Planters come in different materials, shapes, and sizes. How to choose the right planter for your plant? Read on to find out.
There is no better feeling than decorating your home with plants. Apart from it adds beauty and life to the space, it also has a lot of incredible health benefits, such as:
- Cleans indoor air by absorbing toxins
- Boosts concentration, creativity, mood, and productivity
- Increases humidity and produces oxygen
- Indoor plants are therapeutic
- Provides privacy
- Reduces colds, fatigue, noise levels, sore throats, and stress
It really is a win-win situation to fill your home with plants. However, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies once you become a plant parent. You need to provide their needs like the right amount of sunlight, water, humidity, temperature, soil, and container or planter. Yes, you need to learn how to choose the right planter because this will be your plant’s home.
There are a lot of things you should consider when choosing a planter: drainage, material, shape, size, style, and weight. So if you’re ready to jump on board, here are the things you should remember on how to choose the right planter.
What Type of Plants Do You Want to Grow?
When choosing a planter, it’s important to consider the type of plants you want to grow. Plants have different needs. The type of plant you want to grow will help you choose the size of the planter to purchase. When in doubt, buy a bigger planter so your plant can grow into it.
However, you need to carefully watch the amount of water, especially for beginners. Always remember that the bigger the container is, the higher chance you’ll drown and overwater your plant. When watering your plant, make sure that the soil is soaked, then drain the excess water to avoid root rot.
Will Your Plant Need a Lot of Sunlight?
To make sure you choose the right planter for the job, you need to research if your plant will be exposed to a lot of sunlight. If yes, this means that the plant’s soil tends to dry out faster. If this is the case of your plant, we recommend that you choose a planter made of a non-porous material. For example, plastic, metal, and wood planters.
Does My Planter Need Drainage?
Yes. If it doesn’t have a drainage hole, make sure that you’re able to drill one in it. You might think that this is a no-brainer, but it’s easy to overlook this factor when you’re caught up in aesthetics. To avoid overwatering your plant, pour no more than 1/3 of the planter’s size. Always drain excess water afterward.
Are You Super Strong?
If you are, then great! However, if you’re a small human bean like me, then you’ll have trouble moving large planters around your home, especially if you’re the type of person who likes to switch things up. If that’s the case, we suggest that you choose lightweight planters. If you need large planters, then it’s best to choose a spot in your home where you don’t have to move it often.
What Material & Style Do You Want?
All planters are made of different material which has its own benefits, drawbacks, and unique style.
CREDIT: REDDIT
Clay and Stone
Ceramic: Also known as stoneware, are generally made from finely textured, light-colored clay, and water. They are shaped into desired forms and then glazed in a high-temperature oven known as a kiln. This process reduces the planter’s porousness and vulnerability to the elements. However, the disadvantage of ceramic planters is it can’t be left out in the cold weather because it can crack. Additionally, ceramic planters are quite heavy, and it tends to be pretty expensive.
Concrete and Stone: Part of learning how to choose the right planter is knowing the compatible material for your plant’s needs. First, concrete and stone are perfect for maintaining moisture and soil temperature. Both heat up but also insulate. They can be left out during winter. The disadvantage of these planters is you’ll have a difficult time moving them around since they’re pretty heavy.
Terra Cotta: A traditional material in producing planters. This type of planter is porous and dries out quickly, but it’s not frost-resistant.
Metal and Wood
Metal: Similar to concrete and stone, metal planters are generally heavy. They are perfect for large plants and a great option as winter containers. The disadvantage of the metal planter is it dries up pretty fast, and it heats up so there’s a tendency that the roots could bake. To avoid this problem, you need frequent watering.
Wood: Wood planter has good water retention, and it’s also a good choice for the winter. The downside of the wood planter is it will shrink and expand with moisture, so it’s best to look for good construction and joints.
Synthetic
Fiberglass and Resin: One of the most popular containers because they’re both durable, frost-resistant, inexpensive, and light.
Plastic: Plastic planters are lightweight and moisture-conserving. Additionally, they’re also a perfect choice for cold winters. You can also dress it up by putting your plant directly into the plastic planter, then slip the plastic planter into a decorative container, such as a wicker basket.
Learning how to choose the right planter is not nearly as hard as you thought it would be. Yes, there are a lot of things to consider, but once you know what to look for, buying planters will be an easy task.
Thinking of styling your home with plants and pots? Create a beautiful, fresh, and warm space with Omysa’s chic and timeless planters. Trust us, it will perfectly suit any corner of your home. Check out Omysa’s Shop and add it to your cart!
Grow your plant knowledge. Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
