Trough-style planters offer a great alternative to typical cylindrical-shaped pots, but if you need ideas for how to use them, read on for a few of my favorites and tips to keep plants happy and healthy in a trough planter. 

Multi-Plant Centerpiece

Branch out from floral centerpieces with plants! Trough planters are perfect for grouping multiple plants together, and if you choose the right size, they can often be used as drop-in pots. Keep the plants in their nursery pots, and you’ll have the option to gift them to guests after your dinner party. If you’d rather keep the whole arrangement, you can also pot the plants directly in the planter- just use these tips to make sure they live a long and healthy life:

• Choose a trough planter with drainage holes, like the Dublin Planter (pictured)

• Don’t pack too many plants in– you ideally want 1-2 inches of space between each plant so the plants have room to grow

• Select plants that need the same soil and have similar watering need

Dish Garden

Trough-style planters lend themselves well to dish gardens planted with an array of succulents. These make a beautiful centerpiece but can also be displayed on a shelf, console, or coffee/side table. Dish gardens can be a little tricky to keep healthy, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be set up for success:

• Display the dish garden in bright light. Remember that when kept indoors, succulents need direct sun or the brightest filtered light you can give them. An ideal location is a sunny windowsill, or you can display it outdoors in partial shade.
• Choose a planter with drainage if possible
• If your planter doesn’t have drainage, use a chunky fast-draining soil and water carefully and sparingly to avoid any excess water pooling at the bottom, which can cause roots to rot

Crawling Plants

Some species of plants, mainly certain Philodendron and some Rhaphidophora, crawl along the soil rather than climbing or growing upright. Trough-style planters are perfect for these species, allowing the plant plenty of room to crawl and saving you from frequent repotting. You’ll need to pot these plants directly in the trough planter, so ideally, you’ll want to choose a style with drainage holes. Initially it will look like there is too much room in the planter, but over time, the plant will begin to crawl and eventually fill it. 

Commonly available crawling plants include:

Philodendron gloriosum (pictured above)
Philodendron plowmanii
Philodendron mamei
Philodendron ‘Silver Cloud’
Philodendron pastazanum
Philodendron ‘Dean McDowell’
Rhaphidophora decursiva (this plant will also need something to climb)

Whether for function or form, trough planters make a great addition to any planter collection. Pair them with the right plants, and you’ll have happy, healthy arrangements that add beauty to any space! 

To shop Accent Decor’s wholesale pots and planters, wholesale home decor and planter troughs including all new and flower, plant and home products, visit accentdecor.com. 

About the author: Danae Horst is the founder of Los Angeles based plant boutique and plant styling studio, Folia Collective. Her life-long love of plants and interior styling, paired with her desire to empower people to keep their plants happy and healthy, led her to start Folia in 2016. In her past work as an interior photo stylist and plant care columnist at the Jungalow, and in the years since starting Folia, Danae has guided tens of thousands of people to the right plants for their space and lifestyle. Danae’s work and plant advice have been featured in the Wallstreet Journal, Washington Post, LA Times, House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens, Fine Gardening, and more. The Folia Instagram feed was called a “Plant-Filled Instagram That Will Turn Your Black Thumb Green” by Domino Magazine. Danae’s book, Houseplants For All is available anywhere books are sold. Danae, her husband Bill, and their rescue dog Homer live in a little plant-filled bungalow in Pasadena, California.

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