|

How to Fake a Green THumb with this Planter Box Idea

Have I ever told you what a great gardener I am…not!  I am the queen…

Have I ever told you what a great gardener I am…not!  I am the queen of killing plants.  Not that I do it intentionally. 

Even while living in Greece I could not keep flowers alive!  

 I mean I could keep an aloe vera plant alive and even a yucca.  But that’s about it. 

It is the tenth of the month and that means it is time for me to join my friends on Ten on the Tenth for another project.  We get together on this day to share a project with you, one that costs us less than ten dollars.  Last month  we talked about Spring but this month we are really looking ahead to container gardening, if and when spring decides to actually spring on us!

And now you are probably laughing because I just told you I am a brown thumb… inching close to black.  But that has never stopped me. Today I’m going to show you how to fake a green thumb with this planter box idea!

Three planter boxes from the Dollar Tree filled with real and faux flowers, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com

What I Used:

  • 3 galvanized metal planters
  • 3 bunches of faux flowers
  • 3 small pots with real flowers 
  • 2 faux vines
  • 2 ceramic figurines

The How To:

These galvanized metal planters seem to be everywhere.  And it is no wonder, they are only one dollar each.  You can’t go wrong with the Dollar Tree!
Two galvanized metal planters, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
I also found a great assortment of faux flowers, plants and vines.  Just look at those pretty colors.  Just what I need.  
Faux flowers and plants, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
I’ve been starving for some spring color in my dreary home which has been all about the snowflakes lately. 
faux vine, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
These beauties were not bought from the Dollar Tree.  In fact, they were gifts from my kids. They see how miserable their mama is and wanted to cheer her up. 
Real flower plants, Begonia and Hyacinth, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission, that way I can continue to provide you with lovely content.  There is no extra charge to you for purchasing through my affiliate links.
The pretty potted plants were just plopped into the galvanized metal planters. That’s it!  I’ve also seen them painted, but I am really liking this galvanized metal look.
Real flowers placed in galvanized metal planter boxes, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
And this little one…
Violet plant in plastic pot, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com

​… went into a larger galvanized planter.  One with an oval shaped opening
Violet placed into an oval shaped planter, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
Once my real flowers were in place I simply filled out the planters with the faux flowers. 
Adding faux flowers to the planter boxes, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
AntiqueFarmHouse

​The final step was to add my cute little ceramic figurines.  They were originally a mustard yellow color but I wanted them a bit more neutral.  So I gave them a few coats of chalky finish paint in white. 
White ceramic bunny, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
There’s Mister Rooster hiding behind the hyacinth plant. I left his red parts a little transparent so we would know he was in fact a rooster. 
White ceramic rooster, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com

​Just look at the beauty of the Viola.  
Viola plant, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
Can you tell that the pink Carnation and the Aglaonema ‘Valentine‘ are not real?
Pink carnation and Aglaonema faux plants, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com

​And just look at the gorgeous shade of the Begonia. 
red begonia plant, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
Now to be fair if we add everything up the cost comes out a bit more than $10, but the plants were gifts so they don’t count. The total cost for bought items was in fact $8, all from the Dollar Tree. 

I am a happy camper, to be sure, now that I have a Dollar Tree nearby.  Remember back when I lived in Greece and all I did was complain about the lack of nice items at the local dollar store? I had no fall items to speak of ​when I made a wreath.  And let’s not forget the vignette fiasco!  Both of these really had me thinking outside the box!

Purple hyacinth flower, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com



But now I don’t have to hide in shame because I don’t naturally come by a green thumb.  Although I really have no excuse – my husband and dad are both excellent green thumbs, so it runs in the family!  You’d think some of that green would have rubbed off on me.
Real and faux flowers placed in three galvanized metal planter boxes, How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
Now that I have shown you how to fake a green thumb with this planter box idea, we brown thumbs can stand proud and not worry about our inability to keep plants healthy.  Okay, fess up how many of you are secret brown thumbs, and how often am I supposed to water the real plants?

Hop on below and visit my friends who are also going to show you their garden container ideas. 

Picture
Real and faux flowers placed in three galvanized metal planter boxes #fauxflowers #DollarStoreCrafts #Planterboxideas #fauxgreenthumb How to Fake A Green Thumb with this Planter Box Idea, www.theboondocksblog.com
If you really like what you see subscribe to my blog and get my adventures in your mailbox. The form is on the sidebar and your e-mail will never be shared with a third party.
Picture
Picture
More planter box ideas:
<< Sweet Inspiration Link Party #101      HOME   Night Stand Furniture Makeover >>

Linking up to these Link Parties

This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.

I love it when I get your comments and I will try to reply to every one of them. ​Please do not add a hyperlink to your comment, otherwise it cannot be published.

We Think You'll Enjoy These Related Projects:

78 Comments

  1. I don’t think you have a brown thumb at all. The real plants look pretty good to me. I knew Dollar Tree would have containers. It’s a great Ten on the 10th.

    1. Katie that’s because I haven’t tampered with them yet! But ask me to water them and that is when the trouble begins.

  2. Oh, my goodness. For someone who doesn’t garden your arrangement is beautiful. I haven’t seen those containers at the Dollar Tree but will definitely be looking for them. Great job!

  3. Even with a brown thumb you can still have beautiful flowers even if there not real. Love the galvanized buckets, they are perfect for your faux flowers, and those carnations do look real.
    I use to have a really green thumb, but lately it’s been turning brown. Just hope this year I have better luck with my garden

    1. Good luck Linda, I just killed another one today. Now I’m asking my dear ole dad for advice.

    1. Thanks so much Stacey, I cheated a bit, but honest, I had no other choice. Otherwise there would have been no post.

  4. Well, you certainly did a better job at “faking it”, than I! I love the idea of adding artificial flowers and that will be my new idea for this summer (if it ever comes!)

