Planters 101 : Our Guide to Choosing the Right Planter
After careful consideration, you’ve found the perfect plant for your space. You’ve thought about your plant’s future home in terms of lighting and the frequency that you have to water it—but, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important decisions you will make to ensure the future health and growth of your plant: choosing the right planter.
We know the variety and range of price points of planters can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to break it down for you. Read on to find out the differences in planters, e.g. materials, size, shape & drainage, and how these differences affect your plant’s health. By the end of this article, we hope you leave informed and prepared to make the best choice for your new plant.
Planter Materials
Terra-cotta
This is the most common planter that you see. Terra-cotta planters are porous, meaning the material will wick away moisture from your plant’s soil causing the soil to dry out more quickly than other options. These planters are a strong value because they are inexpensive and available in many sizes. However, these planters often weather & discolor over time as they pull minerals and impurities out of the water and soil (which may or may not be the look you are going for). These planters are exceptional options for cacti, succulents and other varieties of plants that prefer their soil to dry out well between waterings.
Plastic
Like terra-cotta planters, you can find plastic planters in a wide variety of shapes, sizes & at a strong price point. Plastic planters, while cheaper than other materials, aren’t the greatest in terms of breathability for your plant. The lack of air exchange and a porous structure leads to water retention in soil, which makes it hard for the plant’s roots to thrive in a constantly wet potting medium. The thing to know about plastic, is that if the planter doesn’t have a drainage hole, you shouldn’t plant directly inside of it—rather, it’s better to keep your plant in its nursery planter that does have holes and to set that inside of your decorative plastic planter. If you go with this option, make sure that the excess water that drains out of the nursery planter is emptied out so your plant is not sitting in water caught inside of the decorative plastic planter.
Concrete
These planters tend to be aesthetically pleasing, but they are not an ideal long-term solution due to their tendency to crack and chip, especially when placed outside and exposed to the elements.
Metal
Like concrete, these planters typically don’t have drainage holes, and don’t allow your plant’s soil to dry out as quickly. These planters are usually chosen for their unique look or are instead up-cycled from an existing household item rather than purchased specifically to be used as a planter.
Image: campaniainternational.com
Fiberglass
These planters are primarily for outdoor use. Fiberglass planters—lightweight compared to their ceramic and stone counterparts—are decent for transporting and carrying large plants around. One thing to keep in mind with fiberglass, though, is that the finish can flake, crack, or chip away over time, especially when exposed to outdoor conditions and elements.
Compostable
These planters are made of materials such as bamboo, and they are in high demand for short-term use instead of the traditional plastic nursery planter or terra-cotta. These planters are environmentally-friendly and are intended to break down over a certain period of time.
High-fire Ceramic
From our experience, the strongest value and healthiest option for your plant are planters made from a high-fire (dense clay body) ceramic material. While this category of planters is more expensive than plastic or terra-cotta, the long-term benefit is that your plant’s root system will be able to breathe as they do in terra-cotta, yet high-fire ceramics will not wick away the moisture as quickly as terra-cotta does, making it a much better choice for ferns, Calathea, Ficus varieties, and other more leafy plants. These planters are typically durable, long-lasting & environmentally friendly. Ceramic planters that are glazed on the inside and don’t have drainage holes will not wick away moisture or allow roots to breathe.
Hand Thrown Ceramics
Typically, these are the most expensive option because of the time it requires an artist or production ceramicist to spend on each planter. These are great options for plants that are placed on shelves, tables, and areas where you and others can see them to appreciate their subtle details and form.
Planter Sizes
How large or small your new planter is will make a world of difference — next to the material the planter is made of, its size is probably the most impactful choice in figuring how well your plant is going to do. Depending on how large the plastic nursery container that your plant comes in is, you’ll want to size accordingly. In most cases, the same size planter will work well for a while, but ideally, you’ll want a planter that is 1-2” larger in diameter than the current size. By doing this, you’re ensuring your new plant will have enough room to spread its roots around and grow. Settling with a planter that’s significantly larger than the current one, and you run the risk of overwatering. If the roots don’t fill up a good portion of the planter, the soil could remain too wet for too long, which leads to root rot.
Planter Shapes
The shape of your planter is also an important consideration. While most planters will have a wide opening across the top that allows for easy repotting, that isn’t always the case. Some planters — usually circular ones — curve inwards towards the top, which can make it difficult to get certain plants out when it’s time to repot and move up a size. In some instances, you might have to break the planter in order to get the plant out to repot if you wait too long for the roots to fill one of these types of planters. Usually it’s not too hard to get plants out with a little extra maneuvering, though there are plants that produce rhizomes (thick plant parts which grow underneath the soil) that cause some difficulty when it’s time to replant. Typically, the plants which trigger issues in curved planters are ZZ plants and most varieties of Sansevieria, which both send new divisions up from below the soil.
Planter Drainage
No matter what planter you wind up with, drainage is always a crucial factor in the health of your plant. Drainage holes allow for air flow in the soil, which goes a great length in helping soil dry out faster between waterings. Good drainage in a planter also allows excess water to drain out at the bottom, which prevents overwatering or water-logging your plant. If a planter doesn’t have a drainage hole, it’s important to add a layer of gravel (½-2 inches, depending on the size of the planter) and/or activated charcoal to the bottom. Doing this gives any extra water a place to rest without coming into contact with the roots of the plant.
Additional Considerations
If you keep your plant in its plastic nursery container and set it inside a decorative planter that does not have a drainage hole, make sure that when you water your plant, that you’re emptying any excess water that collects in the bottom of the decorative planter. If your plant sits in excess water for too long, it can cause roots to rot.
If you have a terra-cotta planter, a ceramic planter with an unglazed bottom, or a planter that has a drainage hole, you might want to consider using a drip tray or cork pad to protect your floor or table from water damage.
If water quickly runs out the drainage hole when you water your plants, then you should aerate the soil with your fingers or a dull utensil (we use the ends of small paint brushes or chop sticks) to break up the soil and allow for better water retention and absorption. This happens when plants completely dry out between waterings, as well as in the wintertime when central heating kicks on.
With this information, we hope you’re well-equipped to choose the right type of planter for you and your plants. If you have any questions about planters, listed above or otherwise, leave a question down at the bottom! Or, if you find yourself in one of our shops, feel free to ask one of us. We’re always excited to talk planters!
Written by: Egan Thorne
Photos by: Brian Kellett