Are you a plant lover looking to make a bold statement with your greenery? Extra-large planters are the perfect way to add both style and functionality to your plant designs. But before you start filling one up, consider your plant choices—depending on their root spread, you may not need to fill the entire planter with potting soil for healthy growth. Buying large quantities of potting soil can be costly, and a fully packed planter would become incredibly heavy. To save money and repurpose materials, check out these top tricks to fill large planters.
How to Choose the Best Filler for Large Planters
Choosing the right filler material for your planter is essential for stability and practicality. Before selecting a filler, consider where you will place the planter. If it will be hanging or positioned on a balcony or railing, lightweight fillers are the best choice to help prevent excess weight while maintaining proper support. For extra-large planter boxes that will be permanent fixtures and need to withstand harsh weather or potential theft, heavier fillers provide the bulk needed to keep them in place. Selecting the appropriate filler ensures your planter is secure and suited for its intended use and location.
Repurposed, Lightweight Planter Fillers
For a budget-friendly and lightweight approach, you can repurpose everyday items as planter fillers. These materials help save on soil while reducing waste:
- Plastic water and soda bottles
- Unused nursery pots
- Non-dissolvable packing peanuts
- Old pool noodles
- Clean foam take-out containers
- Styrofoam packing materials
- Aluminum soda cans
- Pine cones
- Sticks and branches
- Recycled cardboard
- Newspaper
Heavy-Duty Planter Fillers
For planters that need extra stability, these heavy-duty filler materials will do the trick:
- Gravel
- Landscaping rocks
- Broken pottery or tiles
- Bricks
- Cinder blocks
- Large logs and branches
- Sand
Once you’ve chosen your lightweight or heavy planter filler materials, consider placing a layer of landscaping barrier fabric between the filler and soil. This simple step keeps the two separate and makes future plant removal or transplants much easier.
Prevent Root Rot With Proper Drainage
Proper drainage is just as important as selecting the right filler. Whether you’re planting indoors or outdoors, it is key to keeping your greenery healthy. For outdoor planters, make sure they have drainage holes to let excess moisture run out. Indoors, the stylish and practical cache pot method helps prevent water buildup while keeping your floors looking their best.
Best Practices for Filling Large Planters
You’ll likely come across different opinions on the best methods and tricks to fill large planters. Some gardening experts recommend using only soil to give plants maximum root space, and others caution that sand can create an unsuitable growing environment. However, most agree that organic matter will eventually break down, becoming soil rather than remaining a filler.
To help your greenery thrive, choose the right combination of plants, planter, and filler. If you’re unsure which materials to use, contact your local garden center for guidance. With the right light, water, and a suitable growing medium, your plants will stay happy and healthy without the need to fill every inch of a large planter with potting soil.
Good morning! Thanks for your filler ideas. I think I might also try beach balls from dollar tree then fill in spaces with pool noodles as you suggested.
I have used clean broken down styrofoam ice chest for fillers and my plants have done fine with it the roots grow through with big pots aren’t so heavy I don’t have to use as much dirt and I can move them around a lot better I just break them up into chunks like I said the plants that I have grown have always done fine…
i use old tennis balls and have for years. Plentiful and free!
Thank you! I received a lovely Hydregenia for a gift and the last one I got it died! I’m going to repot this one but was not sure how to fill the planter other than dirt!
My planters have no drainage holes. What can I put in the bottom?
Thank you for reaching out, Ola. For planters without drainage holes, adding a layer of filler material at the bottom will help manage excess water. There are many great ideas in this blog post. Another option is the cache pot method. Simply place your plant in a smaller pot with drainage holes, and then set this pot inside your decorative planter. This setup allows water to drain into the outer planter, preventing the soil from becoming too wet. Be sure to empty any collected water regularly to keep your plants healthy.
I filled a bottom layer of plastic bottles but now wondering about plastic going into my vegetables.
There is so much concern about plastic contamination in our food.
But you feel it is okay?
Hi, Brenda. When growing vegetables, natural fillers like sticks, pinecones, or other organic materials are great options to consider. They’re safe, eco-friendly, and effective for filling the bottom of your planters.