Choosing The Right Pot For Planting
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Great, so you just went out and bought some new plants from the nursery or purchased them online from us, and now you are thinking of choosing the right pot for your plants. Or are you just thinking of replacing your old pots with new ones so that they sync well with your interiors and provide a more aesthetic appeal to your home?
There are many reasons why you’d want to buy new flowerpots. Whatever be the reason, a good pot for your plant makes sure that the plants prosper in ideal conditions and looks at the beautifying factors such as their ability to fit well in spaces while looking decorative.
Choosing the right pot for your plants can get a tad bit confusing. We are here to help! Let’s look at some of the factors you must look at while choosing the suitable pots for your new or existing plant that lie indoors or in your garden.
Choosing the right size
First and foremost, you must think about what size of pot you are considering buying. You don’t have to look around much. You can start with the size of your plant.
If your pot is too large, then the soil inside will dry up quite slowly, leaving your plant susceptible to a rotting root. If the pot is too small, then the soil will dry up so fast that you might face a problem with watering the plant. That may become a big concern if you are away from your home for a while.
We recommend that you get a pot that is just the size of your plant. When the plant outgrows the pot, you can shift it to a different pot, which is 2-4 inches larger in diameter than the old one. You should opt for the larger size if you have plants that tend to increase. A 1-2 inches increase in diameter will do the job just fine for slower-growing plants.
Get a pot with good drainage.
Standing water is not suitable for a lot of house plants. Overwatering is one of the most common ways to kill a plant, so yes, you must watch out for it if you want to protect the roots from rot, bacteria, and fungus. It would help if you always got a pot with suitable drainage holes to ensure that the extra water drains out and fresh air comes in.
However, if you have pots used indoors and don’t have drainage holes for decorative purposes, you must consider layering the soil inside. You can create an active drainage layer for your pots by adding stones, pebbles, and pumice to the bottom of the pot before topping it with soil.
A drainage layer made with these has more space between, ensuring that the water you feed to the plant percolates quickly and doesn’t lie stagnant for long. You can also use activated charcoal as a part of your drainage layer.
Deciding on the potting material
Another crucial factor while choosing the best pot for your plants is deciding on the potting material. Some of the most commonly used materials are terracotta, clay, and plastic. Plastic pots can be colorful and cheap. They also retain more moisture, so you won’t have to water your plants. If you are using hanging your pots indoors or putting them on shelves, plastic could certainly be an option.
Terracotta pots, on the other hand, can have decorative patterns too. However, they can be a bit costly. Terracotta pots are also porous, which means that you will have to water your plants more often. They are pretty ideal for plants that like to remain dry and aerated, such as orchids, bromeliads, succulents, and cacti.
Clay pots are also porous — they retain moisture in their bodies. The roots of the plants that grow on the edges use the trapped air and moisture when needed. Clay pots can absorb excess moisture from the soil. However, make sure that you keep your clay pots in safe spaces — you wouldn’t want your dog or toddler to tip over them!
With the right pot, you can be assured that your plants will grow beautiful and healthy. We cannot stress enough about choosing the right size or deciding on the suitable pot material. Having a good pot with the ideal moisture-retaining qualities also ensures that your plants stay healthy even if you miss out on your watering routine.
If you want to make unique flower containers and pots all by yourself, you might want to look at this post, which we wrote back in 2014. Here, we talk about some great ways to add personality to your budding garden.