A Festive Pumpkin Flowerpot for Fall

October 2, 2007

October is the month of jack-o-lanterns, but not all of your Halloween home décor has to be so scary. You can turn these fall time fruits into clever flowerpots that welcome both the holiday season and trick-or-treaters. Follow these simple steps for a new take on a Halloween classic.

All you need for this holiday craft project are a pumpkin, a pot of chrysanthemums or some other hardy plant, a utility knife, a large spoon and some sand.

Picking A Perfect Pumpkin
The first thing you need to do is find a good looking pumpkin. You can choose the size and shape of pumpkin you like, so long as it’s big enough to hold your planter. Try to find one that has a flat, stable base so that it holds the flowers when they’re placed in it.

When you’re choosing a pumpkin, it’s important to look for signs to make sure the pumpkin’s healthy. Start by looking at the flesh on the outside, making sure there are no splits or cracks. Then press into the pumpkin, especially around the base and the stem. Fresh pumpkins should be solid to the touch. Watch out for soft spots, which mean it has already started decaying.

Plant Fit For a Pumpkin
01plant in pumpkin

Choose a potted plant that will be able to stay outside in the cooler days and nights of fall. We recommend chrysanthemums (commonly called mums) because these flowers can continue to bloom and look beautiful when the weather’s cold. Ask at your local garden center for other plants that can stay outside during this time of year.

Now that you have what you need, follow these steps for a great autumn outdoor home décor.

Carefully cut a circular opening in the top of the pumpkin. Make sure the hole is large enough to allow your flowerpot to be inserted. Once you’ve finished cutting, you can get rid of the top of the pumpkin.
Use a large spoon to remove the loose pulp and seeds from the pumpkin and throw them away (or you can roast them for a tasty treat). Then scrape the inside of the pumpkin so it’s smooth and clean.
Pour some sand into the bottom of the pumpkin.
Place your potted plant in the pumpkin. Adjust the pot in the sand until you have the right height for your flowers.
If you want to have a little more October fun, use black paint to paint a jack-o-lantern face on your pumpkin flowerpot.

These preservation tips will help your pumpkin last a little bit longer, usually about nine days. And you’ll love having it out by your front door that long, because in this Halloween season when everyone has a pumpkin out, yours will be truly unique.

If you like this article, you might also like:

Home Made Simple TV Series
See this week's projects »

Squeeze more out of an orange.
Take your pick »

Recent Inspiration

Home Made Simple Marketplace

COME ON IN

Connect with friends to SELL, SHOP & IDEA SWAP

on facebook »

Inspiration Meets Conversation

Previous statement Next statement

Join our community for daily inspiration & advice for home.
Get solutions, deals, and cleaning tips directly from home experts.
Visit our channel for quick and easy how-to videos.
Sign up for our free emails & get the latest recipes, projects and special offers.
Subscribe to our feeds & receive automatic updates on your favorite content.