How to Fill An Outdoor Planter with Artificial Flowers

Getting the look just right when filling an outdoor planter with artificial flowers is harder than most homeowners and DIY decorators think it will be.

If you have ever tried decorating with artificial flowers outside, you already know it can feel a little tricky and frustrating.

You spend good money on a pretty arrangement, bring it home, and it looks nothing like you imagined it would look.

The colors fade fast, the stems look fake and stiff, and the whole planter ends up looking sad and flat.

Most people do not realize that picking the best UV resistant flowers is the secret to keeping your porch looking beautiful all year.

Without the right tips, even the prettiest artificial flowers for outdoor planters can end up looking droopy and out of place.

So, let me walk you through some easy ways to choose the right flowers, layer the stems, and build a look that holds up season after season.

I’m also going help you create beautiful front porches with all-season outdoor planter decor that looks lush and surprisingly real.

So, grab these simple tips and tricks for finding the best artificial flowers and creating an outdoor display you will definitely love.

Can Artificial Flowers And Plants Be Used Outside

This is such a common question and honestly, I had the same question when I started looking into UV-protected artificial flowers.

These are particularly meant to be used outside and to get lots of sunlight. The UV protection blocks the ultraviolet light from damaging the faux plants and from fading, just like sunbrella fabric for outdoor cushions and pillows.

Some of the faux plants are plastic and that helps with rain and cleaning.

There are some artificial plants with UV protectant that people use in their landscaping.

Now the life expectancy is not as long obviously as a perennial plant but it can be a great idea to help fill in your landscaping when you have little pockets of space needing to be filled in. 

How Long Do Artificial Flowers And Plants Last Outside

The life expectancy of artificial flowers and plants will depend on if they are under a covered area or in direct sunlight.

They are sturdy enough to survive the elements for years and resist fading but will last even longer if on a patio with an overhang or a front porch shielded from the direct sun.

Of course, this will also depend on the materials it is made of so look for UV-protected and polyethylene blend materials.

I have heard that you can spray them with WD-40, which helps repel water but I have not tried it myself yet. 

How Do You Make Fake Flowers And Plants Look Real Outside

So my best advice on how to use fake flowers outside is to make sure the leaves are not lime green and look close to the natural color of the real plant.

Generally, plant colors have variation so selecting faux options that aren’t solid help to disguise they are not real.

Also, I like to make my planters with artificial flowers and faux plants really full. So they look like they have been growing for years and the plants are overlapping each other.

I share more about how to do this in the tutorial below. 

Outdoor Artificial Flowers

I thought it would be helpful to shop for some fake plants for front porch so you can select the colors you would like and mix and match them for your planters.

I love to also use Krylon UV Protectant Spray for a little extra protection for my outdoor plants. This stuff is gold!

Planters For Artificial Flowers

While you are at it and shopping for new faux flowers for your porch or patio, here are some of my favorite planters to use.

These are classic designs that will go with just about any home exterior.

How To Fill An Outdoor Planter With Artificial Flowers And Faux Plants

Okay, so I am going to go through how I made these planters on my front porch. I found these zinc planters years ago and found almost identical ones here. 

I chose tall planters for here because my porch is small and narrow.

This adds some height to it but you could easily recreate these in small planters and it would look great too.

Step 1: Use Foam Blocks 

Fill the base of the planter with whatever you want.

Using old bricks we had in the garage, I just stacked them inside the base and then cut these foam blocks and put them on top.

I cut the foam blocks with an Exacto knife making them snug so there would be no movement in the plants once they were put in. 

Step 2: Start With Your Tallest Plant Or Flower And Stick Into Foam

I chose artificial geraniums for the main base of my arrangement. They are full and tall.

Depending on your planter you may want to place 2 of whatever you are starting with to create even more fullness.

When you are placing them in, push them in as far as they will go. This will make them more sturdy and not flop over if there is some gusty wind.

Step 3: Next Fill In The Base Around Your Main Flowers With Faux Plants

I used faux boxwood picks and sprigs of faux maidenhair fern picks.

Using the boxwood picks first, I went around in a circle, sticking them in. I used seven per planter.

Then I used 2-3 of the maidenhair fern and tucked them in where there were gaps.

When you are done it should look like this below. 

Step 4: Next Add The Ivy And Draping Flowers

This is when your outdoor artificial flower arrangements will come to life! This is what I mean by making your planter feel full and look real.

I used 2 faux ivy sticks (these are not UV protected but I thought they would be fine since this is a covered space) and then tucked 3 of the artificial purple wisteria sticks into 2 sides of the planter, layering them on top of each other. 

I took the purple flowers and tucked them into the leaves of the ivy to look like they were growing together. 

And that’s it, friends! I told you it was super easy and the main key is layers. Layer, layer, layer!

I mean in most good designs it is all about layers and it holds true when filling an outdoor planter with artificial flowers and faux plants.

Here is a look at our front porch from the walkway so you can see how real they look. I mean I still look at them in awe because they are so pretty!

Tap Photos To Shop

Okay so now it is your turn to make some planters with faux plants and flowers.

I want to see what you create! Below are my favorites to choose from to help you get started.