How do I clean the inside of my planter?

Warm soapy water and a stiff brush will shift most dirt. Just avoid aggressive chemical cleaners. Leave protective grey zinc liners unpolished. They don't need to shine.

I inherited a heavy brass jardiniere from my grandmother but the bottom seems to be dropping out of it, is this something a normal jeweller could fix?

A jeweller works on too small a scale. You'll need a metalsmith or a brass restorer who has the heavy soldering gear required for large wares. The base has likely detached because of the weight of wet soil pressing down over the decades. A specialist will clean the old joint and braze it back into place.

Can I put a plant directly in it?

It's rarely a good idea to fill an antique shell directly with soil. The damp earth sits against the metal and promotes rapid rust or oxidation. Keep your plant in a standard plastic pot. Place a saucer at the bottom of the antique metal jardiniere, then set the pot inside. It'll catch the runoff and keep the metal dry.

The copper on the one I bought has a dull brown colour all over it instead of being bright, should I leave it alone or try to polish it back?

That dull brown surface is decades of natural patination. Many buyers prefer this muted finish because it blends well with darker antique furniture. Polishing it back to bright copper is a heavy physical job. If you like the mellow look, just give it a coat of microcrystalline wax to protect the metal.

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Victorian Metal Jardinieres

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Antique metal jardinieres are large, decorative planters crafted from brass, copper, or cast iron, originally designed to hold potted plants and catch watering runoff inside wealthy domestic interiors and conservatories.