I have seen it done with a variety of containers. The best looking ones I've seen utilized a carpet petunia that wasn't supposed to trail much, but they did anyway because of the set-up.

Al

I really want to do that too cindy. I hope someone can give an explaination. The only thing I havent been able to figure out is how to make the rebar stable at the bottom.

Carey

I just bought a magazine at Wal-Mart called Container Gardens and there is an article in there on making one of these stacked planters. I'm going to try it. Here is what it says to do.

Shopping List:
One 16 1/2 inch terra cotta saucer
Four Terra cotta pots (one each: 16 inch, 14 inch, 12 inch and 8 inch)
One 36 inch long dowel, 5/8 inch diameter
Potting Soil
Petunias in different colors for each level.

Step 1: Place the saucer and 16 inch pot in a sunny location where you want it to stay since it will be too heavy to move once built. Insert the dowel into the pot's drainage hole. Fill the pot with soil.

Step 2: Place the 14 inch pot on top of the soil in the 16 inch pot (dowel through the drainage hole again). Push it down firmly into the soil. You may need to add more soil to the 16 inch pot as the soil compacts under the 14 inch pot. The smaller pot should sit 1 or 2 inches below the rim of the first one. Fill the 14 inch pot with soil.

Step 3: Thread the 12 inch pot onto the dowel, pushing the pot down firmly into the soil and adding additional soil into the 14 inch pot if necessary. Fill the 12 inch pot with soil.

Step 4: Thread the 8 inch pot onto the dowel pushing it down firmly into the soil and adding more soil into the 12 inch pot if necessary. Fill the 8 inch pot with soil.

Step 5: Plant the petunias into the soil. The 3 bottom pots will be planted in a ring formation around the next pot.

It doesn't say what kind of petunias to use. Would it would be the regular upright petunias, not the trailing wave petunias?

I'm just wondering if the tower of stacked pots could be turned so that all sides of the pot could get sun. The article says it will be too heavy to move.

I can't wait to try this. Just have to go shopping for the pots and plants and figure out a good spot for it.

I did this a couple of years ago but didn't even use the
dowel. It worked fine. You just stack one pot on top of
another....into the soil of the bottom pot. It is heavy
so make sure it's "where you want it" when you start working! It worked great for me and I did use the wave
petunias. I white washed my three terra cotta pots and
then planted bright red and blue petunias for a patriotic
effect. Good luck..and have fun!

I don't know what you call the thing, but I got one at K-Mart - it's like a little wire platform with castors to put your arrangement on so you can turn it. I have mine under a gigantic pot and it moves around fine, just be a little careful not to tip it.

Does anyone have a picture of something like this.. It sounds interesting but having a tough time visualizing..???

Thanks
Ruth

I found this pic.. is it something like this - this was meant to be a centerpiece so I think the pots are much smaller than would be used for a patio.. and this one looks like the pots are set to the back..??
{{gwi:25827}}

If you use a dowel do you have to do sometihng about drainage b/c you are covering the hole???

I can't wait to try this..

Ruth :-)

I think the dowel is just there for a little stability, so it doesn't need to be so large a diameter that it fills up the drainage hole. Water will still be able to drain around it.

I've seen this pot arrangement and it can be spectacular. I would try trailing plants (wave petunias or any plant tht looks good in a hanging basket) on the lower levels and an upright at the top, with a spike-type plant in the top as well (or maybe all by itself) to give it even more height!

Imagine it done with angel wing begonias! Or Million Bells!

This sounds like a good way to grow strawberries. Has anyone tried it with plastic pots? It may be less heavy.