Top Tricks to Fill Large Planters: 18 Ideas (2024)

Are you a plant lover looking to add some extra flair to your greenery? Look no further than extra-large planters! Not only do they make a stunning accent to any plant design, but they can also be a practical choice. Depending on the type of plants you plan on using and their root spread, filling an entire large planter with potting soil may not be necessary for optimal growth. Plus, buying large quantities of potting soil can be costly, and filling a planter with soil can make it incredibly heavy.

To save money and recycle materials, check out these top tricks to fill large planters.

Preventing Excess Water and Root Rot

First and foremost, don’t let excess water and root rot dampen your green thumb adventures! Whether you’re planting outdoors or indoors, it’s important to ensure proper drainage in your planter. For outdoor planters, be sure to check that there are holes in the bottom to let moisture drain out. And for indoor planters, try out the stylish and practical cache pot method to prevent any spills and keep your floors looking their best.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to healthy, thriving plants in your favorite planters!

Choosing the Right Filler Material for Your Planter

Choosing the right filler material for your planter is crucial for ensuring it stays in place and looks great. Consider where you plan to place your planter before selecting a filler material. If you’re hanging your planter, or placing it on a balcony or railing, you’ll want to opt for lightweight fillers to prevent it from becoming too heavy.

On the other hand, for extra large planter boxes that will be permanent fixtures and need to withstand harsh weather or potential theft, heavier fillers will provide the stability and security you need.

Use Household Items as Eco-Friendly Planter Fillers

Transform your waste into a source of life! Don’t let a lack of budget or materials hold you back from creating the perfect planter. Try these eco-friendly lightweight planter filler options made from everyday household items.

  • Plastic water and soda bottles
  • Unused nursery pots
  • Non-dissolvable packing peanuts
  • Old pool noodles
  • Clean foam take-out containers
  • Styrofoam packing materials
  • Aluminum soda cans
  • Pine Cones
  • Sticks and branches
  • Recycled cardboard
  • Newspaper

Fill Your Heavy Planter with These Strong and Sturdy Materials

Ready to make your planters practically immovable? Look no further than these heavy-duty filler materials.

  • Gravel
  • Landscaping rocks
  • Broken pottery or tiles
  • Bricks
  • Cinder blocks
  • Large logs and branches
  • Sand

Transforming a plain planter into a stunning showpiece requires more than just filling it with soil. After you’ve chosen your lightweight or heavy planter filler materials, consider placing a landscaping barrier fabric between the filler and soil. Not only does it keep the soil and filler separate, but it also makes potential removal and transplants much easier.

As you fill your planter, you may encounter a variety of opinions on the different materials used as tricks to fill large planters. Some gardening experts recommend filling planters with soil only to give plants all the space they need for roots. Others argue that sand creates an unsuitable soil environment for optimal plant growth. Regardless, most people agree that organic matter may break down over time and become soil rather than remain as filler.

To ensure your plants thrive, carefully consider the combination of plant, planter, and filler that works best for your usage. Consult your local garden center or nursery for any concerns regarding the use of these materials to fill your planters.

Remember that plants need light, water, and a growing medium to thrive. No matter what material you use to fill extra space, your plants can be happy and healthy without your extra large planter being completely filled with potting soil. Get creative and experiment with different materials to create a unique planter that reflects your personal style!

Top Tricks to Fill Large Planters: 18 Ideas (2024)

FAQs

Top Tricks to Fill Large Planters: 18 Ideas? ›

You can use rocks, pieces of concrete or bricks, gravel, and/or pebbles. The benefit of using these types of rubble to fill your planter is that they have some weight to them. Weight can help anchor a tall planter that may be prone to tipping over.

What can I put in a large planter to take up space? ›

You can use rocks, pieces of concrete or bricks, gravel, and/or pebbles. The benefit of using these types of rubble to fill your planter is that they have some weight to them. Weight can help anchor a tall planter that may be prone to tipping over.

How do you make a false bottom in a large planter? ›

Waste Paper and Cardboard

Put those old newspapers and Amazon delivery boxes to good use and fill the bottom of your large planter with a mix of them crushed down. Again, these materials will break down over time, so they're best suited for those repotting regularly.

Should I put rocks at the bottom of my planter? ›

The only reason to put a rock in the bottom of the planter is to cover the drainage hole and keep soil from coming out when you water your plant. Only use one rock per drainage hole. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

Is it okay to put Styrofoam in the bottom of a planter? ›

However, because landfills are overfilled with non-biodegradable products, many Styrofoam packing products are now made to dissolve in time. It is not recommended to use Styrofoam peanuts for potted plants now, because they may break down in water and soil, leaving you with sunken-in containers.

How to properly fill a planter box? ›

Fill the planter to about two inches below the rim to reduce water overflow. It is generally advisable to avoid using garden soil or soil from the ground, as these often are filled with seeds of weeds, and may not have sufficient nutrients or fertilizer to support the plant's health.

Can I put cardboard in the bottom of my planter? ›

The answer is yes. You can line the bottom of your raised garden bed with cardboard and newspaper to block out weeds or act as a barrier against rhizomatous, weedy or invasive plants. While some may opt for landscape fabric, cardboard is a more cost-effective option.

What is the best thing to put in the bottom of pots for drainage? ›

One of the best things to put at the bottom of a planter for drainage is broken pieces of pot. You can use any unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery for this – simply smash them up into small to medium-sized pieces. Adding a layer of broken pieces of pot like this will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes.

What do you fill tall outdoor planters with? ›

Lightweight Fillers
  1. Styrofoam packing peanuts or styrofoam blocks are great. ...
  2. Using recycled materials is great as you're saving the environment while container gardening! ...
  3. Wood chips, pine cones, leaves, and other natural materials also work great as lightweight pot fillers.

Can you put plastic bottles in the bottom of a planter? ›

Make sure bottles are tightly capped, so inside them is only air and the weight of the soil won't make them collapse. Empty water bottles make big pots weigh less, save on soil, prevent soggy roots, and are easy to remove when emptying the pot. Simply hose them off before returning them to your recycling bin.

How do you fill large planters cheaply? ›

Try these eco-friendly lightweight planter filler options made from everyday household items.
  1. Plastic water and soda bottles.
  2. Unused nursery pots.
  3. Non-dissolvable packing peanuts.
  4. Old pool noodles.
  5. Clean foam take-out containers.
  6. Styrofoam packing materials.
  7. Aluminum soda cans.
  8. Pine Cones.

How to use large outdoor planters? ›

Keep big container gardens light enough to move by filling the bottom third with lightweight plastics. Upside down flower pots and an empty lidded juice bottle neatly fill space in the bottom of the pot and won't rot during the course of many growing seasons.

What do you put in the bottom of a planter for drainage? ›

One of the best things to put at the bottom of a planter for drainage is broken pieces of pot. You can use any unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery for this – simply smash them up into small to medium-sized pieces. Adding a layer of broken pieces of pot like this will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes.

How to fill a raised garden bed cheaply? ›

Use the Lasagna Garden Method

To start, lay down sheets of cardboard or newspaper for weed suppression and then fill the raised bed structure halfway up with alternating layers of nitrogen-rich materials (like kitchen scraps and grass clippings) and carbon-rich materials (like wood chips and dried autumn leaves).

How many bags of soil does it take to fill a planter? ›

Size of Bag and Approximate Number of Pots It Fills
Pot type & sizeApproximate soil volume of pot*(dry quarts*)20-qt bag
8 ¼ inch3.6
10 ¼ inch6.93
12 inch10.72
14 inch15.3
26 more rows

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