Choosing the right pot is an important step toward keeping your succulents alive and thriving. The question is, what do you look for when shopping for a succulent pot? Here are four criteria to guide your decision-making.
What to Look for in a Succulent Pot
Size
The trick with size is ensuring that your succulents have enough room to grow, without picking a pot that’s too large. (An oversized pot will result in the roots spreading too far before the plant has sufficient time to grow.) A good rule of thumb is to pick a pot that’s about five to 10 percent larger than the size of the plants themselves. This should leave a couple of inches of extra room around the sides of the pot.
Material
Choosing the right material is also important. There are a number of options to consider, ranging from plastic to ceramic, from terracotta to wood. Generally, we believe terracotta and ceramic to be the best options. That’s because these materials tend to be quite breathable, which means they help with drainage and with air circulation. The only drawback is that these are heavier materials, which might make it harder to move your pots around (especially larger-sized ones).
Drainage
Succulents don’t like a lot of water, so you’ll need a pot that makes it easy for them to drain. Generally speaking, you’ll want to invest in succulent pots that come with some drainage holes at the bottom. You can use pots without drainage holes, but if so, you’ll need to be very careful to water your succulents sparingly.
Style
A final consideration as you choose your succulent pot? Aesthetic style. Naturally, you’ll want a pot that fits your personal preferences, and goes well with your home or garden decor. However, you should also look for a pot that fits the physical characteristics of your succulent. Some succulents have upright growing styles; these work better in taller pots. Likewise, for low-growing succulents, you’ll probably want to look into shorter pots.
Finding the Right Pot Matters
Along with choosing the right soil, selecting the right pot is one of the most important steps in nurturing your succulents. Make sure you are mindful of each of these criteria as you look for the right pot. And if you have any questions about propagating succulents, reach out to us at your convenience.
