What To Put In A Planter Besides Plants

You might be looking at an empty planter and thinking about what to put in a planter besides plants. A planter’s visual interest can be enhanced with layers of natural materials, creating texture even before adding plants. This approach saves soil, improves drainage, and adds a unique decorative touch to your indoor or outdoor spaces.

Filling the bottom of a deep container with other items is a practical and creative solution. It prevents you from needing an excessive amount of expensive potting mix. More importantly, it can turn the planter itself into a piece of art, with or without greenery.

This guide will walk you through the best materials to use. We will cover functional fillers for drainage, decorative toppers for style, and full compositions that stand alone. You will get clear, step-by-step instructions to try these ideas yourself.

The core idea is simple: use other materials to take up space in the bottom of your planter. This is often called “filler” material. The right filler serves multiple purposes. It makes large pots lighter and easier to move. It ensures water can drain away from plant roots, preventing rot. And it conserves soil, which saves you money.

You can choose from two main categories: functional fillers and decorative layers. Functional fillers are hidden beneath the soil. Decorative layers are placed on top of the soil to create a finished look. Sometimes, the filler itself becomes the main attraction in a non-planted display.

Essential Functional Fillers For The Base

These materials go in the bottom one-third to one-half of your planter. Their job is to create air pockets and a path for excess water to escape through the drainage hole. Always cover these fillers with a layer of landscape fabric or a coffee filter before adding soil. This prevents the soil from washing down and clogging the drainage space.

Recycled Plastic Pots And Nursery Containers

Turn old plastic pots upside down and stack them in the base of a large planter. This is one of the lightest and most effective methods. The hollow spaces between the pots provide excellent drainage and aeration. It’s a great way to reuse items you already have.

Packing Peanuts And Foam Pieces

For very large planters that need to stay light, use biodegradable packing peanuts or foam blocks. Ensure you are using the starch-based, biodegradable type if you plan to eventually plant in the container. This prevents environmental harm and avoids creating a mess if they get wet.

Natural Wood Chips And Pine Cones

Wood chips, small branches, or a collection of pine cones make a good natural filler. They will slowly decompose over time, adding organic matter to the soil. This is best for long-term plantings where you don’t plan to repot frequently. Avoid using treated wood.

Crushed Cans And Plastic Bottles

Clean, crushed aluminum cans or empty plastic water bottles with their lids on work well. They create large, permanent air gaps. This method is ideal for outdoor planters that need to withstand weather. Just make sure to rinse the containers thoroughly first.

Decorative Top Layers And Mulches

Once your plants are in and the soil is settled, adding a top layer completes the look. This layer, often called mulch or top dressing, helps retain soil moisture and suppresses weeds. It also provides a clean, polished appearance that makes your planter look professionally done.

River Rocks and Pebbles: Smooth stones in uniform sizes or a mix of colors add a minimalist, modern touch. They work well for succulents and cacti.
Decorative Glass Gems: Tumbled glass pieces come in many colors. They reflect light beautifully and are perfect for indoor planters or fairy gardens.
Moss Sheets and Lichen: Preserved sheet moss creates an instant “finished” look. It gives a lush, woodland feel and is excellent for covering bare soil around the stems of plants.
Bark Mulch and Cocoa Hulls: These organic mulches break down slowly, enriching the soil. They have a natural, rustic appearance and a pleasant scent, especially cocoa hulls.
Sand and Gravel: Coarse sand or small aquarium gravel can create interesting textural contrasts. You can layer different colors for a striped effect in clear containers.

Creating Full Non-Plant Displays

Sometimes, you want to use a beautiful planter as a purely decorative object. This is where you can get truly creative. The key is to think in terms of texture, color, and height, just as you would with a floral arrangement.

Start with a base of sand, soil, or foam to anchor your items. Then, arrange your chosen elements. Consider the planter’s location and the season for inspiration. A winter display might use pine cones and birch branches, while a summer one could feature seashells and driftwood.

Choose a theme for your display (e.g., coastal, woodland, modern).
Select a stable base material to hold items upright, like floral foam or dry sand.
Add your largest “focal” items first, such as a piece of driftwood or a large ornament.
Fill in with medium-sized items like pine cones, feathers, or curated stones.
Use a fine material like moss, glass beads, or sand to cover the base and fill gaps.

Choosing Materials For Indoor Vs. Outdoor Planters

The location of your planter greatly influences what materials are safe and practical to use. Outdoor materials must withstand rain, sun, and wind. Indoor materials should be clean and not attract pests.

Best Practices For Outdoor Planters

Durability is your top concern for outdoor containers. Materials must not break down quickly or create a mess when wet.

Use drainage fillers like crushed cans, plastic bottles, or large rocks. They won’t decompose.
For top layers, choose heavy materials like river rock or large bark chips that won’t blow away.
Avoid light materials like loose moss or sand in windy areas unless they are glued down.
Ensure any decorative items are weather-resistant. Terracotta ornaments, metal sculptures, and treated wood are good choices.

