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Pots for PlantsMatching the right pot with the right plant can make all the difference. |
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Transcript: Pots for Plants
Container gardening is really a great way to bring fast color into your landscape.The classic type of container is terracotta. They provide some weight so the container doesn't blow over easily on a windy day. But the problem with them is they tend to wick the water away really quickly. As a result, in a terracotta container, you're going to be watering a little more often to keep your plants moist enough to be happy.
There are plasic materials that look like terracotta and make a really nice alternative. The negative with plasics is they do tend to crack and chip over time, and the soil in the container tends to pull away from the container sides as it dries out. As a result, when you water it, the water runs along the side of the root ball and out the bottom of the container.
There are also glazings that are put on various types of pots. They help hold your moisture in so they don't wick away all of your moisture so fast. It's also quite attractive.
One of my favorites is a new material that's really a mixture between styrofoam and plastic. These polycarbonate containers are extremely light weight, but they're very attractive.
And still another type of containers are the various wire-hanging baskets. They can be lined with sphagnum moss or in this case, it's line with coconut coir. This drains very well. It does tend to dry out, but it makes a very natural attractive-looking container.
When you're choosing a container, you want to consider the dimensions. It's better to choose one of equal proportions, or in the case of plants like cacti and succulents - or things you don't mind watering a little more often - a very shallow container works well.
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Last Updated:
January 14, 2005