Holiday/Winter Porch Pot
First let’s talk about the supplies you will need. Whats awesome about this decoration is that you can just transition one of your summer or fall planters into a Holiday porch pot. We just cut back the dead flowers and stick the greens into the existing potting soil. To make your holiday porch pot gorgeous we recommend using at least 3 different types of greens. The different textures of greens all mixed in a container makes it very visually appealing! Our main filler green we work with is cypress. Its strong enough to have a great structure but also flow-y enough to be graceful and elegant. Other filler greens we love include pine, and yew. For a 12″ pot we recommend a good arm full (12-15 stems) of filler greens. This will give you a gorgeous really full pot at the end. Next your will need a handful of at least 3 groups of specialty greens (3-5 stems per group). Our favorite specialty green is incense cedar, it is so adorable with its distinctive yellow pollen buds at the tip of the bough. It works in beautifully at the front of a pot and really stands out. Other specialty greens include Holly with its glossy dark green leaves, Gold cypress with its bright yellow fronds, juniper with its blue berries and magnolia. The last items you will need are like icing for a cake and they include pine cones, red winterberry and a bow!
There are two basic designs the one-sided porch pot and the 360 degree porch pot. Think about where your pot will be placed and how it will be viewed and this will determine your design.
For a one sided design: Start with a pot that has potting soil, sand or oasis. Begin by using filler greens, cypress is one of the best greens to work with since it is very full and forgiving. Place a tall stem in the center back of the pot with its prettiest side facing forward.. This stem should be either 2/3rds the height of the pot or 1/3d the size of the pot. This is a good guideline to be visually pleasing. Then place two stems on either side of the one in the middle, they should be slightly smaller. Repeat this to form an A shape (or fan shape) in the back of the pot. This should all be done with filler greens. Place a few more filler greens along the front edge spilling over the pot. This should give you a good basic silhouette. Now begin using specialty greens, these should be added toward the front and center. The more varied your color and textures the more interesting your pot will become. For more color depth add sprigs of magnolia with its velvety brown underside it will add a nice touch. For a pop of color use 3-5 red twig dogwood stems. You can group them in the center or space them throughout. Berries are a must! Add winterberry for cheerful red color. Place three stems in the center radiating outward. Add the finishing touch with pinecones. Place three sugar pine cones in the center, if it’s windy in your area wire them to the greens. Then add the finishing touch with a bow. When Christmas is over just take out the bow and you now have a winter pot. You can keep your pot fresh all winter long by occasionally watering (twice a month).
For a 360 degree design: Start with a pot that has potting soil, sand or oasis. Begin by using filler greens, cypress is one of the best greens to work with since it is very full and forgiving. Place either birch logs or a tall green stem in the center of the pot. The stem should be 1/3 the overall height of the pot. Then using filler greens, uniformly arrange them around the outer edge of the pot. Use smaller stems to fill in the gap between the edge and center of the pot, still leaving space for specialty greens. This should be a nice silhouette. Now begin using specialty greens, these should be added all away around. The more varied your color and textures the more interesting your pot will become. For more color depth add sprigs of magnolia with its velvety brown underside it will add a nice touch. For a pop of color use 3-5 red twig dogwood stems. You should space them radially around the pot. Berries are a must! Add winter berry for cheerful red color. Place three stems one on each side. Add the finishing touch with pinecones. Place three sugar pine cones in the front, if it’s windy in your area wire them to the greens. Then add the finishing touch with a bow. When Christmas is over just take out the bow and you now have a winter pot. You can keep your pot fresh all winter long by occasionally watering (once a month).
