Finding The Best Pots For Your Indoor Plants
Populating your home with indoor plants is a great way to add vibrant color and texture to your interior design while creating an atmosphere that feels natural and inviting. Plants can enliven your home, clean and scent indoor air, and even provide fresh herbs for cooking.
While you probably have some preferences when it comes to the type and size of flora you want in the home — maybe you prefer leafy vegetation like a monstera plant instead of flowers, for example — you might not know which type of pot will best suit each plant.
With so many options to explore, how do you choose the right one? There are a few tips to get you on track:
Container Materials
Plant containers come in a wide range of materials, including:
- Plastic
- Fiberglass
- Ceramic
- Clay/terra cotta
- Concrete
- Metal
- Wood
- And more
Before you choose, there are a few things to consider. Cost-wise, plastic pots are likely to be the cheapest. However, you definitely get what you pay for. Plastic isn’t the most attractive option, and over time, it can fade in sunlight, dry out, and crack. This could require repotting, which is tedious and potentially harmful to plants.
Concrete, while incredibly durable, is immensely heavy, and wood and metal options, while attractive, will definitely require some kind of liner. This leaves you with ceramic and clay. Clay pots offer a good balance of cost, style, and longevity, but they are porous, which means you could find yourself dealing with leakage.
For indoor plants, glazed ceramic is likely to deliver the most overall appeal and bang for your buck.
Correct Sizing
One important factor that many people don't consider when potting houseplants is appropriate sizing. This will have to do somewhat with the type of plant. It also depends on whether you want the plant contained to a certain size or if you’d rather give it room to grow.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a pot just slightly bigger than your plant. If the plant is in a liner smaller than about 10 inches when you buy it, choose a new planting pot about 1-2 inches larger. If your plant is in a 10-inch or larger liner, choose a pot 2-3 inches larger.
Keep in mind, plants like fiddle leaf figs that can grow quite large will need to have their pot sized up periodically if you want them to continue growing. On the other hand, you might want to contain a jade plant, which expands endlessly to fit available space.
Some plants like a lot of room, while others like a snug pot — your garden center specialist can help you choose the right pot size for every houseplant.
Proper Drainage
Drainage is essential to avoid issues like root rot and mildew that can harm your houseplants. Of course, you also need to use proper soil and know how much water a particular plant can tolerate. Without adequate drainage, however, the rest is a moot point.
Healthy Plants for a Happy Home
When it comes to finding the perfect pots to house your indoor plants, ceramic pots tend to be ideal, as long as you size them appropriately and ensure proper drainage. With so many colors, textures, designs, and sizes to choose from, you’ll have no trouble elevating your décor and keeping your plants healthy.
Looking for the ideal plant? Check out Plants on Broadway's inventory!