Selecting the Right Pot for your Succulents

So you've gone out and bought a bunch of new succulents and cacti, but once you've got back home you realised you only have one spare plant pot when you thought you had a few kicking around. Even worse, when you go to put one of your new purchases inside this pot you've realised the pot is wayyyy too big and completely drowns the plant; all you can see is a couple ends of leaves poking out of the top!

In this blog post I'll walk you through choosing a pot for your succulents which is crucial to their happiness and the creation of a lovely atmosphere wherever it is going to live!

The only thing I enjoy more than collecting succulents is picking out the ceramics to plant them in. Unique pots are my particular obsession and you can find a whole range of different pots in various shapes and styles on my Etsy store. Nevertheless, as much as I enjoy purchasing ceramics and planters for succulents, it can be challenging to find the ideal one. I've learned over the years that many new succulent growers don't take into account a few factors that are important to consider while choosing a pot.

D-D-D-D-Drainage!

Please get a pot with a drainage hole! If you come away from this post learning nothing else, remember to get a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom of it if you can.

Seriously... this will make your life so much easier, as it takes a lot of the guesswork out of watering succulents. You still have options if you locate a pot you adore but it doesn't include a drainage hole! With a diamond tip drill bit, you can add drainage to the majority of containers (I've included a link to a video showing you how to drill holes in ceramics here).

I have a range of quirky ceramic pots such as this Ceramic Cow Plant Pot available on my Etsy store. These pots are ideal for succulents and also make excellent gifts!

You can use mesh tape to cover the holes to keep the soil from falling out. Mesh is also another great option as they keep the soil in but allow the water to flow through easily.

I'm living in a MATERIAL world

The next consideration is the material your pot is made of. Glass, metal, wood, ceramic, and plastic are a few popular materials used to make pots. What is the best material, then? It depends on where your setup is located and your own personal preference and circumstances. Got curious cats? Then glass probably isn't the best option for you. Suffer with damp? Wood likely won't be a good option either.

Personally, I would highly recommend ceramic and terracotta pots as they are both reasonably permeable materials, so they can be used in spaces that may not get a whole lot of airflow. In fact, I've discovered that they function effectively both indoors and outside. In direct sunlight, a terracotta or ceramic pot can heat up–which isn't ideal for succulents, but usually isn't a huge problem. Keep in mind though, that your soil will dry out more quickly if it's left in direct sun (I've got another blog post coming soon that will delve a little more in this so keep an eye out...).

Terra cotta and ceramic pots have the drawback of being incredibly heavy. If you decide to grow in a large pot, you could discover that it's tough to move once the dirt and succulents are in (or perhaps even before). These types of pots are also quite fragile so you have to be careful not to drop them or knock them over.

Textures & Colours

The fun really starts now that you have a clear notion of which materials would be ideal for your succulent planter! At this stage, you have a choice between two methods for selecting a planter: either choose the colour and texture of your pot based on the succulents you're using, or select your succulents based on the container you want to use.

Just take a look at this arrangement here on the left, the artist filled the vase with a variety of succulents with the majority sharing the primary colour which is green; sprinkled with a peppering of vibrant colours that create an explosion of colour. By doing this, the focal point becomes the the colours in the middle which are complimented by the strong green base, similar to a bouquet of flowers.

All these choices can get a little overwhelming, I know! If you can't decide what to plant your succulents in, or if you're having a hard time finding just the right pot, a great option is just to fall back on basic terra cotta pots or simple white pottery.

It seems every succulent looks great in a terracotta pot and their simplicity helps keep the focus on the succulent or cacti. Just look at my Peanut Cactus here, doesn't it just look so happy (I mean, I really need to plant it in a bigger pot now as it has got a bit snug but it just looks stunning!).

Size matters

In reference to my last note, size really does matter when it comes to choosing the right pot for your succulents and cacti. It can often be difficult to determine the right size of pot for your succulents and cacti. In order to give your succulents some room to spread out and expand, I generally advise allowing about a half-inch between them and the edge of the plant pot.

Too much space can actually prevent a succulent from growing much larger, because the roots spread out before the succulent has time to catch up. You should allow some space around each succulent if you're creating an arrangement and if you're mixing many of them, they will need room to spread out. If you want your succulents to get larger and spread, give them a little “breathing room” to allow for new growth. Usually about 1.25cm to 2.5cm is ideal.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully I've managed to leave you with a few things to think about, whether you need to find your new succulent a home or upgrading an old favourites shell; you are now equipped to make more than just an on the spot decision!

Happy Pot Hunting!