Many people like a pop of color to draw attention to a focal point in their landscape and what better way to do than then with a colorful potted container of plants. This spooky season, take it up a notch and make flowers part of your seasonal décor. Plants are like art, they can be a specimen, focal point, and a conversation starter. Take some of our tips for combining plants in a fun and spooky way and then transition them easily into fall... and beyond!
Start by selecting a container. It is important to choose a container with drainage holes. Drainage is important and if your container does not come with holes, drill your own using a large drill bit. If that is not possible, consider placing a smaller pot into the container to allow for drainage. Remove the small interior container when watering, place back into the larger container, and then monitor for standing water.
In the container, use a well-drained potting mix (make your own or buy it at a garden center). If you are re-planting a container you may need to replace the potting soil. It is best to replace it annually. Fill the container halfway and then start placing your plants to fill the container. Just like in your landscape, plants in a container should be similar in light and water requirements when planted together. The right plant, right place principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping still applies! Make sure there is enough space in the container for the combination of plants you wish to use. Determine mature size and plant accordingly. You may want to combine 3 plants in a large container and then have a few containers of single specimen plants nearby. You can use multiple containers to create a “plantscape.” This can be a fun project for a spooky season porch or vignette in the yard.
Plants in colors of black (dark purple), orange, white, and red are perfect for combining in haunting ways for a spooky container. Here are a few suggestions:
BLACK/DARK PURPLE
Black ti plant (Cordyline fruitcosa ‘Black Magic’)
Black elephant ear (Colocasia sp.)
Black sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batata varieties)
Black Joesph’s coat (Alternanthera sp.)
Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)
Purple velvet (Gynura auratiaca)
Purple salvia (Salvia sp.)
ORANGE
Marigold (Tagetes sp.)
Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis)
Sunflower (Helianthus sp.)
Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella)
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum varieties)
Cosmos (Cosmos sp.)
Zinnia (Zinnia sp.)
WHITE
Dusty miller (Senecia cineraria)
Variegated foliage plants such as flax lily
RED
Polka dot plant (green with red spots) (Hypoestes sp.)
Pentas (Pentas sp.)
Begonias (Begonia sp.)
Salvia (Salvia sp.)
Once you have a fun combination of plants in your containers, take that spooky décor to the next level and add some haunting elements. Before you run out and buy spooky décor, look around your yard and consider ways to use natural items and recyclable materials in your holiday containers.
Here are a few spookily creative ideas:
1. Paint a large branch black and drape with Spanish moss. Place into a container or urn.
2. Paint fallen branches black, add to containers in bunches.
3. Drape Spanish moss in and around containers for a spooky feel. The addition of those little black spiders can be a fun touch!
4. Paint aluminum cans black and plant with orangecolored flowers.
5. In a black urn, add in plants that are actually dead sticks and/or dead plant material with brown leaves. Option to paint the sticks/dead plants black.
6. Add a sign to a dead plant that says “R.I.P., Victim of non-Florida-Friendly plant care.”
7. Paint a grapevine wreath black and drape with Spanish moss.
8. Paint a plastic container orange, with lines like a pumpkin. Consider painting an old bucket or clay pot.
9. Create a graveyard scene in a dish garden by adding spooky items for seasonal fun.
10. Create a hand using hypertufa and a surgical glove. The hand, once cured, can be used coming out of a planter, or even the ground!
11. Check out treat or treat containers for fun and festive plant containers.
12. Use a plastic witch’s cauldron for container.
13. Create a pumpkin out of hypertufa or use a faux pumpkin for a seasonal planter. This can take you throughout the fall season.
Have some fun with plants as you decorate seasonally, get creative with found objects and branches, and be inspired by our suggestions. Happy spooky season planting everyone!
If you have gardening or landscaping questions, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Give us a call or email us at polkmg@ifas. ufl.edu.
To learn more about gardening and landscaping in central Florida, listen to the Your Central Florida Yard podcast. You can find the podcast wherever you listen or find out more on our Substack: substack.com/@ yourcentralfloridayard. We have a fun episode on crafting spooky season planters. An Equal Opportunity Institution.
