We all know that the plant is far more important than the pot it grows in. Even so, it's good to give some thought to that aspect of indoor gardening. The basics: the pot needs to be large enough that there is plenty of room for the growing medium and the roots. It's best to allow at least two inches around the roots of the plant but not much more. It should be deep enough to allow room above the planting medium for watering and to allow drainage on the sides and bottom. There are so many types of pots on the market nowadays, you can choose from a wide variety such as brass, aluminum, polished steel, copper, fiberglass (very lightweight), plastic, ceramics, and others.
Clay Pots
These are the pots our grandmothers used! They are usually red although they come in a variety of colors. They may be unglazed and porous or they may be glazed. They usually have drainage holes, and dishes to catch the drippings often come with them or can be purchased separately. In the minds of some people, these have the most character of all since they suggest history and back to the earth. You need to keep in mind that the unglazed ones absorb some of the moisture you’re applying to your plants; besides, they also lose some of it through their walls. Again, you need to remember that not only water but also nutrients will seep into the porous clay, and you’ll find that roots will probably accumulate there. They break easily and require some care in handling. Even so, they do provide good aeration for your roots. They are high on the list of choices for most indoor growers.
Ceramic Containers
Variety. The attractive thing about ceramic pots is just that–they are available in beautifully decorated designs. If you’re looking for design elements to match your room décor, this is probably what you want to investigate. They’re available in flower shops, gardening stores, even in interior design establishments. These are typically glazed on the outside; however, they are sometimes also glazed on the inside. If they don't have watering holes, you will need to be very careful about how you water. It's easy to saturate your soil and end up with rotting of your plant roots. Because the water and the solutes in it will not be going out of the pot, it will all accumulate in the soil. This may not be a good thing because if you get a build-up of salts, it can affect your plants.
Size and Draining Materials. Many of these ornamental containers are small. You will want to avoid the small ones because there won't be enough room for your soil and your plant's roots. They are what they say they are–simply ornamental. Having said that, it's also important to warn against putting chips from broken pots or gravel in your pots and expecting that to help with drainage. The water accumulates in the space around the chips and/or gravel and sits there and grows stale and attracts mold and mildew. What you want are drainage holes in the bottoms of your pots. If you want to decorate with your ceramic containers, you can use them for outer shells to cover a plain pot. Some people visit estate sales, yard sales, and flea markets to look for interesting, possibly antique, pots to draw attention to their precious indoor plants.
Plastic Pots
The good things about plastic pots are that they are very light, easy to handle, and virtually unbreakable. Add to that low prices and attractive shapes and colors. If you want neon colors to draw attention to your little indoor garden, this is the way to go. If you want earth tones, these are also the pots you’ll want to look for. Just about any color and design can be found in the plastic pots. Even in the discount stores, you can find some interesting ones. Be sure they have holes in the bottom for drainage! These are easy to clean and sterilize. They are not porous, so that must be taken into account; however, they will need less watering and will accumulate fewer salts.
Fiberglass Planters
This newcomer in the planter market has many of the advantages of all the other planters with the added one that even a very large one is very lightweight. These are seamless and come in unlimited shapes and colors. It's easy to fool the neighbors with your elegant “stone” planters that you can pick up and move around without a cart. They won't rust. Hot or cold–it doesn't matter with these planters; they have excellent weathering characteristics. They will last for a very long time–you can pass them on to your children! They don't get brittle from either age or weather. You might want to visit the garden shops and look for these. They can be very expensive; however, there are many designs and sizes that are quite affordable. Watch for off-season sales!
By TTS Cofounder Omid Jaffari
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