Choose the Right Pot for your plant

Plants will help you add a splash of colour and positive energy to your house and office, especially when those plants are placed in charming containers. Growing plants in containers indoor or outdoor will bring a little of nature to any space. 

Placing our plants in charming pots and containers we can enjoy our favourite plants at home. The pots allow us to create an oasis of greenery in the veranda, in the yard, on the balcony, as well as indoors, in the house or in the office. 

Choosing the right pot is especially important from an aesthetic point of view to decorate our space, but above all it is necessary in order to create the ideal conditions for our plants. The planter you choose will affect how the quickly soil dries out, how well a plant grows, and how healthy the roots are. Plant pots come in all sorts of shapes, materials, and sizes. Some are ideal outdoor pots, while others do better indoors. 

Water and light might be the most important parts of keeping healthy your plants, but choosing the right pot for the right plant is very important too! Almost all plants will need to be re-potted at some point in their life. For example, when you begin to notice that plants need to be watered much more frequently or when you check the drainage holes of the pot and notice roots are growing out of it, it's time to re-pot your plant.

Find below some tips to pick the perfect pot for your plant.

Watering and drainage

Watering and drainage is the key to thriving plants. Over-watering is the most common maintenance mistake and probably the easiest way to kill a plant. The roots sit in excess water and gradually rot, taking away the plants ability to absorb nutrients and moisture. The risks of over-watering can be reduced with good drainage. Use containers with drainage holes in the bottom that sit in a saucer to catch the excess water as it drains through the soil.

Modern pots and containers come in all types of materials but they are not designed to be waterproof. For modern decorative containers without drainage holes the saucer could be placed inside the pot and the grow pot on a saucer. You can take the plant out of the decorative pot to water and drain in a sink before replacing or water in the decorative pot.

Choose a pot that's comparable to the size of the plant

Many plants enjoy having room to spread out, but too much or too little room can cause problems! Pots that are too big can cause a plant to sit in water for too long or cause nutrient burn from the large amount of nutrients the soil ends up holding. A pot that's too small can cause a plant to become root bound, leaving very little soil available to hold on to water.

Don't jump in sizes

If you have a plant in a four inch pot, it's best to move up to the next size - a six inch pot! Don't go crazy and double the pot size, as it will take a long time for the plant to fill the pot and increase your chances of over watering it.

Check the roots 

Choose deeper pots for plants with large roots, and shallower ones for plants with small roots.

Large houseplants with a ton of foliage tend to develop deeper, larger root systems and can handle being put in a pot as tall as it is wide. Succulents and cacti do well in shallower pots.

If you're really unsure about which direction to go, gently remove the plant from its current pot and check the roots. Are they filling out the pot? If so, go up a size. If you see an equal amount of soil and roots, chances are the plant is fine in the current pot size. If you see loads of soil and very little roots, you may want to go down a size if the plant or its roots look unhealthy.

Best material for your pot

The last step in choosing the right pot/container is to select the material that best suits your plant and the growing conditions. Pots for plants come in a variety of materials. While the differences between pot materials are largely aesthetic, there are a few distinctions that can affect the health of your plants. Choose the right pot and make sure the pot has drainage holes.

Terracotta:

Small sizes are affordable, but larger can be expensive and often quite heavy to carry. A pot of terracotta tends to dry out quickly, which makes it ideal as an indoor drought-loving plant and herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme. Freezing temperatures can crack or weaken terracotta when used outdoors. 

Plastic:

A pot of plastic tends to be lightweight and low-cost, and it is available in many different colours. Plastic pots are better for indoor plants, as certain types of plastic (particularly black plastic) absorb summer heat and can harm roots in hot climates. Also consider alternative plastic containers, like tubs, bins or buckets. These work well both indoors and outdoors.

Wooden pots

A pot of wood offers a natural look that blends well into garden settings. Wood is durable and weather-resistant, although it does break down over time. Half-barrel wooden containers are quite heavy once filled with soil, so put them in place beforehand. Wooden containers are best for outdoors.

Metallic pots: 

Metal pots have the advantage that they are light and can be easily transported. They also have a nice design, however in the long run they can rust, especially in places that come in contact with water. Metal pots are cheaper than clay and wooden pots and are available in beautiful designs.

Ceramic:

A pot of ceramic is strong and durable, and often can be glazed in a wide array of beautiful colours. Perfect for indoors. Almost any plant will do well in a ceramic pot. The two drawbacks are higher prices and a tendency to crack in freezing temperatures.

Concrete:

A pot of concrete is durable and extremely heavy. Available in a variety of colours and sizes, these concrete pots are great in a collection or on their own. The material is frost-resistant, making them a nice option for your winter planters.

Hanging baskets:

Hanging baskets is the best option for small plants, especially succulents. Hanging baskets give plants plenty of drainage, so don’t place anything below them that you don’t want getting wet.

Self-watering pots:

Self-watering pots are a type of pot that with its beauty and practicality are ideal for indoor and outdoor plants as well as perfectly suited for professional use. They are pots that look like one on the outside, but are essentially a pot inside another pot. Along with the pots is included the self-watering system, which helps the good growth of the plant, with the excellent absorption of moisture and fertilizers.

If you want to refresh your space or give to your loved ones beautiful plants in lovely containers choose the perfect plant for you and your special recipient in our online shop. Find at anthemionflowers.com stunning indoor and outdoor plants placed in charming containers and pots, planters, hanging baskets, self-watering pots, jardinieres and more.