Choosing the Right Pot for Your Plant

With so many styles of pots to choose from these days, you may be wondering what type is best. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of different pots and how to let your plants help you decide on their perfect home!

TERRA COTTA

If I had to choose one ideal all-purpose planter, it would be the classic terra cotta or “baked earth” flower pot. These russet colored clay pots create a healthy home for plants because they’re naturally porous. This means that air and moisture can easily pass through the clay creating a more natural and “breathable” environment for plants. Terra cotta also darkens when the potting soil is moist and then lightens as the soil dries out, thus making a good indicator for when it’s time to water!

Terra cotta dates back to ancient times when it was used for making everyday vessels, building materials and art sculptures, so when we use terra cotta flower pots, we’re also connecting with history!

Although some consider these common pots to be strictly utilitarian, I adore their natural good looks and collect them for use indoors and out. They age beautifully, developing a darker patina, variations in color and even moss over time.

Almost all plants will thrive in terra cotta pots but SUCCULENTS, CACTI, PALMS, SNAKE PLANTS and POTHOS especially benefit from terra cotta’s ability to dry quickly by allowing excess moisture to escape through its porous walls. If you tend to overwater, terra cotta pots may help save your plants!

CERAMIC

Ceramic or glazed pots appeal to the artist in all of us because of their endless variety of colors and designs. They are basically clay pots which have been glazed with a decorative coating that makes them non-porous. Because of this, ceramic pots take longer to dry out between waterings, making them especially useful for outdoor summer planters or moisture-loving houseplants. In the photo above, baby succulents appreciate the extra moisture in these small ceramic pots.

Large, colorful ceramic pots are particularly stunning when they complement or contrast with outdoor plantings and garden art such as in the grouping above. Houseplants that enjoy the even moisture ceramic provides include FERNS, MOSSES, PEACE LILIES, AFRICAN VIOLETS and BEGONIAS. If you often forget to water your plants, then ceramic pots may be your best choice.

PLASTIC

Plastic flower pots have come a long way in recent years with many now designed to look like their heavier and more costly cousins. As you can see in the photo, the large plastic planter on my front stoop looks just like terra cotta when filled with plants.

The main virtue of plastic is that it’s very lightweight so even large-sized planters can be moved around with ease. It’s also relatively inexpensive, neatly stackable for storage, recyclable, and you can’t beat the convenience of small plastic pots for starting plants indoors.

Plastic pots are extremely versatile and can be used with a variety of plants, both indoors and out. Most of the houseplants we purchase in stores and garden centers come in the standard plastic nursery pots we’re all familiar with. Although these are usually the least attractive choice for your table or windowsill, they’re easy to hide inside a décor-friendly cachepot!

HYPERTUFA

Hypertufa pots are rock-like creations made from Portland cement, perlite and peat moss although coloring and decorative materials such as pebbles, leaves or shells are also sometimes added.

Making hypertufa pots and troughs has recently become a popular hobby and many people are taking it to an art form. In the photo below from Serenity Cove, simple fern fronds elevate this planter to an elegant garden creation.

Although hypertufa pots can be used inside for houseplants, it’s outdoors where they really shine. Unlike terra cotta, ceramic or most plastic planters, they are completely weatherproof, holding up to the freezing and thawing cycles of winter without cracking. This means you can plant them with hardy perennials and leave them outside year round!

While Hypertufa pots and troughs lend themselves to all sorts of planting designs, they’re especially suited to FAIRY GARDEN PLANTS, ROCK GARDEN PLANTS, HERBS, GROUNDCOVERS, SEMPERVIVUM and shade lovers like FERNS, ORCHIDS and MOSSES. In fact, you can easily grow moss on the rough surface of these pots to make them look like they’ve been in the family for generations!

These are just a sample of the many types of pots available to gardeners today. Find styles that you love for indoor as well as outdoor use and then fill them with your favorite plants!