Best Pots for Succulents – How To Choose The Perfect Ones

Always Choose the Best Pots for Succulent

It is very important to choose the best pots for succulents. They add to the beauty of the plants and play an important role in their health.

When you look at all the options that are available on the market, it is really easy to feel overwhelmed. Countless options exist.

Fortunately, making the correct choice is easier than you might think. Here are the important things to consider when looking for the best pots for succulents.

Choosing Materials for the Best Pots for Succulents

Always think about the material first. The common options are:

• Terracotta Pots

Succulent enthusiasts love terracotta pots. This is because the material is porous so it is breathable, which is good for the plants.

Remember that this could lead to problems when summers are hot and dry. This is such a breathable material that frequent watering is absolutely necessary.

If extended sun exposure is present, a terracotta pot becomes really hot. This will damage the succulent plant’s roots.

Also, the weight of the pot is high so relocation is difficult after soil addition.

Terracotta pots are among the best pots for succulents when living in an area with a hot and humid climate.

• Ceramic Pots

You can use two ceramic pot types, unglazed and glazed.

The unglazed ceramic pots are quite similar to the terracotta pots. The big difference between them is that the material is less breathable. The clay used is finer, firing happens at a higher temperature and you utilize less sand.

Because ceramic pots are less breathable, they will retain moisture. You do not have to water succulents as frequently as with terracotta.

The glazed ceramic pots are usually made out of similar materials to the options mentioned above. However, the pot is unbreathable because of the extra glazed coating. Its appearance is also changed, making it glass-like.

These pots are good for succulents but you need to be more attentive with the growing medium and watering.

• Glass Pots

These are similar to the glazed ceramic pots when referring to breathability but they rarely include a drainage hole. This is why they are often used as air plant holders.

Because of the lack of the drainage hole, overwatering is a common issue when growing succulents in glass pots.

• Plastic/Resin Pots

The plastic pots are highly accessible. You can find them in literally any store that sells garden pots and the succulents you buy usually come in one.

This does not mean it is a bad choice.

The problem with the plastic pots is that they are not breathable but they are really light. Moving the succulent plant is very easy, even if moisture retention happens.

Because of the weight, it is quite simple to figure out when the plant has to be watered.

If using plastic pots, consider the polyresin pots. They are very simple to manufacture. You can buy pots of literally any size or look.

You cannot tell that the pot is made out of plastic until you touch it.

• Concrete Pots

Through the use of a mould, a concrete pot is turned into any size or shape. You can build your own planter for succulents.

Even if convenience can be really high, it is important that the drainage hole is of a suitable size.

• Wood Pots

Similarly to the concrete pots, you can make your very own pots out of wood or driftwood. However,  both the plant and the pot need extra protection.

The planter should be protected with the use of waterproof fabric (pond liner). When you do not protect the wood against moisture, rotting appears. This damages the root system of the plant.

Choosing an Appropriate Size for the Best Pots for Succulents

Pot size is just as important as material when you look for the best pots for succulents. Many believe that the larger pot is a good choice because of the extra space available for the root.

This is incorrect.

Succulents have a shallow root system. Moisture is trapped in the soil when succulents are planted into pots that are non-breathable.

The plant will start to rot.

In the event that you really love the pot but it is too large, make sure you use soil that has very good drainage. Increase draining medium percentage by using coarse sand and perlite.

You should also place gravel at the bottom part of the pot. This increases drainage.

The only other thing you need to know is that you have to repot succulents every 2 years or so as they grow in size.

As an extra related tip, learn all that you can about the succulent you want to plant. There are some that have a really strong root system.

Plants like Haworthia deal really well with the excess moisture. This means you can plant them in non-breathable and deeper pots.

You need research to know exactly what a plant needs. When you build a terrarium you learn how to do it. Do the same when growing a succulent.

Drainage Hole

You need to always think about the drainage hole when you choose the best pots for succulents.  There are many containers you can repurpose for your succulents but many do not have a drainage hole.

This is something you can get away with in the event that you properly control the water but adding a properly sized drainage hole is better.

• How To Drill A Hole For Drainage

The good news is that you can almost always drill a new hole in the pot. Usually, you need a drill and some masking tape.

Use a diamond drill bit of ½ to 1 inch. The recommendation is at least half an inch for the small pot and 1 inch for the large pot.

Make sure that you use the lowest drill speed. Do not apply a lot of pressure and reduce friction by spraying water as you drill.

In under a minute you can drill the new hole in any ceramic pot for succulents.

Conclusions

If you want to use the very best pots for succulents, you need to choose a good, suitable material, make sure the size is appropriate and there is enough available drainage.

When you pay attention to these details, the pots you choose are surely appropriate.