By SARAH BRASHEARS, Features Editor
Spring has officially sprung and all the plants and pots are on sale at the local stores. If you are anything like me, your green thumb has been waiting for this time of year for months. That being said, as we start a new May, now is the perfect time to buy the oversized pot and a handful of plants, then put together a showstopper flower arrangement for the summer!
Today, we are going to learn the thriller, spiller, and filler method when planting flowers. This method allows for the pot to look full and have color at the same time. The thriller is the plant that is full of color and life. Your spiller will be a plant that grows out of the pot, making it look larger and fuller than it truly is. Your filler will be used to fill the blank space of the arrangement, as well as add a little more texture to the look.
The most important thing to remember when planting multiple plants in a single pot is to plant in odd numbers. This will give the arrangement a full and symmetrical look as it grows over time.
Step one: pick your pot
For me, I used an old feed bucket that has be aged over time. I thought this brought a bit of farmhouse to my look to be cohesive with the style of my house. However, if you are buying a pot, think about what style will match your house.
You can use items you already have, such as a feed bucket, or you can go buy a pot as well.
You will want this pot to be at least 12 to 16 inches wide for a big arrangement. The larger the pot, the more color and life you can add into it!
Walmart and Atwoods here in Alva both have a large variety of planters. Last time I was in, they were on sale and had the cutest designs that would fit any style.
Step two: pick your plants
We are going for a filler, thriller, and spiller look. The thriller is your first pick. It should be full of color. We are looking for something to make your pot stand out and give it a pop of WOW.
My thriller consisted of two different flowers, pink Dianthus and orange and yellow Marigolds. These picks added the perfect touch of color and texture to my arrangement!
Other great choices for our area are Purslane, Petunias, Marigolds, and Dianthus.
As you are making your final decisions on which plants you want, remember to check the climate that the plant must live in, compared to the climate you will be putting it in. Where my pot sits is mostly sun with partial shade, thus I chose plants that would thrive in the heat and full sun.
Next you will pick out your spiller. I chose a Vinca Minor vine that will spill out of my pot and leave the arrangement with a bit of color and texture. My favorite plants for the spiller are vines, personally liking the Vinca Minor and Sweet Potato vines, Petunias, or any kind of plant that will grow out and flow over the pot.
The spiller is the piece that makes the arrangement look big as it grows and fills out!
Finally, you will want to pick your filler. The filler you choose should be larger than the other plants you have chosen. In the past, I have used ferns to fill my pot. However, this year I choose to use an asparagus fern, which is similar but looks as though it is a grass stem rather than a leafy stem.
The plant you choose should be big enough to grow and fill out the extra space in your pot, leaving little room to see large blank spaces!
Good filler plants will get ride of the blank space at the center or far back of your arrangement. A few other great options are always a type of grass or fern that will grow well throughout the summer!
Step three: arrange your pot
This step is always my favorite part! Once you have all of your plants picked out, as well as your pot, it is time to start planting.
My pot was about 2 feet wide, so I choose to place my fillers in the center. Once the Asparagus fern had been set, I arranged the Vinca Minor, Dianthus, and Marigolds until I liked the way they were.
Sometimes you will have to move your plants around a few times until you like the way they look. Once you have decided on the placing of your arrangement, you can go ahead and plant! I only had one vine, so I choose to put it in the front to the left side.
My thrillers were two different colors, so I placed them in a pattern so that enough color went around the asparagus fern as a whole.
Before planting, double check that you like the way it looks from a distance as well, not just when you are right in front of it. This will allow you to be able to arrange a pot that you love! Remember to always plant in odd numbers.
You want to place your filler directly in the center, or towards the back of the pot.
If you chose a vine for your spiller, you will want to place that towards the front or side where it can be easily seen and grow freely. This will make your pot look larger and not hide the plant.
For your thriller, you will want to pick a side, or in my case fill the edges, so that there is a pop of color.
As all of your plants grow, you will start to see the arrangement look full and bright!
Buying large arrangements can be costly, and you won’t always get what you are looking for. Planting your own arrangement will help you save money, as well as pick out exactly what you want!
This is the perfect budget friendly way to make your porch pop with the wow effect before your summer BBQs start!