Ideal Components For Indoor Planters

Indoor planters allow for more delicate and varied materials since they are protected from the elements.

Lightweight fillers like packing peanuts are perfect for large indoor pots you may need to move.
Decorative toppers can include fragile elements like polished sea glass, dried beans, or even colorful beads.
Consider scent by adding cinnamon sticks or dried citrus slices to a non-planted display.
Always ensure indoor displays are clean and dry to prevent mold or attracting insects into your home.

Step-By-Step Guide To Layering Your Planter

Follow this simple process to properly layer filler, soil, and plants. This method ensures healthy plant growth and a stable foundation for your design.

Clean Your Planter: Start with a clean container that has at least one drainage hole. If it doesn’t have a hole, drill one or be extremely careful with watering.
Add Drainage Filler: Place your chosen filler material in the bottom third of the pot. For very deep pots, you can fill up to the halfway point.
Install a Barrier: Lay a piece of permeable landscape fabric, burlap, or a few coffee filters over the filler. This keeps the soil from sifting down.
Pour in Potting Soil: Add a quality potting mix on top of the barrier. Leave enough room for your plant’s root ball to sit about an inch below the rim.
Plant and Water: Place your plant, fill in around it with soil, and water thoroughly to settle everything.
Apply Decorative Topper: Once the soil surface is dry, add your chosen decorative mulch or stones, keeping them away from the plant stem.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Using the wrong materials can lead to problems like root rot, pest infestations, or a collapsed display. Here are key pitfalls to steer clear of.

Using Non-Porous Materials Incorrectly

Materials like plastic or glass are fine for drainage filler, but never use them as a top layer over soil in a planted pot. They create an impermeable seal that traps moisture and leads to mold and root suffocation. Save them for non-planted displays or the very bottom layer.

Choosing Materials That Retain Too Much Water

Avoid using spongy materials like regular kitchen sponges or untreated foam as filler. They hold water against the roots, which is the opposite of what you want. Similarly, using fine sand or clay-heavy garden soil can compact and prevent proper drainage.

Forgetting About Weight And Stability

A tall, top-heavy planter filled only with light packing peanuts at the bottom can become unstable. Always anchor large plants or decorative displays with a heavier base layer, like stones, if the pot is in a windy location or could be easily knocked over.

Seasonal And Thematic Inspiration Ideas

Changing your planter’s filler and decor is an easy way to celebrate the seasons. Here are some quick ideas for year-round appeal.

Spring And Summer Themes

Nesting Season: Fill a planter with moss, twigs, and add a few faux bird eggs or a small decorative birdhouse.
Beach Vibes: Layer sand, seashells, pieces of bleached driftwood, and a few blue glass gems to mimic the ocean.
Garden Fresh: Use polished river stones as a topper and tuck in small, weather-resistant garden trinkets like a miniature metal watering can.

Fall And Winter Themes

Autumn Harvest: Fill a planter with dried corn kernels, mini pumpkins, gourds, and cinnamon sticks for a fragrant display.
Winter Woods: Use a mix of pine cones, birch logs, red dogwood branches, and white pebbles to simulate snow.
Holiday Sparkle: Create a base with white sand or epsom salts, then arrange ornaments, pine sprigs, and battery-operated fairy lights.

FAQ Section

What Can I Use To Fill The Bottom Of A Large Planter?

You can use many lightweight items to fill the bottom of a large planter. Common choices include recycled plastic pots, crushed soda cans, plastic bottles, packing peanuts, or natural materials like pine cones and wood chips. Always cover these with a fabric barrier before adding soil.

How Do You Fill An Outdoor Planter For Drainage?

To ensure good drainage, place a layer of coarse material like gravel, lava rock, or broken pottery shards at the bottom of the planter. Then, add your filler material (like cans or wood), cover it with landscape fabric, and finally add your potting soil. This creates a clear path for water to exit.

What Can I Put In A Planter Instead Of Flowers?

Instead of flowers, you can create displays with natural and found objects. Consider arrangements of decorative branches, ornamental grasses, stones, moss, feathers, or seasonal items like pinecones and dried seed pods. These provide texture and interest without needing live plants.

Is It Okay To Put Rocks At The Bottom Of A Planter?

Yes, putting a layer of rocks or pebbles at the very bottom of a planter can aid drainage. However, for deep pots, it’s more efficient to use lighter filler materials first, then a thinner layer of rock just above the drainage hole to prevent soil washout, followed by your fabric barrier.

What Household Items Can I Use For Planter Filler?

Many household items work well. You can use crushed aluminum cans, plastic water bottles, styrofoam from packaging, old wine corks, broken terracotta pot pieces, or even pool noodles cut into rings. Just ensure they are clean and won’t decompose if you’re planting live greenery.