Create sweet and simple mason jar flower arrangements with live plants to coordinate with the season and then plant in the garden when done!
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After sharing my quick centerpiece in last Saturday's Three Things I got all inspired about creating centerpieces and flower arrangements in mason jars with live plants. I think it's just such a great look - maybe it's the former preschool teacher in me that actually likes to see the roots?
The fact that they're alive, they can be still be planted outside when I'm done with them, and even when the blooms fade the green looks good while new buds are waiting to bloom, are all reasons why I think this is just a great change from standard cut flowers!
I thought I'd recap what I did for my original mason jar flower arrangement, provide a couple options from Amazon to inspire you if you don't have a vintage glass holder like mine, and then show you a different arrangement I came up with using Ball's Heritage Green pint sized mason jars that don't use any holder at all.
Yeah, I'm kinda having fun with this.
Ideas for Mason Jar Flower Arrangements with Live Plants
Pansies in Vintage Holder
For the pansy/viola arrangement, I used a glass holder from the 50s that I've had for years. I'm not sure what else to call this - I think it originally held drinking glasses? Half-pint mason jars fit perfectly in it, however, so I've always used it to hold craft items, pens or cut flowers at various times through the years.
To make the arrangement:
- Find a 6-pack of blooming plants - this size fits perfectly in half-pint jars (this pack of pansies was only $1.99, but they are usually $3-4 I think).
- Remove each plant from the pack and push into a jar - it's okay to gently squish the roots if you need to.
- Water well.
I turned the flower arrangement into a centerpiece for our dining table by adding it to my DIY bookpage tray along with spoons and a sugar and creamer set.
Easy, inexpensive and quick = love.
Mason Jar Holder Options
If you don't have a holder that would work similarly, any these shown above would make great arrangements with live plants (oh, and cut flowers, too - or even utensils and drinks as pictured - they're pretty versatile!):
- Three Mason Jar Flatware Caddy
- Six Clear Glass Chalkboard Mason Jars (set pictured no longer available-linked to similar)
- Mason Jars in Basket Holder (set pictured no longer available - link is to a basket to add your own jars to)
- Three Mason Jars with Tray and Chalkboard Signs
Pint-Size Mason Jar-Live Plant Arrangement Idea
I also came up with an idea to use the concept without a jar holder - simply wrap three jars in a ribbon (jute twine or burlap ribbon would look great, too) that you've planted with slightly larger plants.
How to Make 3-Jar Live Flower Centerpiece
- Grab 3 pint mason jars (the Ball Heritage series jars add more color). Add a few rocks to the bottoms for drainage.
- Buy 3 'color spots' from a garden center (usually .99 to $1.50 each) that are blooming.
- Remove the plants from the pots, along with any extra soil and place a handful in the bottom of a jar.
- Shape the roots gently to fit and push into each jar (the color spots will need more shaping than, say, a jumbo-sized 6-pack, but they will work fine unless they are really root-bound). Water well, but don't drown the roots.
- Gather jars into a triangle shape and tie together with a ribbon.
I really love this arrangement with spring flowering armeria and pansies - in fact it spurred a spring refresh of our mantel which you can see here.
But can't you see this as a table centerpiece at any outdoor gathering, for Mother's Day, or updated seasonally with currently blooming flowers?
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