Warm Up Your Winter Garden with These Hot Outdoor Pots and Plants

Even though it’s January, there’s no reason for your garden to be neglected. Inspired by Sunset Magazine’s tips to refresh a winter garden, here are some ways to keep your garden looking chic all winter long with outdoor pots and more:

Change your color palette

Highlight white blooms and bright green leaves, perhaps with touches of purple or burgundy. If you don’t get snow in your area, this is a way to stay seasonal and fresh at the same time. Accent your white blooms with white cushions on patio furniture, giving the garden a serene look as it prepares for the colors of spring.

Get creative with greenery

Ferns are not the only answer to your greenery needs. Grasses are another hearty option, or try something interesting like this fiber optics plant in a zig zag ceramic planter. Coleus plants with their wide variety of colors and patterns are another creative greenery choice for your ceramic pots for plants indoors or out.

Accent your entryway

Nothing says welcome quite like a door flanked by pots and tall plants. Spiky or fountain-like shapes draw the eyes, particularly when in striking outdoor plant containers. Layer in low growing plants around the rim for a stacked effect that’s particularly eye-catching.

Bring plants inside

Fill your windowsills with greenery (particularly if you don’t have an outdoor garden of your own). Not only does this chase the winter blues away, you can also accent your home with chic black and white planters or cleverly designed small flower pots. Another idea: fill large flower pots indoors with white azaleas and hydrangeas forced into bloom; they look like delicate snowballs.

Group pots on a doorstep

Instead of a formal style door flanking, a small cluster of large and small flower pots dress up any porch or doorstep. A mix of patterns – zig zag planters, ceramic striped outdoor pots, and plain clay flower pots – filled with an interesting plants like purple kale and crimson ‘Fire Power’ nandina makes for a colorful homage to the season.

How do you warm up your winter garden? Have any tips for using outdoor pots or ceramic zig zag planters? Leave a comment and let us know!

Narcissus image courtesy of nosha.

Coleus image courtesy of Pharaoh Hound.

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Using Ceramic Planters for Curb Appeal and More

What are your favorite ceramic planters like? Round or rectangular? Deep or shallow? Do you keep the same plants in them year round or switch out annuals for an ever-changing display? Are your planters indoor or outdoor? Large or small? Just like any other home accent piece, there are pottery planters out there to fit every style and planting need. In fact, there are so many choices that it can be easy to get overwhelmed – do you want a zig zag planter or striped planter? Planters that are big enough for an entire miniature garden or just one plant? Sometimes it’s hard to know where exactly to begin.

With the coming of fall, planters are a way to keep plants growing just a little longer or even throughout the winter, depending on how hardy they are. Whether or not in ceramic planters, there are many plants and flowers that thrive during the autumn months. Verbena will continue to flower even after a frost, sage and lambs ear make great centerpieces of a mixed planter, and decorative cabbage are totally stylish with their greens, pinks, and purples. An arrangement of pottery planters on your porch filled with flowers or greenery definitely adds a warming touch to any home, amping up its curb appeal.

Last fall I was traveling in France and remember being amazed by all the ceramic planters I saw in both city and countryside. A building with cascading flowers at every window seems so much more inviting than one that’s just plain and stark. Poterie Ravel, my newest French artist, is famous for their large planters in ceramic, some plain terracotta and others glazed.

The wall planters by Richard Esteban echo this French country aesthetic; I love the exposed clay and how it contrasts with the glazed body of these planters. They look fantastic filled with ivy or other cascading plants on the wall of a porch or patio.

If French country isn’t to your taste, try the graphic appeal of a zig zag planter with bold lines in black and white. Check out this fall plant combination, which would look stunning in the round zig zag planter by Talavera Vazquez. The striped ceramic planters are another variation with a modern feel perfect for your favorite fall blooms.

Of course, ceramic planters are ideal for indoor greenery as well. A kitchen herb garden fits nicely into an oval planter like this one with blue and white stripes; other pottery planters house ferns, orchids, and other plants year round.

Whether indoors or out, what are your favorite ceramic planters? Leave a comment and let us know!

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New Arrivals of Old Friends: Ceramic Zig Zag Planters Have Returned!

There’s nothing better than getting a shipment of ceramics from one of our artists. I always feel like a kid on Christmas when the boxes arrive and pieces need to be unwrapped and sorted. While it’s great to see the new pieces (like the gray and yellow zig zag tibors), it’s also lovely to replenish my stock of sold out ceramics like the zig zag planters by Talavera Vazquez.

But why is it that ceramic pots for plants remain such constant top sellers? Marla Hart at Studio City Patch explains it neatly in admitting to her addiction to outdoor pots. I think she’s right when gushing about how easy ceramic pots for plants make gardening: you can have a single large flower pot or a whole yard’s worth, whatever your green thumb desires (and can handle). Groupings of small flower pots on a porch or patio add interest and color; large flower pots can even accommodate small trees and bushes that you can later move if you decide to change your landscaping.

