article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. A beautiful pot shows off a plant and makes it part of your interior. You do not need to buy a designer planter: a plain terracotta or plastic pot, a few materials you already have and a couple of hours are enough.
Preparing the pot
- Wash the pot and let it dry completely. Scrub mineral deposits off terracotta with a stiff brush and vinegar solution.
- Prime porous terracotta with acrylic primer, otherwise paint soaks in and flakes off with moisture.
- Never block the drainage hole or decorate the inside surface that touches the soil.
- For balconies and gardens use outdoor-grade materials and varnish.
1. Broken china mosaic
You need: old china or tiles, tile nippers, tile or mosaic adhesive, grout, safety glasses and gloves.
- Draw your design on the pot in pencil.
- Wearing glasses and gloves, cut the china into small pieces with the nippers.
- Glue the pieces along the outline, leaving 2–3 mm gaps. Add glass, mirror pieces or shells if you like.
- After a day fill the gaps with grout and wipe off the excess with a damp sponge. Grout covers the sharp edges and makes the surface safe.
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2. Twine and rope
The quickest way to give a pot a cosy, natural look. Apply hot glue in a band from the bottom up and wind jute twine tightly, coil against coil. You can alternate twine with coloured thread or weave in lace.
3. Acrylic painting
Paint the primed pot in a base colour, then add a design with a brush, a stencil or a sponge. A foam sponge makes it easy to create abstract patterns or an ombré effect. Geometric designs with masking tape and colour-blocking, leaving the top or bottom natural, are also popular. Once dry, apply 2–3 coats of acrylic varnish.
4. Decoupage
Separate the printed top layer of a three-ply napkin, lay it on a pot primed white and brush decoupage glue over it from the centre outwards. When dry, seal with several coats of varnish.
5. Fabric and knits
An old jumper sleeve or a knitted cover makes a cosy, glue-free decoration: just pull it over the pot and fold the edges. Burlap, linen, lace and wide ribbons work too.
6. Natural and unexpected materials
Cover a pot with bark, cinnamon sticks, coloured pencils, shells, corks, preserved moss or buttons. Use hot glue or clear construction adhesive for these materials.
Common mistakes
- Painting unprimed terracotta: the paint peels within a month.
- Decorating inside the pot or the base: it blocks drainage and may harm the roots.
- Mosaic without grout: sharp edges scratch your hands.
- Unvarnished paper or fabric outdoors: rain ruins it quickly.
FAQ
Which paint is best for pots?
Acrylic: it dries quickly, adheres well to ceramics and plastic and is water-resistant once varnished.
Can I decorate a plastic pot?
Yes, but lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper first so paint and glue grip better.
Want to make a pot from scratch? Read our guide to making a DIY clay flower pot, and choose a plant for your new pot among our houseplants.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
