Guide to Flower Planters for Porches, Patios or Balconies

There are many types of flower planters that can be used on home porches, patios and balconies. Here is a guide to some of the best types to use.

Formal planters can be purchased online or from your local home and garden center. All manner of materials are used for planters. Plastic planters come in an almost infinite variety of shapes and sizes and cost from $2 up to $25, mostly depending on the size. This type of planter may have a closed bottom or there may be a drain hole in the bottom. Some plastic flower planters have built in saucer traps for excess water or moisture that escapes out of the bottom of the planter.

Other formal planters can be made or purchased that are a lattice work of wood strips. These look more natural but do not last as long as plastic planters. Wood material flower planters are often used when your planter will be a hanging type. Wood allows flexibility of attachment for the rope or wires used to hang the planter. Wood material planters should cost you between $7 and $35 depending on size.

Another attractive flower planter that can be purchased or be obtained as a do it yourself project is broken porcelain set in cement. Random shapes and colors allow a lot of creativity to be expressed in your flower planters. Depending on size these can be made or purchased from $10 to $45.

The last formal flower planter we will recommend is wrought iron garden planters done with varying diameters of hand worked iron in many delicate designs, shapes and sizes. These can be purchased for $35 to $125 per planter. Some of the more expensive planters are on wheels and actually are like garden carts.

In addition to formal flower planters it is easy to use materials already in your home for planters. This is especially true for starter flower planters. Examples of materials that can be used are plastic juice holders, pre-cooked chicken or turkey holders from the deli section of your supermarket and empty food cans or chip cardboard holders.