Outdoor plant containers are also a good idea for drought conditions like many people are experiencing across the country this summer. You can carefully monitor the dryness of the soil and water your plants without waste; ceramic pots for plants that are glazed in white or other light colors help reflect the sun’s rays and keep those roots from crisping. Because outdoor pots can be easily moved, it also means you can keep delicate plants in the shade during heat waves.

The ceramic zig zag planters are a fun way to keep your plants looking good; either plant directly inside (there’s a hole for drainage) or use these pots to hold another, smaller terracotta pot. The fluting at the top of these zig zag planters makes them perfect for ferns, spider plants, and flowers the like to spill over the sides.

The new sunflower planter also from Vazquez has the same shape; I think this large flower pot looks splendid filled or empty. Other new arrivals include the small flower pot with polka dots and another ceramic pot in lime green by Richard Esteban. Both of these planters are one of a kind and would look great in a window indoors or outdoors.

Richard Esteban’s clay flower pots with exposed bases are another way to add French provincial charm to your favorite plants. Of course, there are still the large flower pots with stripes by Vazquez and wonderful large flower pots with fruit motifs from Tuscia d’Arte.

With all the planters I now have on hand, I keep thinking about expanding my own gardening efforts. I might be on my way to becoming addicted to outdoor plant containers and flower pots myself!

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Decorative Pottery for Your May Flowers: More than Just French Ceramics

The saying goes that “April showers bring May flowers,” and with this year’s especially wet spring, the flowers are blooming with abandon! With all that’s growing, it’s the perfect time to get decorative with some flower pots, ceramic planters, and other stylish containment for your favorite blooms. Annie Selke recently tweeted about kicking your spring garden decor up a notch with great planters and I couldn’t agree more. To add to the excitement, the ever-popular Mexican planters by Talavera Vazquez are back in stock. Here are some easy ways to inject decorative pottery style into your home and garden:

Be square.

Just like unusually-shaped plates, a square planter can add a touch of unexpected style. The square hidalgo planter (pictured here on my sister’s patio) is a great example. Black and white, it’s chic and festive at the same time. Besides the square hidalgo planter, striped or zigzag planters are other fun options. Squares don’t have to be big either – this small rustic green planter by Richard Esteban is perfect for a desk, countertop, or perched on a window ledge.

Be French.

French ceramics can transport you to Provence in an instant… And for me, nothing feels as French as ceramic hanging planters, which add green to any wall or lattice and create a stunning outdoor area. This hanging planter with polka dots and squiggles is a fabulous example of decorative French pottery that’s also functional. It reminds me of a party lantern (and who can resist a party?).

I also love the new wall planters by Richard Esteban that I picked out while in Provence last September. Totally rustic and understated, with raw glaze peaking out from under soft, touchable glazes, they don’t compete with beautiful flowers, but add to them. See all three color choices here: Wall Planters.

Be layered.

Raised beds add dimension to any size garden, but why stop there? Use clay flower pots to move plants to unexpected places (and help preserve delicate blooms from the cold when fall comes). Mixing flower pots into beds can be a fun way to use ceramic planters, adding a splash of color that compliments what’s growing inside. I love this large sunflower planter because it adds vibrant Mexican color to the garden or patio. Don’t have a garden or large yard? Cluster different sized pots right next to each other to create a garden of any size, no matter how small.

Be innovative.

Garden décor isn’t just about black and white zigzag planters or ceramic flower pots. Chairs, tables, stepping stones, borders, and other accessories make a huge difference to the space. Lay out paving stones in a spiral to create a unique patio area. Create a wall of succulents if you don’t have any yard to work with. Turn that giant tree stump into a small flower garden. With all the creative ways to use outdoor space, you can make the outside of your home just as special as the inside.

Have creative gardening ideas or uses for decorative pottery when it comes to plants? Leave a comment and let us know!

Succulent wall image courtesy of Jzawdubya.

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6 Tips for Ceramic Planters this Spring

Spring’s just around the corner and that makes me want to plant some flowers. I love my kitchen garden of herb pots inside, but this time of year, the outdoors beckon. Maybe some large flower pots or outdoor plant containers are in my future. Ceramic planters remain my mainstay when it comes to flower pots and I’m definitely not alone. Here are some tips I’ve gleaned on how to use everything from zig zag planters to outdoor pots to make a great garden anywhere.

