Birthday
HydrangeasThe right pot is half the battle in houseplant care. Its size, material and drainage determine how quickly the soil dries, whether the roots can breathe and whether the plant thrives or struggles. Here is how to choose a pot when you buy a plant or repot it.
Plants in beautiful pots: potted plants.
Size: no bigger than needed
The most common mistake is moving a small plant into a huge pot “to grow into”. The roots cannot fill the extra volume, the soil stays wet for too long and rot sets in. When repotting, go 2–3 cm wider for small plants and 4–5 cm wider for large ones.
Drainage holes are a must
Excess water has to be able to escape. If the pot you love has no holes, use it as a cover pot: plant into a plain nursery pot with holes, stand it inside and tip out any water that collects after watering. A layer of gravel in a pot without holes does not prevent waterlogging.
Material
- Plastic is light and cheap, and the soil dries more slowly. Good for moisture lovers.
- Glazed ceramic is stable and decorative and behaves much like plastic.
- Unglazed terracotta lets air and water through its walls, so the soil dries faster. Ideal for cacti, succulents and plants that hate wet feet.
- Concrete and stone are heavy and suit large plants and floor displays.
Shape
- Wide and shallow for shallow-rooted plants: succulents, azaleas, prayer plants, bonsai.
- Standard (height about equal to width) for most houseplants.
- Tall and narrow for plants with long taproots and for large palms.
- A wide, stable base for tall plants so the pot does not tip over.
Pots, cover pots and self-watering
A cover pot (cachepot) is a decorative container without holes that holds the actual pot. It protects sills and furniture, but do not leave water in it for more than 15–20 minutes after watering. Self-watering pots are handy for moisture lovers and for holidays but are not for cacti and succulents. For holiday care, see “Watering houseplants”.
Before planting
- Wash a new pot; scrub and disinfect an old one so you do not pass on disease.
- Soak terracotta for an hour before planting, or it will pull water out of the fresh compost.
- Dark pots on a sunny windowsill get very hot, which can stress the roots.
Step-by-step repotting is covered in “Repotting houseplants”, and pot makeover ideas in “DIY flower pot decorating”.
FAQ
Do I need gravel at the bottom of the pot?
It does not replace drainage holes. In a pot with holes a thin layer is fine, but what matters is that water can drain out.
What pot is best for an orchid?
For phalaenopsis, clear plastic pots with plenty of holes work well: you can see the roots through the sides.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
