What is the best paint for plastic flowerpots? The appeal of painting them is obvious; you can make a cheap pot look expensive. You can make multiple pots match each other, or the rest of your property. Maybe the flowerpots are just starting to look weathered, and you want them to look new again.
Most of my work as a professional decorator is what I would describe as small domestic projects – painting Mrs Johnson’s spare bedroom, for example. Occasionally I get involved in upcycling pieces of furniture, which are often fun little projects, and occasionally I get something a bit more “left field”.
Recently I was asked to paint a customer’s wooden bread bin, but I’ve also done flowerpots and planters in the past. It’s actually not such a crazy idea. People are looking to use colour more and more in their gardens, which is why products such as Sadolin Superdec have become so popular.
People want to add some personality to sheds, garden furniture and so on, so that their garden looks different to their neighbours’. Plastic flowerpots are about as generic as you can get – they’re nearly all the same colour, mostly the same shape, and as a result aren’t something that people want to display prominently in their gardens, even if the plants within them look stunning.
Consequently, people spend large sums of money on expensive glazed terracotta pots instead. Painting the cheap plastic ones is not only a fun little project, but it also works out cheaper and allows you to choose the exact colour and finish that you want.
The challenge with this sort of more “unusual” painting project is choosing the right materials. Plastics are notoriously difficult surfaces to get paints to stick to anyway, and then there is the added complication that the pots will be outside.
So, what are the best paints to use for painting plastic flowerpots and planters? We need a good quality paint that will go on nicely and then stay on through the trials and tribulations of the Great British weather! Well, there are a few options available in terms of the finish you want to achieve:
The Best Primer for Plastic Flowerpots
Many of the paints I will recommend below will stick to plastic OK without a separate primer, so you may not need one. But some are better with a primer to ensure long-term adhesion.
I haven’t got time to go into too much detail here, but some good options would include Dulux Trade Ultra Grip Primer, Zinsser Cover Stain, Benjamin Moore Stix, Crown Trade PX4 and Bedec All Prime, all of which are suitable for use outside.
My favourite is Zinsser BIN Aqua. It’s a quick-drying water-based primer that sticks well to plastic planters. It’s easy to use, and available in tinted colours. Unlike a lot of the other water-based primers on the market, Zinsser BIN Aqua also blocks stains. This might not sound important, but if you can’t get your plastic flowerpot 100% clean before you start, contaminants may otherwise bleed through your finished paint.
Using a good-quality primer like Zinsser BIN Aqua just ensures your painted flowerpots will look great for years.
The Different Paint Finished You Can Use on Plastic Flowerpots
Matt
A natural, non-shiny finish. Matt is very contemporary and desirable. The downside is that matt has a pitted surface, so water (or more accurately, dirty water) doesn’t easily run off it. This can lead to staining over time.
Eggshell
This is a slight step up in sheen level, but eggshell is a lot easier to keep clean.
Satin
This is the most popular finish with a sheen level mid-way between matt and gloss. I must admit, I prefer a satin finish for pretty much anything like this.
Gloss
Gloss is shiny and reflective. Some say it’s dated, but it still has its place.
Speciality finishes
Believe it or not, you can make a plastic flowerpot look like stone or concrete. This takes a little bit more effort, but it looks fantastic.
Clear Varnish
For extra protection, you can add a final clear coat of protective varnish to your painted flowerpots (in gloss, satin or matt). This isn’t needed most of the time, but I’ll include it on the blog, just so you have the information should you require it.
The Best Paints for Plastic Flowerpots
Not all the paints I list below are available in all the finishes, but I’ll try to make it clear.
Once you have an idea for the sort of colour and finish you want, it’s time to read on and discover what are in my opinion and experience some of the best paint options for painting plastic flowerpots and planters. Choose any of the paints listed and your pots will look great.
Bedec MSP (Multi Surface Paint)
This is available in matt, satin and gloss (although the gloss to my mind is more of an extra shiny satin), in a limited range of colours off the shelf including some metallic finishes which can be used to create some fun effects.
