Planters & Pots

How to choose the right size plant pot

Measure the plastic nursery pot your plant came in, across the top and from base to rim. For a decorative outer pot, choose one a few centimetres wider and slightly taller, so the nursery pot drops inside and is hidden by the rim. If you are repotting straight into the planter, go up just one size so the roots are not sitting in a lot of wet compost.

• Small pots of around 11cm to 16cm suit herbs, succulents and small houseplants on a windowsill or desk.
• Medium pots of around 20cm to 27cm suit most table-top plants, such as pothos, peace lilies and orchids.
• Large planters of around 30cm to 41cm suit bigger floor plants and tall artificial arrangements.
• Wide, shallow bowl pots are best for succulents, bulbs and moss arrangements.

Drainage: cachepot or planter?

Most houseplants need drainage, because roots sitting in water can rot. Many decorative indoor pots do not have a drainage hole, and are designed to be used as a cachepot: you keep the plant in its plastic nursery pot, which has holes, and stand it inside the decorative pot. Water the plant at the sink, let it drain, then put it back.

Some pots, such as the etched black ceramic pots, are described as watertight. Where a listing does not say a pot is watertight or has drainage, use it as an outer pot with a plastic liner or nursery pot inside.

Choosing a finish

Cream crackle glazes and white pots suit bright, Scandinavian and coastal rooms. Weathered brown and grey water pots and ribbed planters feel Mediterranean and rustic. Etched black and metallic grey pots add contrast against pale walls. Group three pots of different heights in the same family of finishes for an easy, styled look.

Indoor or outdoor?

The pots in this collection are chosen for indoor use. Some ceramic pots are described as suitable for indoor or outdoor styling, but unless a listing says a pot is frost-proof, bring it indoors before the first frost, as water in glazed ceramic can freeze and crack it.

Indoor plant pots: your questions answered

Do indoor plant pots need drainage holes?

Your plant needs drainage, but the decorative pot does not always have to. Keep the plant in a plastic nursery pot with holes and stand it inside a decorative pot without holes. Water it at the sink, let it drain fully, then put it back to avoid soggy roots.

What is a cachepot?

A cachepot is a decorative outer pot without drainage holes. The plant stays in its own plastic pot inside it, which makes watering easier and protects your furniture from water marks. Most decorative indoor plant pots are designed to be used this way.

What size plant pot do I need?

For an outer decorative pot, choose one a few centimetres wider and slightly taller than the plant's nursery pot, so the plastic pot is hidden. For repotting, go up only one size, around 2cm to 5cm wider, to avoid too much wet compost around the roots.

What should I put under plant pots indoors?

If the pot has a drainage hole, stand it on a saucer to catch water. If you use a decorative pot without holes, check it after watering and tip out any water collecting at the bottom. Felt pads under heavy pots protect wooden furniture and floors.

Can I use indoor ceramic pots outside?

Only if the listing says the pot is suitable for outdoor use or frost-proof. Water can soak into some ceramic glazes and crack the pot when it freezes, so bring indoor pots inside before the first frost and keep them dry.

Fill your pots with artificial flowers and plants, or browse more vases and home decor.