The pot-et-fleur is a combination of potted plants and cut flowers which gives the lasting quality of plants with the colorful impact of cut flowers.  The cut flowers may be replaced to give the design many weeks of beauty.

Steps to make a pot-et-fleur

Prepare your container. If it is not waterproof, cover the bottom with heavy plastic or a liner.

Place plants in the container leaving space for the cut flowers.

Place potted plants in container at a slant to overlap the edge of the vase.

Plants may be removed from their pots and wrapped in plastic to allow for more room in the container.

Place flowers in small vases, jelly jars, or plastic water bottles. 

Add extra greens or moss to fill in spaces.

Add any accessories. 

 

A pot et fleur in autumn holds  potted succulents, heather, and kale.  Glass vases are filled with roses, dahlias, and scabiosa pods.  Purple hyacinth bean adds movement to the vase.

 

The same blue vase in spring holds potted lavender, begonia and ivy.  Vases hold tulips, hydrangea and wigela branches.  A few tete a tetes are added in their bulbs with no vases.  Bulbs will keep flower head alive and may be planted in the garden when wilted. 

 

Care for your pot-et-fleur.   

Keep plants watered.

Replace cut flowers when necessary.

 

A metal rabbit vase holds a purple, potted hydrangea and hellebores in small vases .  Dress up for a special occasion adds roses, tulips daffodils, and pussy willow. 

 

A large willow basket turned slightly on an angle uses potted orange calla lily, ornithogalum , fern, and purple begonia plants.  Theses combine with cut flowers of gerbera, pincushion protea, and red-tipped photinia branches.  Dried mushroom pods give a central focal point.