When planning projects to liven your home or garden, pottery and potting techniques seem to come as an afterthought to the plants themselves. There are many different variables to address in selecting the perfect pot. The ergonomics and specific materials the pot is made of can affect your maintenance routine. Potting should fit the project’s setting for an aesthetically complimentary final product. At the very least, you’ll learn some useful tips and hopefully never kill another plant with faulty potting!
Most pottery producers today make a coated ceramic pot, terracotta pot, or concrete mixture pot. Smaller producers have some unique methods, but most pots have consolidated into those three categories. The biggest difference you should take away from this article is that porous material like terracotta and concrete mixes absorb moisture from the soil, while coated material like ceramics block moisture. If you tend to start every morning with an extensive, therapeutic water session through the garden, you may consider porous pottery useful. The same advice holds true when looking at different climate zones. The warm and moisture-heavy climate of Louisiana makes for a great combo with concrete and terracotta pots.
Ceramic potting offers a wider selection of colors in most cases and holds moisture in the soil for a longer time. New gardeners without a strict schedule will find greater success in keeping plants alive in ceramic pottery. Ceramics also have a world of DIY capabilities! At-home waxing and coating make for amazing fun with the family and a chance to show off a more personal garden piece. In temperate area or in the home where there is generally less moisture, ceramic pots make for a great pick!
Once you’ve met all the necessary requirements for your preferred pottery, you’ll want to make sure your plant is the right one for the job. There is no real way to determine how long a plant has been sitting in the manufacturer’s plastic pot, so be careful not to shock a young root system by transplanting it too early. Allow all plants – especially more fragile ones like succulents – ample time to grow a healthy, resilient root system before making the switch.
My last gardening tip for choosing the perfect pot; Always make sure there is a drainage hole! I cannot tell you how many great projects get cut short by simply forgetting to turn a pot over before carrying it out the store. Pots with drainage holes and a water plate underneath is fine (I think water plates are a great look!) but a pot without any way for water to escape will most likely cause rotting in the roots and abruptly end your green streak.
