How to Make Winter Porch Pots

While much of the focus at this time of the year surrounds Christmas decorating, I love ideas that can be carried on throughout the winter.  Winter porch pots are one of those pretty outdoor ideas that you can continue to enjoy long after the Christmas decorations are packed away for the season.  You’ve seen them at local nurseries, or perhaps even on someone’s front porch.  Today I’m going to show you how to make winter porch pots for your own home.  And the bonus is that they are easy and inexpensive to make!  This post contains some affiliate links.

How to Make Outdoor Winter Porch Pots

Find Your Container 

For my winter porch pots, I like to use outdoor pots that I have on hand.  Perhaps they are the same ones that you used for your fall mums, or summer flowers.  The ones I used had seen better days, so I pulled out some black outdoor spray paint and gave them a quick refresh.  You can see that the time that it had been outside had taken its toll.  You can see in the photo above that my urn looks brand new with just a coat of spray paint.  If you don’t have any pots on hand, there are loads out there from which to choose.  If you like the look of an urn, you can find similar options here.

Winter Porch Pot Ideas

Choose Your Greenery

The great thing about evergreens is that many people have them as part of their own landscaping, so you have a source on hand that is FREE.  (My favorite)  If not, check out local nurseries and places like Lowes or Home Depot for greenery.  Note: I went to Lowes and they had Christmas tree cuttings that were also FREE.  You’ll want a variety of greenery – some cedar, some fir, and some taller pieces for the center of your pot (I used a spruce tip).  Think of it the same way you would a window box – you want greenery to “thrill, fill and spill.”

Evergreens for Winter Porch Pots

From there, you’ll want to add floral foam (for fresh flowers) and soak it with water.  If you don’t have floral foam, you can just use the dirt in the pot (I’ve done that in previous years).  The floral foam just gives the winter porch pots a bit of an extended life.  These should last into January or February.

How to Make Winter Porch Pots

Get Creative!

Now you’ll want to add your tall evergreens to the center of your pot.  Think of a Christmas tree look.  And look how pretty that pot looks now, all painted.  Brand new again!

Next you add the “skirt” to the pot.  This is where I used two kinds of cedar from my yard.  One was a darker green and then I topped it with one that is a lighter green for a little more interest.  Trim them as needed and tuck into the floral foam.  You really can’t mess these up, I promise.Winter Porch Pot with Evergreen Skirt

Once you’re satisfied with your skirt, add some of the evergreen filler with the fir evergreens.  I used two different kinds – Frasier Fir and Douglas Fir, but you can use whatever you have on hand.  You’re just looking for something to fill in the space between the skirt and the center evergreens.

Add Evergreen Filler to Winter Porch Pot

Add Embellishments

Now you get to have fun and add some embellishments to your winter porch pots.  Choose some floral picks that you like (these can be found in the floral department at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s as an example).  Or, you may be a Christmas decor hoarder like me, and have some on hand already.

Floral Picks for Winter Porch Pots

Add in the picks to finish off your pot, and you’re done!  You can see that I added some magnolia leaves to mine as well.  We had an ice storm a couple weeks ago, and my parents’ neighbor had a bunch sitting out for the trash, so I asked him if I could take some, and he let me help myself to a big bundle. 🙂

Finished Winter Porch Pots with Evergreen and Magnolia

How to Make a Winter Porch Pot

So there you have it.  Easy and inexpensive winter porch pots.  A great addition to your holiday decorating that give you a real bang for your buck!  I’ve made four of them so far, and am planning on adding one more! 

If you’d like to see me put one of these together, live, check out the Facebook Live that I did earlier this week, and use it as your guide. 🙂  And I apologize in advance for being sideways at the beginning of the video.  It doesn’t last long, I promise.

Do you have winter porch pots as part of your winter decorating?

