How to choose the right pot for every plant?
When choosing a pot for a new plant, make sure it has drainage holes and gives the plant room to grow.
Buy a pot with a diameter at least 2 centimetres wider than the diameter of the plant's root ball. If you expect your plant to grow quickly, use a pot up to 10 centimetres wider.
5 standard pot sizes and what to grow in them
Your local garden centre or hardware shop probably sells pots in a range of sizes, each suited to different kinds of plants. Pots are measured by their diameter.
1. 25-centimetre pots: A pot 25 centimetres in diameter holds between ten and a half and eleven litres of potting soil. This is an excellent container size for succulents and herbs, vegetables such as leaf lettuce, strawberries, turnips, beetroot, and small carrots, and flowers such as marigolds and zinnias.
2. 35-centimetre pots: Containers 35 centimetres in diameter are suitable for cabbages, peas, large carrot varieties, spinach, and abundant leafy greens such as kale, lettuce, and Swiss chard.
3. 45-centimetre pots: This pot size can accommodate large vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, aubergines, courgettes, peppers, and tomatoes. It is also the ideal pot for growing berries, shrubs, cacti, and even dwarf citrus trees.
4. 60-centimetre pots: These pots hold 50 litres of soil and can accommodate large houseplants with slightly more extensive root systems. A fiddle-leaf fig will fit into a 60-centimetre pot provided the pot is tall enough; tree roots need room to grow downwards. Dwarf pomegranate, apple, and peach trees will also fit into pots of this size.
5. 80-centimetre pots: 80-centimetre pots are enormous by most standards and are generally used as nursery pots for trees that will eventually be planted in the ground. Full-sized trees, including pear, apple, and plum trees, can live their entire lives in an 80-centimetre pot, provided they are fertilised properly.
4 types of pots and how to use them
Although the differences between pot materials are mainly aesthetic, there are several differences that can affect the health of your plants.
1. Plastic pots: These are generally lightweight and inexpensive and come in many different colours. Plastic pots are better suited to houseplants because some kinds of plastic, especially black plastic, absorb summer heat and can cook your plants' roots. Be careful with very thin plastic: although plastic does not biodegrade, it does photodegrade, meaning that strong sunlight can cause the pot to break down.
2. Terracotta pots: These classic red-clay pots are a standard choice for container gardening. The porous terracotta material absorbs water from the soil and then dries out, so either pair these pots with drought-tolerant species such as succulents and rosemary or plan to water frequently.
3. Glazed ceramic pots: These pots are sturdy and heavy and can be glazed in a wide range of colours. Almost any plant will do well in a glazed ceramic pot. The two drawbacks are their higher price and their tendency to crack at low temperatures.
4. Hanging baskets: Consider this option for small plants, especially succulents. Hanging baskets give plants ample drainage, so do not place anything underneath them that you do not want to get wet.
