Spring Is in the Air!
Spring Tabletop Decor
Turn a grocery store plant into a tabletop arrangement lasting for weeks.
Materials needed:
One 6-inch ceramic pot, shaped and textured like a basket (drainage hole optional, more on that below)
A saucer or pot feet, if needed, to protect furniture.
Potting soil
One flowering plant, 4-inch pot size, like Rockfoil (Saxifraga), Bellflower (Campanula), or Heather (Calluna)
3 pussy willow branches
Preserved green sheet moss
Preserved green spanish moss
Preserved reindeer moss in assorted colors (pink, purple, natural, light green)
Small decorative embellishments like bird nests, small eggs, or bunnies
Pink rock foil (Saxifraga x arendsii) brightens up this tabletop planting arrangement.
A few notes about sourcing the materials:
In late winter and early spring, the floral sections of grocery stores sell 4-inch pots with bright, flowering plants like Rock Foil, Heather, and Bellflower. They are perfect for this type of arrangement and if cared for properly will continue to flower for a few weeks.
Pussy willows are available in the floral section of grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, starting in late winter. If you can’t find pussy willows, substitute with any other forced branches you may find in the floral section, such as Forsythia. Dried pussy willows are also available online. And of course, if you have a willow or forsythia growing in the garden or woods nearby, you can clip off a few branches!
It’s okay to choose a container with no drainage holes. Drainage holes are crucial to the long-term health of potted plants, but this arrangement is intended for short-term, seasonal use. Be aware that many pots, especially terracotta, absorb moisture and water will slowly seep out and damage the furniture underneath. Use saucers, cork coasters, or pot feet as needed. For watering and care instructions, see below.
Preserved mosses are available at craft stores or online.
Small seasonal embellishments are available at the craft store, dollar store, Target’s dollar spot, and some grocery stores.
To assemble the potted arrangement:
Pot the 4” flowering plant in the container, positioning it toward one side. Plant low, ensuring you leave approximately two inches of space for the mosses and embellishments to sit on top of the soil.
Cut 6-8 inch pieces off the tops of the pussy willow branches. The tops have a tapered, elegant look and are preferable to pieces cut from the middle.
Poke the pussy willow branches into the soil, next to the flowering plant.
Position your embellishments on top of the soil, in front of the flowering plant and pussy willows.
Cover larger spots of bare soil with pieces of sheet moss. Tuck spanish moss and reindeer moss around the bases of the plant and pussy willows, hiding all visible soil and creating a soft, natural look.
Clean the outside of the container, if needed.
Bellflower (Campanula) are a popular spring offering in the grocery store’s floral section.
To keep your potted arrangement looking as fresh as possible, snip off any dead flowers and brown leaf tips as needed. Keep the pot away from bright, direct sunlight. The flowers may need full sun when grown outside, but these greenhouse-grown plants will go into shock if you plop them directly into harsh sunlight without conditioning. The plant will become stressed, shrivel up and the flowers will turn brown. This potted arrangement is intended for short-term use and needs to be handled with care to keep it looking happy!
The flowering plant is the only part of this arrangement that needs water. Probe the top inch of soil with a fingertip or moisture meter - when the soil feels dry, it’s time for a watering. Carefully add the water, directing it towards the base of the flowering plant, until the soil around the roots is evenly moist. Use a houseplant watering can with a long narrow spout, a succulent watering bottle, or a turkey baster to send water directly towards the roots. Do not water the pussy willows or any of the preserved mosses - they will get mushy and start to decay.
Craft store embellishments liven up this potted springtime arrangement.