FEATURESTORY
by Mike James
Understanding Containers for Houseplants
W
hen it comes to container gardening,
pots are paramount. From miniature
succulents to exotic palm trees, you
need a proper container for your plants
to grow. Most indoor plants are sold in standard plas-
tic pots that are functional enough but really don’t do
much for visual appeal.
But before you choose the perfect container or
stylish plant pot, there are two key considerations to
guide you.
Size
At the most basic level, the purpose of the pot is
to provide the right medium for the plant to grow,
and the container you choose should be just the right
size. Too small and the plant will soon become root
bound. This occurs when the root system takes up
the entire pot, giving it no room to expand and pre-
venting further growth. This can also lead the plant
getting so out of proportion that it becomes unstable
and topples over. If, on the other hand, the plant pot
30
is too big, the compost will stay too moist for too long
which will lead to poor plant growth.
Pots and planters come in many sizes. Smaller
pots are usually sized according to the diameter at the
top – a 3 1/2 inch flower pot has an opening that is
3 1/2” wide. Larger containers are sized with a # sign
followed by a number with a larger number indicating
a larger container size.
Drainage
Drainage is essential for all plants, which is why
most flower pots have drainage holes at the bottom.
Lack of drainage means the water can’t escape, lead-
ing to root rot which will eventually kill the plant.
If you’re growing plants indoors, it’s important to
protect carpets, hard floors or furniture from acciden-
tal water damage. One solution is to place a saucer
underneath the flower pot to collect the excess water.
If you use decorative planters that have no drainage
holes you need be careful so as not to underwater
or overwater, since both will be detrimental to plant
(Continued on page 34)
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
August 2017