How to paint flower pots the right way

I got another Bromelia as a Mother’s Day present and the only pot I had in the house was a plain white Ikea pot that just wasn’t doing it for me. So I decided to paint it and I want to share with you how to paint flower pots the right way to match your decor and also make them last.

How to paint flower pots

This is a straightforward and easy project. I’ve used the same process for other painting projects as well, just check out my faux terracotta pumpkins (more about them below). They were painted the same way. I just used baking soda paint instead of spray paint.

Supplies needed

• degreaser like Krud Kutter or TSP
• tack cloth
• Kilz primer/Adhesion primer
• paint (I used Valspar’s brushed rose spray paint but you can use any other acrylic craft paint too)

Note: Use outdoor-specific paint and sealer for pots that will be used outside and more to that below.

Tips for Painting flower pots for indoor use

It is essential to decide what plant you want to use the pot for and if you are planting the plant inside the pot or just placing the potted plant inside the pot. Why? Well, some plants require that you mist them daily, and then make sure that you use durable outdoor paint and sealer so the paint doesn’t get moldy and damaged. This also applies to plants that are planted inside the painted pot.

Tips for Painting flower pots for outdoor use

Use the exact same instructions as above but replace the paint with outdoor paint and an outdoor sealer to extend the life of the paint and protect it from the elements. Outdoor paint is specifically made for outdoor use as it can withstand harsh weather conditions and last longer.

Keep in mind that clay/terracotta pots can’t stay outside in freezing winter weather as it will make them crack when they freeze, so it might be better to use plastic pots or faux concrete pots when you want to paint outdoor pots.

Tips for painting cement/concrete flower pots

A while back I wrote a blog post about the best paint for a concrete porch or patio since I have some experience painting our concrete porch and repainting painted concrete. Painting concrete flower pots and planters should be painted the same way you’d paint a concrete porch or patio.

Concrete is very porous which is why it’s so important to use a good concrete primer before painting it with your color of choice. The steps are the same way as mentioned above. You need to make sure that the pots are clean and dry before applying the primer and then the final paint.

Tips for painting clay/terracotta flower pots

I love the look of terra-cotta and probably wouldn’t choose to paint any real plain terracotta pots. Hey, as I mentioned above already I even painted plastic pumpkins to look like terracotta because I love the look so much. And I wrote a blog post about my favorite terracotta colors from different brands.

Anyways, if you want to paint some terracotta pots or vessels, the prep work is key once again. Terracotta is a very porous material! So porous in fact that it absorbs excess moisture out of the soil which isn’t good for every type of plant. So because of that fact, you should use a clay pot sealer on your clean and dry terracotta pots. You have to make sure to seal the pot inside out. For the other flower pots mentioned above, it’s enough to just prime the outside. Terracotta pots need to be sealed on the inside as well as the outside.

After the sealer dried, I like using the same primer mentioned above and then painting them the way mentioned above depending on whether you want to keep them inside or outside.

Note: The sealer affects the breathability of the pot and plants that previously did well in the original terracotta pot might not do well in the painted terracotta pot since the soil will remain moist for much longer. For example, my Cinderella castle cactus loves its terracotta pot but wouldn’t like to sit in moist soil should I ever paint it.

Photos of my finished painted flower pot

It’s a small project but I love the outcome and the primer worked great on the pot and with the spray paint. Doesn’t it look pretty with the color of the Bromelia?

And below you can see some of my faux terracotta painted flower pots on my bookshelf.

Such a pretty color! Isn’t it?

Tschüß