My only reservation with this paint is that although it is touch dry in a couple of hours, it takes weeks to fully harden/cure, so you need to be aware of that and plan not to use your newly transformed plant pots in their first month.
However, the versatility and different finishes available make Bedec MSP an option that is definitely worth considering. As the name suggests, you can use MSP on multiple surfaces.
This means you can use the same paint on your exterior woodwork, garden sheds, or just about anything else. This means you can match everything to your flowerpots.
You’ll find MSP easy to use, very reasonably priced, and doesn’t need an adhesion primer to stick to plastic planters.
This is a great paint if you don’t want to over-complicate things or spend a lot of money. Just clean and abrade your flowerpots, then add two coats of MSP. Simple really.
Sadolin Superdec
This was originally developed for use on outside woodwork, but it actually sticks really well to a number of surfaces, including plastic flowerpots. It is only available in a satin finish, but the choice of colours is enormous and of course you can paint your garden furniture and plant pots with the same paint, so they match perfectly.
Here’s a pot I did for a customer several years ago using Superdec – she asked me to build her a wooden frame to raise it up and make it more accessible for her, so I painted that the same colour to tie it all in. Years later it still looks great (apart from my dodgy woodworking skills – I’m a decorator, not a joiner!).
Sadolin Superdec is slightly more expensive than Bedec MSP, but it is the most popular paint of its type amongst Decorators and the finish is a step above. It’s solid and doesn’t show imperfections like brush or roller marks.
If you want the very best paint for your flowerpots and you don’t mind paying a little extra for it, then this is the one you want.
I’ll link below so you can see current prices, but you can also buy this paint from any Crown Decorating Centre.
Zinsser AllCoat
It’s worth mentioning Zinsser AllCoat because it is available in both oil-based and water-based formulations, both of which are specifically designed for use outside. Both dry really quickly and stick to just about any surface, and are available in matt, satin and gloss in hundreds of colours. These are products that thousands of decorators swear by.
Maston Spray Paints
These are a quick and easy way to achieve some really fun special effects. Metallic, rusted metal, camouflage, bright neon colours, concrete effect, the list goes on.
One of the most popular seems to be stone effect. They’re great for completely transforming your plastic plant pots in a really fun way. To be on the safe side, I would probably use a primer first. Some of the finishes aren’t that robust either, so to reduce damage through wear and tear, maybe finish off with a protective clear coat (see below).
Protective Clear Coats for Plastic Plant Pots
Many of the paints listed above are pretty hard-wearing and designed for outside use, so they should last for years and years. To be on the safe side though, you could always finish off with a coat or two of Heavy Duty Extreme Varnish, which is completely clear, really hard-wearing, designed for use inside or out, and is available in matt, satin or gloss.
Final Thoughts on the Best Paint for Plastic Flowerpots
Painting your plastic plant pots and planters is a fun project which breathes new life and personality into something that otherwise can look a bit generic and undesirable. It’s not expensive to do, you can choose the exact colour you want, and it’s not difficult to do either. A separate blog with more detail on how to do it will be published soon, but in the meantime, start planning your new, fun and vibrant colour scheme for your garden, allotment or window box!
FAQs
What kind of paint do you use on plant pots?
Either a primer, and then any exterior matt, satin, eggshell, or gloss paint. Or you can choose one of the trade multi-surface paints that are on the market now.
Can you use masonry paint on plastic plant pots?
That’s a great question. Masonry paint isn’t designed for plastic, but it sticks to basically anything. You could use it, but it probably wont last as long as proper exterior trim paint.
Can you use chalk paint on plastic plant pots?
Chalk paint contains very little polymer binder, so even if you seal the paint afterwards, it won’t last very long if you keep your plastic plant pots outside.
How do you seal paint on a planter?
Polyvine Extreme Varnish is the best thing we’ve found to seal paint on planters. It works on multiple surfaces, doesn’t really change the colour of the paint, and protects after just one coat.
What kind of paint to use on plastic flowerpots?
The best paint for plastic flowerpots is multi-surface paint. There are loads of options now, but Bedec MSP, Zinsser AllCoat, and Sadolin Superdec are all top quality.
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