I rescued this fake plant in a yellow, glazed ceramic garden pot from the trash during college, and it has been with me ever since. Unfortunately, the yellow pot no longer matches any of my rooms, but I didn’t want to get rid of it. So instead, I gave it a quick upgrade with a can of spray paint! Painting a ceramic garden pot is a straightforward project, but a few of the steps vary depending on whether the pot is glazed or unglazed and whether it will live indoors or outdoors. My particular pot is glazed and will remain inside, so the steps below reflect that, but I’ve also added some pointers for an unglazed pot.
NOTE: A glazed ceramic pot is smooth and shiny, and will require sanding and possibly a primer. An unglazed pot’s texture is slightly rough and easier to paint, but it absorbs water during washing.
MATERIALS
| MATERIALS NEEDED |
| Soap and water |
| Rag |
| Fine-Grit Sandpaper (220-400) |
| Drop cloth/Cardboard |
| Garbage bags (if you have a fake plant in the pot that you intend to keep in the pot while painting, like I did) |
| Tape |
| Spray Paint: Krylon Fusion All-in-One |
TIME COMMITMENT
| ACTIVE TIME: 1 hour |
| TOTAL TIME: 2 hours |
STEP BY STEP
STEP 1 – CLEAN THE POT
The first step to paint a ceramic garden pot is to clean the pot thoroughly. Use a rag and some soap and water to remove all the dirt, dust, and other buildup that may be on your ceramic garden pot. Make sure to let it dry fully. If the pot is glazed, you can dry it with a towel and proceed right away. If it’s not glazed, you will want to give the pot time to fully dry out.
STEP 2 – SAND THE POT (GLAZED CERAMIC ONLY)
The next step is to sand the ceramic garden pot (if it is glazed) to help the paint adhere better. Lightly sand the exterior of the pot with fine-grit sandpaper, 220-400. I used 200-grit sandpaper, and you can see scratch marks on my finished product, so a higher-grit sandpaper might have been better. The goal is to dull the finish slightly. Wipe up the dust after sanding.
STEP 3 – PREP THE PAINTING AREA & GARDEN POT
After cleaning and sanding the ceramic garden pot, set up the area for painting. In my case, the pot I painted contained a non-removable fake plant. Therefore, I used a garbage bag with a hole cut in it to protect the plant itself, and some paper bags to protect the fake dirt inside the pot.
For my painting area, I set up an area of cardboard in the grass. Then I covered a milk crate in plastic to use as an elevated space for painting.
STEP 4 – PAINT THE CERAMIC GARDEN POT
It’s now time to paint the ceramic garden pot. I used Krylon all-in-one paint and primer in the color “Matte Clamshell.” There are a lot of color options in this brand available. This spray paint made it so I did not have to use a primer first. If you’re not using an all-in-one paint, then I recommend using a primer first.
For the spray paint, follow the application instructions on the back of the can. These include shaking the can before and during use, as well as how far away to keep the can from the pot while spraying the paint. Cover the pot with thin layers of paint to prevent dripping.
STEP 5 – ALLOW THE POT TO DRY
After painting, allow the pot to dry before handling. The spray paint I used said that would take 1 hour, but make sure to consult the back of the can for the paint you use. After the paint is dry, move the pot to a protected are and allow it to cure completely. This most likely will be at least 24 hours, but again, consult the back of the can for specific times. Allowing the pot to fully cure is a very important step in painting a ceramic garden pot. It ensures the paint fully hardens and helps prevent smudging, peeling, or damage later.
STEP 6 – SEAL THE CERAMIC GARDEN POT (OPTIONAL)
I did not put a sealer on my ceramic garden pot because the pot holds a plastic plant that will be kept indoors. But if you want more protection for your pot, I suggest applying a clear sealer to protect the painted surface from moisture, scratches, and fading. Use an outdoor waterproof sealer if the pot will be kept outside. Follow the directions on the sealer can for application advice and drying times. Once the sealer has cured, the ceramic pot is ready to use and should have a smooth, durable new finish.
For more craft-type projects, check out How to Build Cornhole Boards or How to Convert an Ikea Shelf into a TV Stand.