Are you pottering about with your head in your hands, wondering how to match your plant with its perfect vessel? Worry not! We are going to show you how to find the perfect pot for your plant.
Thankfully these days we don't need to make our own ceramics, there's no need for a re-enactment of that iconic scene from 'Ghost'. (Although, I don't think any of us would say no to some quality time with Mr Swayze).
Top Tips for Choosing a Pot
Size Really Does Matter!
If your plant is too small for its pot, it can become root-bound. This means the roots wrap around the edge of the container, which affects their ability to take up water. A plant that is root bound also won't grow well, as it won't have room to expand. A tight fit also means that the soil to plant ratio will be imbalanced - there won't be enough nutrients left to support your plant. Basically, a pot that is too small = an unhappy plant.
We recommend sizing up with pots, as this will leave enough room for your plant to take root, grow, and thrive! For example, if I bought a Peacock Plant which came in an 11cm pot, I would look for a plant 13cm and above, like this Pyrola Pot with Feet. While I could put my Peacock Plant in the 11cm, it would need to be repotted within a few months - it is worth investing in a bigger pot because you will be able to use it for longer.
Avoid Soggy Bottoms
Drainage is one of the most important considerations when selecting a pot, as without sufficient drainage your plant could develop the dreaded root rot! We want to avoid our plants sitting in excess water - remember hearing about trench foot during WWI in school? Yeahhh... not nice. Root rot is basically the same thing, so here's how to avoid it...
Some pots already have drainage holes in them, like our range of terracota pots in store. These will need a plate to place under the pot to collect any excess water. However, many planters don't have holes for drainage, which is where we bring in the big guns: pebbles or hydrokorrells.
Both are great options to add drainage to pots. You'll need to spread a layer of either pebbles or hydrokorrells at the bottom of your pot, roughly an inch deep, then layer your soil on top. For a more detailed guide on how to add drainage to your pot, have a look at our Repotting Blog:
The Fun Part
Once you have sorted out size and drainage, all that is left to do is select a pot to suit your home and style. We have just added lots of new stunning pots to our website - here's a little peek at some of these beauties...
Repotting Stress Be Gone!
Need a hand? Repotting can involve a lot of supplies: hydrokorrells, stones, soil et cetera... but we are here to help with our DIY Repotting Kit. This includes a step-by-step guide to repotting and all of the supplies you'll need to give you plant a happy new home.
We hope this guide will help you with your pot search, but if you have any questions our Plant Experts are always on hand in store to give you guidance and bestow their wisdom! We also offer a repotting service in store (which is free if you're buying your plant and pot from us!).
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