1. Size matters. Small plants work well in small flower pots, but think about growth when deciding what goes where. Roots need enough space to expand or else your plants will become pot-bound and unhappy. Curiously, small flower pots are the perfect choice for orchids – their roots like the restricted space because it mimics their natural environment. This square planter in rustic green is the perfect size for an orchid. Large flower pots on the other hand, can be great for miniature gardens, multiple plants, even small trees or shrubs.
2. Drainage counts. Along with size, drainage is another factor to keep in mind when choosing ceramic planters. The best options have a hole or two for drainage. Otherwise add a layer of gravel or rocks to prevent roots from staying too wet. Another trick is to hide clay flower pots within ceramic planters, making them easy to remove for watering.
3. Think about seasons. Try bringing in outdoor pots during cold months to prevent them from freezing, especially if your winters are harsh. Ceramic pots for plants also allow you to move your garden around into shade or sun during growing seasons for the best light.
4. Style works outside too. Love chevrons? Find zig zag planters for your favorite blooms. Is blue and white your favorite color combination? Indoor or outdoor pots give your greenery a stylish home. I consider ceramic planters yet another opportunity to inject some personality into your environment, whether it’s a patio or kitchen window.
5. Choose ceramic planters. Clay flower pots keep soil moist longer, so if you forget to water a day or two it’s not the end of the world. The sturdiness of ceramic planters also ensures they won’t tip over easily. Ceramic planters also let you make attractive clusters of plants along flowerbeds, patio sides, or garden paths. Pleasing on the eyes and pleasing for your plants – it’s definitely a win-win.
6. Go up. Don’t forget to use vertical space with hanging and wall planters, other great choices for outdoor plant containers. From doors to lattice work, these colorful additions brighten any type of outdoor space.

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New Year, New Growth in Ceramic Flower Pots

Happy New Year! It’s the time of year we make optimistic resolutions, invest in new gym memberships and generally pursue good intentions for at least 6 weeks until old habits kick in. Change is good, of course, but drastic and dramatic changes in our daily routine are hard to sustain. So how to make 2012 get off to a fresh start that will actually last past February (and doesn’t involve the gym every 12 hours)?

Changing our environment is a great way to make a sustained impact this year. So think green. Literally. With ceramic flower pots and beautiful plants you can instantly alter your environment, bringing lush vibrancy to any room in the home or even brighten up the office. Decorative pottery is always an easy way to change the tone of a space, so add plants to the mix for a more dynamic personal touch.

If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t worry. “Greenifying” your home doesn’t require extensive gardening knowledge. Start maybe with some bulbs in ceramic flower pots – buy them at your favorite florist while they’re blooming and stick the whole pot into a piece of decorative pottery (like the round Paloma planter).

There are lots of hardy ferns and vines that only need minimal watering and look fantastic in the square hidalgo planter. The black and white is incredibly striking with green.

Succulents are another low-maintenance way to fill ceramic flower pots. An oval planter, round ceramic flower pot, or rectangle shape fits several different plants, creating a miniature garden with cacti, air-plants, aloe, and other curious shapes with names too long for me to remember. I love the air-plants at Paxton Gate here in San Francisco, they can go anywhere from wall to centerpiece.

Plants help filter the air and are cited in studies for everything from helping with fatigue to making people feel happy and focused. If you work in an office, hang this great ceramic planter by Richard Esteban on your cubical or office wall with a cascading vine or lush fern. Or add the square hidalgo planter to a corner of your desk. If your bathroom gets enough light, add a small ceramic flower pot or two there as well for a bit of color in an often lifeless space. Orchids thrive in the humid environment your showers create, making them easy to care for.

No matter what you fill your ceramic flower pots with, here’s to a happy, thriving, and green new year for all!

Plant image courtesy of hortulus.

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Blog Round Up: Planters

Green thumbs unite! Ceramic planters are a favorite with so many gardeners and it’s easy to see why. Planters made from earthenware (aka ceramic planters) keep soil moist longer — perfect for those of us who forget to water. And they provide a sturdy base for our favorite plants, from ferns to flowers to vegetables. At Emilia Ceramics, we love ceramic planters for their decorative flair as well. But we’re not the only ones… Let’s check out why people love ceramic planters in 2011, for our last blog round up of the year.

Fresh American loves planters with style, indoor and out. Whether a zig zag planter or a huge cube for small shrubs and trees, it’s important to match your planter to its contents. Check to make sure there’s enough space for adequate roots when choosing a ceramic planter. It’s best to find a ceramic planter with a hole for drainage, but you can always add a layer of rocks or gravel to keep your roots from getting too wet. Other planter ideas range from DIY to statement pieces for your patio, porch, or even living room and kitchen.

Of course, you don’t have to use a zig zag planter for just plants. The Jet Set Gypsy thinks the oval striped planter pictured above would look great filled with limes for margarita making and I tend to agree. Ceramic planters are perfect places for fruits, mail, or even stylish office supply storage on a desk.

Of course, fun patterns are one of the reasons to love handmade ceramic planters. This Designers Palette loves chevron ginger jars, but I can see a similar design statement with a wonderfully graphic planter. Want something a little more warm or organic? This rustic Italian ceramic planter, like many others by Ceramiche Bartoloni, is gorgeous for either starting out seedlings or housing daffodils and other favorite flowers.

Let’s not forget wall planters either. For trailing vines or a decorative display of seasonal flowers, hanging ceramic planters are another colorful way to create a garden inside and out. Blue and white, polka dot, or multicolored planters make any wall space instantly more green in the summer and add interest during dreary winters.

It’s been an especially popular year for zig zag planters; In fact, at Emilia Ceramics we’ve recently sold out — who knew zig zag planters would be such popular gifts this holiday season?! More are on the way, but with stripes, prints, polka dots, fruits, and other motifs for ceramic planters, it’s easy to find one that matches your style as we transition from 2011 to 2012.

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