Filling a container with vivid flowers and foliage is a quick way to add
instant interest to a dull spot. You can turn a vintage chair into an
inviting movable planter that will transform any place where it is
displayed.
Prepare Your Chair
Yard sales and flea markets are the perfect places to find old chairs.
They don't have to be in great condition as long as they are pretty
sturdy. Plus, if you don't like the color, spray paint will do wonders.
Remove the seat, and replace it with chicken wire to create a nest to
hold sphagnum moss, potting soil, and plants. Cut the chicken wire
several inches larger than the seat's frame so it can sag down inside
the chair and make space for the arrangement of plants. Fold the edges
of the chicken wire over the seat, and fasten snugly to the chair with
wire.
MATERIALS
old chair
spray paint
(We used KrylonFusion
in Blue Hyacinth #2333.)
chicken wire
wire cutters
wire
sphagnum moss
bucket of water
potting soil
PLANTS
Boston fern
'Black Prince' coleus
'Celebration Apricot'
New Guinea Hybrid
impatiens
'Neon' pothos
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An alternative to this step is purchasing a wire basket and preformed
sphagnum moss liner that will fit the dimensions of the seat. Drop the
basket into the chair frame, attach it securely with wire, and then add
the liner. It's easy!
Build the Moss Lining
Place sphagnum moss into a bucket of water, breaking up large chunks and
removing stems or twigs. Mix thoroughly, and allow to soak. This will
soften the moss so it's easier to work with. Next, remove handfuls of
moss from the bucket, squeezing out the water while pressing it together
to form a fairly solid mass. Press this firmly into the bottom, sides,
and top edges of the chicken wire, creating a layer about 1 inch thick.
Add enough moist potting soil to allow plants to sit level with the top
of the chair seat.
Place Your Plants
Choose plants that complement each other and your chair. Don't be afraid
to mix colors or add a houseplant, such as the 'Neon' pothos shown here.
Denise Smith, a horticulturist in Jefferson, Georgia, agrees. "A
container is essentially a horticultural box of crayons," she says.
"There are no rules--except to use plants that have the same light and
water requirements. Remember, you are making a 3-D picture with colors
and textures." So experiment and have fun when choosing your plants.
This article is from the June 2005 issue of Southern Living.
