https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/ Plain-English plant pot guides: sizing and repotting, drainage, materials, indoor styling and outdoor planters. Written for UK homes and gardens. en-gb Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:16:11 +0100 https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-plant-pot-size-material-drainage/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-plant-pot-size-material-drainage/Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0100Decide in this order: size, drainage, then material. Size the pot three to five centimetres wider than the current one, insist on a drainage hole or plan to use a cover pot, and pick the material to match how often you actually water. Looks come after all three. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/best-pots-for-snake-plants/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/best-pots-for-snake-plants/Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0100A snake plant wants a pot only 2 to 3cm wider than its root ball, with at least one drainage hole. It stores water in its leaves and must dry out completely between waterings, so an oversized pot holds wet compost the roots never reach and causes rot. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/self-watering-pots-how-they-work-and-who-needs-them/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/self-watering-pots-how-they-work-and-who-needs-them/Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0100A self-watering pot holds water in a sealed reservoir and lets a wick draw up only what the compost pulls. That suits thirsty plants, holiday cover and anyone who waters irregularly. It suits succulents, cacti and orchids badly, because they need to dry out completely. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/indoor-hanging-plant-pots-best-picks/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/indoor-hanging-plant-pots-best-picks/Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0100Pick by weight first and looks second. A macrame hanger suits round pots and spreads the load across several cords, a swing shelf gives you several plants from one ceiling fixing, and a rail or bracket works where you cannot drill. Trailing plants are the ones worth hanging. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/best-pots-for-orchids/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/best-pots-for-orchids/Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0100Most houseplant orchids are epiphytes that grow on tree bark, not in soil. Their roots need air moving around them and many photosynthesise, which is why orchid pots have slotted sides and are often clear. A solid pot with one hole suffocates them. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/plant-pot-size-guide-cm-chart/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/plant-pot-size-guide-cm-chart/Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0100Pot size means the diameter across the inside of the rim, in centimetres. Nursery pots run in standard steps of roughly 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 24cm. When repotting, move up one step, which is three to five centimetres, rather than jumping several at once. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/terracotta-plant-pots-pros-cons-and-uk-care/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/terracotta-plant-pots-pros-cons-and-uk-care/Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0100Terracotta is fired clay left unglazed, so water and air pass through the pot wall. Compost dries faster, which suits succulents, herbs and anything that hates wet feet. The costs are more frequent watering, a heavy pot, and flaking in frost unless it was fired hard. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/plant-pots-for-sale-how-to-spot-quality/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/plant-pots-for-sale-how-to-spot-quality/Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100Turn it over. A clean, level foot ring, an even wall thickness, a rim without chips or waviness, and a clear ring when you tap it all indicate a well-made pot. Weight for size tells you about the firing. None of it is about the decoration. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/vertical-garden-ideas-with-pots/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/vertical-garden-ideas-with-pots/Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100A vertical planter gives you the most plants per square metre of any format. The catch is water: it runs downwards, so the bottom pockets stay wettest and the top ones dry fastest. Plan the planting around that, and put a waterproof barrier between the unit and the wall. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/frost-proof-pots-surviving-a-uk-winter/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/frost-proof-pots-surviving-a-uk-winter/Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100Frost proof means the pot is fired hard enough that it absorbs almost no water. Frost resistant is a weaker claim and often fails. If a pot has no label, tap it: a clear ring suggests a hard firing, a dull thud suggests a porous body that will flake once water inside it freezes. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/how-to-style-plant-pots-in-a-living-room-calm-living-angle/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/how-to-style-plant-pots-in-a-living-room-calm-living-angle/Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100Limit yourself to two or three pot finishes across a room, vary the heights so the eye moves, group in odd numbers, and leave real gaps between groups. Clutter is rarely about how many plants you own. It is about too many competing finishes and no empty space between them. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/terracotta-vs-ceramic-vs-plastic-which-lasts/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/terracotta-vs-ceramic-vs-plastic-which-lasts/Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100Terracotta breathes, so compost dries faster and it suits anything that hates sitting wet. Glazed ceramic holds moisture and looks better indoors. Plastic is light, cheap and retains water longest. None is best outright - match the material to the plant and to how often you actually water. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/choosing-the-right-pot-size-for-your-plant/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/choosing-the-right-pot-size-for-your-plant/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100Go up by three to five centimetres in diameter from the current pot, and no more. A big jump surrounds a small root ball with wet compost the roots cannot reach, which stays soggy and causes rot. For a cover pot rather than a repot, one to two centimetres is enough. https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/do-plant-pots-need-drainage-holes-and-how-to-add-one/https://pottyforplantpots.co.uk/blog/do-plant-pots-need-drainage-holes-and-how-to-add-one/Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100Almost always, yes. Without a hole, water collects at the base and roots sitting in it rot, usually within a fortnight. If you love a pot with no drainage, use it as a cover pot with a plain nursery pot inside. Drilling is possible but risks cracking the pot.