Designer pots come in so many different shapes, sizes, and styles, so how do you know which ones to pick for your plants?
While you may be tempted to make your decision based solely on the pot’s visual appeal, there are a few other points that you need to consider too if you want your pot-grown plants to really thrive.
Size Matters
Those colorful online pots may be calling out to you, but one thing that you should always pay close attention to when choosing designer pots is size. If you plan on using your new pot for a plant you’ve recently purchased, and the plant’s current pot fits the rootball perfectly, then go for a similar-sized pot.
However, if you’re going to be potting up an existing plant that’s outgrown its pot, your new pot should be a few inches larger.
Wondering if you can just pick larger designer pots to begin with, to save you from potting up in the future?
It’s best not to – if the pot you pick is too large, the soil will dry out very quickly, leaving your plant prone to root rot. There’s also the risk of the pot falling over if the plant within it is too small – you definitely don’t want your new designer pots to end up damaged!
Choose the Right Material
Designer pots come in everything from plastic to clay to ceramic, and each one will have its own pros and cons. Clay is great for plants and feature trees that don’t like to be sitting in too much water, but the soil within tends to dry out pretty quickly, meaning more watering will be needed in the summer. Clay pots are also quite delicate – if you drop one, it’s likely to break.
Most online pots are plastic, since these are cheap to produce, lightweight enough to ship long distances, and are available in so many different styles and colours. They’re also great for water retention, but plants that don’t like too much water won’t be too happy in a plastic designer pot, unless you’re strict with your watering schedule.
Concrete pots are fantastic for larger plants, but they’re extremely heavy. A good alternative to these would be large GRC pots – this stands for glass fibre reinforced concrete, meaning that the concrete has been mixed with fibreglass and sand, giving you a pot that’s lightweight yet extremely sturdy.
Don’t Forget About Drainage
Most plants and trees out there require good drainage, which is why the designer pots you choose should have adequate drainage holes. If you’ve already got your eye on an online pot that doesn’t have any drainage holes, there’s a way around this – simply place a smaller pot, one that has drainage holes, inside this, or layer some pebbles at the bottom of the pot for water to drain into.
While it’s possible to make designer pots without drainage holes work, caring for a plant is much easier when you’ve got the necessary drainage in place to begin with.
Whether you’re shopping at your local nursery or browsing the web for online pots, knowing how to choose the right designer pots for your plants is essential. A suitable pot will allow your plant to truly flourish, making it worth spending some extra time on your decision.