Indoor plant pots can amaze you with their variety of sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. So, how do you pick the right—and eye-catching—container that will help your plant grow quickly and bloom abundantly?
Before you accidentally buy something you don’t need, let’s first figure out the difference between a flower pot and a cachepot—because some new plant parents don’t realize these containers serve different functions.
The word “cachepot” comes from French and literally means “hidden pot.” In other words, it’s a decorative vessel (without a saucer or drainage holes) that simply hides an unattractive planting container. A flower pot, on the other hand, is meant for planting the plant itself.
To give your plant comfortable conditions, holes are made in the bottom of a pot so excess water can drain into a saucer. It’s this kind of container that we’ll be talking about in this article.
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Choosing the Right Pot Size for Plants
Height and diameter of the container are the main criteria when selecting a flower pot. Remember: the larger a plant’s root system, the bigger pot it needs.
When repotting an established plant, choose a pot that’s larger than the previous one—mentally add about 1¼–1½ in (3–4 cm) to the old diameter. That way, the entire root system and about a ¾ in (2 cm) layer of drainage material will fit comfortably in the new pot.
You’ll also need to follow the rule: the pot’s height should be about one-third or one-fourth of the plant’s total height.
Plus, don’t forget each plant’s personal preferences. Resist the urge to buy an oversized pot (thinking “it’ll grow into it later”), because most houseplants don’t actually like too much extra room. For example, Anthurium, Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), and Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) tend to feel happiest when they’re a little snug in their pots.
Plant Pot Shapes
Since every plant’s root system is unique, you need to choose the container that suits it best. A tall, narrow pot is meant for plants with long roots that grow deep into the soil—think cacti, palm trees, and certain citrus varieties.
A wide, shallow pot, on the other hand, works well for plants with a fibrous root system that stays close to the soil’s surface—like geraniums, begonias, and chrysanthemums.
If you can’t decide on a specific pot shape, go for a universal style that works for most plants. These pots have the same height and diameter, giving your green friends plenty of options.
Materials Used for Plant Pots
Nowadays, flower pots can be made from almost any sturdy material you can think of. In stores, you’ll most often find pots made of glass, ceramic, plastic, and metal. Each of these materials has its own pros and cons.
Ceramic (Clay) Flower Pot
This is the ideal container for just about any plant—people have been growing flowers in clay pots since ancient Egypt! Thanks to modern clay-processing techniques, you can easily find a beautiful ceramic pot in virtually any shape or color.
Among the big advantages of a clay pot are its stability and just-the-right weight. Because clay is porous, it also helps excess moisture evaporate and lets oxygen reach plant roots—like a breath of fresh air for your greenery.
Plastic Flower Pot
Right now, most gardeners prefer containers made of plastic. They come in every imaginable size and color, are super practical to care for, won’t break even if they fall from a height, and cost several times less than ceramic flower pots.
However, this popular option isn’t without its drawbacks. Plastic is pretty lightweight, so a plastic pot can be unstable. A small plant sitting on a windowsill might tumble over if you yank the curtain too fast. To top it off, plastic “doesn’t breathe,” which means your plants could develop root rot. Yikes!
Glass Flower Pot
Glass containers are less popular, because, like plastic, they don’t let air through—and they’re easy to shatter. Still, these pots look pretty striking and are perfect for plants whose roots need light (for example, orchids).
Metal Flower Container
A metal flower pot is considered an exotic choice. It’s decorative and sturdy, but it comes with quite a few downsides: it doesn’t allow air to pass, it holds onto water, it can corrode, and it’s expensive.
Silicone Flower Pot
Unusual—and still pretty niche—silicone containers have the cool feature of foldable edges that let you reduce the pot’s height. This is a fantastic option for plants that hate repotting and grow mainly upward.
The silicone that these pots are made from is dense enough that the container holds its shape and doesn’t deform. Unfortunately, it doesn’t let air through well, and you won’t find it in every store.
Flower Pots from Improvised Materials
DIY pots made at home can be just as appealing. Containers made from plaster or concrete beautifully decorate a patio. Lightweight pots woven from willow or twigs are ideal for hanging plants placed near the front door.
These containers look super original. You can make them from almost any material—your only limit is imagination.
Choosing Plant Pots to Match Your Interior
Containers that hold plants should complement the room’s style and fit seamlessly into the interior design. For instance, bright pots with various patterns will be right at home in a kid’s room, but they’d look out of place in a living room done in Baroque or minimalist style.
If you don’t want to give up on bold colors, match your pots’ hues to other interior details and accessories (for example, throw pillows on the couch). If you have a group of plants in one room, all the pots should harmonize with each other. So it’s best to use flower pots of the same color and texture.