Jenny

16 Comments

  • Reply
    Lauren@SimplyLKJ
    November 30, 2018 at 8:10 am

    So pretty Jenny. I added ivy to our urns for the fall/winter, and planned to add a bit of evergreen and magnolia for the holidays. Love the addition of the pinecones and berries. We have no shortage of pinecones in our yard.

    • Reply
      Jenny
      November 30, 2018 at 1:21 pm

      I have a bit of a pinecone theme going on in some of my decorating this year. I’m loving them! Nature is such a nice accent, right?

  • Reply
    calypsointhecountry
    November 30, 2018 at 3:57 pm

    Looks great, Jenny! I love how full they are!
    Enjoy your weekend!
    Shelley

  • Reply
    Miss Mary
    December 1, 2020 at 12:13 am

    Jenny, you sound like a woman after my own heart! You make designing look so easy.Thanks so much for sharing!!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      December 2, 2020 at 8:38 pm

      These pots are so much fun to do each year, and they’re so much easier than what you expect by looking at them. I love that they carry through well beyond Christmas and can be enjoyed throughout winter.

  • Reply
    Tina Geane
    November 28, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    I’m thinking of doing this with the window boxes out front of our building-I do lots of container gardening & lots of other types of gardening out front right on Main St in our “city” its actually a sub-town off a bigger city but still Urban. I shocked everyone when I started gardening out there 3yrs ago & it has grown bigger & bigger. Now everyone calls me the “Flower Lady” or Crazy Flower Lady.
    But I never really do holiday decorating because its over so fast. But I was thinking about the greenery & there’s lots of Bitter Sweet growing everywhere around here along the roads & in the woods. I think it would look pretty with the pine , etc. Should I spray it with something to keep the berries on it from falling off? Thank You your pot looks Gorgeous- I always speay mine to freshen them up. Rustoleum spray paint is great I pick it up whenever I see a sale at one of the local hardware stores usually 2 for $7 which is a deal.

  • Reply
    Lisa Stone
    August 3, 2022 at 8:01 am

    Any possibility that you could share where you purchased the “hardscape items like the items on sticks etc and an idea of best outlets for acquiring greenery. These are stunning 🤩

    • Reply
      Jenny
      August 11, 2022 at 12:36 pm

      I found most of those items at a local nursery, where I also bought the fresh greenery. They have tons of great options!

  • Reply
    Karen
    October 7, 2022 at 1:13 pm

    I love what you are sharing!! I’m inspired to do a large holiday pot for myself and my sister!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      October 29, 2022 at 11:36 am

      I love doing porch pots every year – there are so many options!

  • Reply
    Kathy Hartman
    November 8, 2022 at 1:08 am

    Are these pots made for areas (zone 6) that regularly freeze, thaw. Lots of snow etc? Thank you

    • Reply
      Jenny
      November 8, 2022 at 12:05 pm

      I don’t know if we’re in that same zone, but we have the same sort of weather here, and I haven’t had any issues.

  • Reply
    Susan M Judy
    December 11, 2022 at 1:40 pm

    Hi Jenny! I share your enthusiasm for making porch pots. This one is beautiful. I especially like to do pots of winter greens, like this – and I now make my arrangements in sand! After my arrangement is completed, I water it in and find the wet sand works well to keep the greens hydrated. Floral foam used to be my go-to, but I have learned that in decomposition the foam releases microplastics into the environment. I found sand a very good and cheaper substitute, an easy switch for me.

    • Reply
      Jenny
      January 5, 2023 at 12:00 pm

      I love the idea of using sand and it never even occurred to me! Thanks for the tip!

  • Reply
    J
    January 9, 2023 at 2:54 pm

    It was recommended to me to use soil in my winter urns and the soul can then be used in my summer flower garden

  • Reply
    Jacqueline
    December 29, 2023 at 10:29 am

    Hi everyone! I’ve made these pots for my Michigan (zone 6) porch. I use the pots soil and I keep it watered until the freeze – they are still gorgeous in April!!! The ice block holds everything together even in the March winds.

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