Abstract: A mounting assembly for affixing a planter to a horizontal or vertical surface such as the top or side of a deck, balcony or porch railing, iron railing, vertical wall and the like. The planter has a bottom, a surrounding wall extending upwardly from the bottom, and an open top. The bottom is so configured as to accommodate at least one vertically oriented bolt. The at least one bolt is isolated from the interior of the planter. At least one bracket is attachable to the planter by the at least one bolt. The at least one bracket is also attachable to the railing or wall by appropriate fastening means. In a preferred embodiment the planter bottom is provided with at least one upstanding socket for the at least one bolt. The socket has a central vertical bore with an open bottom end and a closed top end. An internally threaded bushing is fixed in the socket bore to be threadedly engaged by the at least one bolt.