  5. Fabulous Mary! I am loving the combo of faux and real and those dollar store planters are so sweet. I actually picked a few of them up myself recently. Here’s hoping that spring shows up soon!

    1. Isn’t the dollar store the best here in the states? I look back at all the pathetic things I had in the dollar store in Greece and laugh in that dollar store’s face!

  6. Lol For every problem, there’s a solution!
    Maybe you should tell your hubby to be the ‘plant guy’?
    I’m not really a green thumb but I do manage to keep plants alive. For the last few years I’ve had very few indoor plants anyway. The only thing we have right now is a basil plant lol. Maybe that will change when we move.
    xxx

    1. Doreen, I just killed the hyacinth. My dad said that is what they are supposed to do after a while but what do I know it looks dead to me. Basil plants are much easier to keep alive we had lots of them on the balcony back in Greece. It wasn’t summer unless there was a basil smell in the air.

  7. The beauty of faux plants these days is so different. They really did used to look REALLY faux. Now they look real, and I can see why these would cheer you up. Now why can’t I ever find anything cute at MY Dollar Store? I like those galvanized containers too.

    1. I used to complain about my dollar store in Greece but no more Florence. I am more than happy with the one here. The only problem is to drag me away.

  8. I always fake a green thumb too and it seems to be working! Now these planters are fun and you can change out the flowers, should they not make it for some reason ;). It looks pretty and Spring-y Mary, well done!!

    1. For some reason Katrin? That reason is my oh so not green thumb. You can bet they will not make it. Lol!

  9. You taught me something in this post. I had thought about putting faux and real flowers together, but thought they would make the faux flowers stand out as fake.
    I was wrong, your planter looks great.

    1. Oh I am so happy to hear that. I think the quality of these flowers is getting better at the dollar store.

  10. Your planters are gorgeous Mary! I love to mix faux and real flowers! Faux flowers look beautiful next to the real ones! You mixed them perfectly and all these colors!

    1. That is what I’m starting to realize Christina. They can be mixed in together and no one is the wiser.

  11. First, I need a trip to Dollar Tree for those cute galvanized pots. I too profess to have a brown thumb but I’m loving your idea of mixing faux with real! Cute idea to add some figurines to the mix. Like you, I’m feeling quite bummed with the weather (more snowflakes today). I need something like this in my life NOW.

    1. Run over to that dollar store and get some color into your life Marie. I’ve been getting rid of color in my house and instead have been watching the light and shadows. I must be losing it! The only real pops of color are the flowers and some awful brown furniture. Haha. But I’ll fix that soon enough.

  12. Hi Mary, your gardening skills sound very much like mine, cactus are about the only plants that I have any success with and that’s only because they seem to thrive on neglect! Your faux flower planters look great and the fingers crossed the live plants stay that way too.
    xx

  13. Mary,
    These galvanized containers are fabulous, they add such an interesting dimension to everything. I love all flowers, even faux! Great suggestions here for one and all.
    Jemma

  14. Mary, your planter looks so good with a mixture of faux and real. My father was a wonderful gardener and I think I should be too. Alas I can’t keep anything alive. I do have two little things that I am coaxing to keep going, so far so good.
    Kathleen

    1. Kathleen my dad also has a wonderful green thumb. Why oh why will that gene not come down to us?

  15. I love this idea! I used to live in the Pacific Northwest and everything there grew like it was the garden of Eden. It wasn’t until I left that I learned that I actually have a brown thumb! So I really love this idea. I’ve done a little with fake plants, so I love your idea of combining live and fake. These are gorgeous!

    1. Jennifer I lived in Greece for 20 years which is like California weather and couldn’t grow anything. Maybe I should move to the Pacific Northwest.

  16. What a sweet planter! They do make some petty faux flowers now days. Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

  17. These are really pretty. I am SOOOO ready for spring! I do fine with planters of real flowers but in the summer sometimes it is difficult to keep them alive when you have to water everyday. I like the idea of mixing some real with some fake. If you put the fake ones toward the back no one would be the wiser!

    1. I agree in the back they will fill out the planters and you won’t pay attention to my mistakes. 😉

  18. I love those galvanized buckets. I wouldn’t paint them either. Your planters with a mix of real and faux turned out so pretty!

  19. Love your pretty colorful planters, Mary–even better when you can find the supplies at Dollar Tree! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!

  20. You know what they say Mary, fake it till you make it!!!
    I love the idea of mixing real and fake flowers, I have an orchid plant that’s just leaves now so I poked a fake flower stem in the pot with it – looks ok. You have totally taken it to the next level!

  21. I just used fake flowers for the first time. I’m telling myself that they are a placeholder for the real flowers I will eventually plant. It was so nice to see someone else using them but yours look so much better even though we bought our flowers at the same place! I am going to buy some more and rearrange mine now. Guess I won’t be needing real flowers now!

    1. Cathy I am so happy to hear that you like my idea. My dad was telling me the other day he wanted me to help him with the flowers, and I just looked at him in dismay and told him I will kill them if you let me near them. I do not have a green thumb to save my life. So glad this is an option.

  22. Mary, that’s a clever idea. I think that’s a great way to add some spring color to your home. Your kids are so sweet to get you flowers.

  23. This is such a clever idea, I have a place that would be to hot for live flowers, this would work great.
    I missed hosting Friday Features last week, but I’m back in full swing with lots of fun ideas and your being featured!!
    Hope you will stop by and share again!!
    Happy Weekend!
    Karren~

Comments are closed.