Any plant lover, whether you're a new plant parent or a tried and true vet, wants their plant babes to be happy and healthy. Perhaps you may be wondering, "do plants grow better in ceramic pots?"
There is such a variety of different types of pots and planters on the market. From stone to steel to plastic and cement. But which is the best type of pot that will lead to the healthiest and most beautiful houseplants?
In our helpful article, we will explore the best pots for your houseplants!
Before we head into all the details, let’s get right down to it and give you the short answer.
"Plants in ceramic glazed pots generally grow better than plants in plastic, terracotta, painted or glazed pots."
The main reason is because the soil in the ceramic pot is able to absorb moisture better and it won't dry out as fast. The glaze on ceramic pots reduces their porousness and any potential damage from the elements if the ceramic pot happens to be outside. Ceramic pots are also better for your houseplants if you tend to overwater.
With that in mind, let’s start by learning how ceramic pots are made and what makes them stand a part from the rest.
What Is A Ceramic Pot?
At a glance, you may think a ceramic pot is simply a terracotta pot with a good paint job. However, the best ceramic pots are typically glazed with a coat of lacquer. This coat of lacquer prevents the soil from drying out at the same speed as it would in an unglazed clay or terracotta planter.
Ceramic pots are in general made from finely textured, light-colored clay, and then glazed.
Ceramics are then are fired at a high kiln temperature, which reduces the pot’s porousness and vulnerability to outside elements like rain or intense heat/sunlight.
Remember Some Ceramic Pots Are Sold Without Drainage Holes
Some ceramic pots are sold without any drainage holes and typically your houseplants will do better if your ceramic pot has drainage.
Without adequate drainage, the roots of your plant may sit in very wet conditions and that could cause root rot. No one likes root rot, especially that $50 Monstera you just bought from that fancy plant boutique.
However, if you take care not to overwater and monitor the soil diligently, it’s certainly possible to keep houseplants in ceramic pots without holes.
Why Choose A Ceramic Pot?
- Ideal for both indoor & outdoor
- More choices for color & finish
- Less damage than glass or plastic pots
- No fading
- Does not deform (as plastic may)
- Retains water for a healthier plant
- Better for those who may overwater
- Less vulnerability to the elements (if kept outside)
Ceramic Pots Retain Moisture Better Than Some Other Pots
Even if a ceramic pot contains drainage holes, the glazes on ceramics helps the soil retain more moisture than unpainted terracotta or plastic.
The best type of houseplants for ceramic pots are ones that prefer evenly moist soil—generally, indoor plants that have adapted from damper environments in nature.
"The glazes on ceramic pots help pots to retain more moisture than unpainted terracotta or plastic."
As we saw earlier a ceramic pot sometimes doesn’t have holes, so how can you ensure your plants get adequate drainage?
Best Ways To Provide Drainage In A Ceramic Pot
One way of making sure your plants grow better in ceramic pots without drainage holes is to add a layer of coarse gravel, pebbles, or river rocks to the bottom of the ceramic pot and then sit your houseplant’s nursery container inside.
This will allow water to drain from the container and away from the plant’s roots.
Why You Should Choose A Ceramic Pot For Your Plants
So now we can understand that the ceramic pots offer many advantages to your plant’s health, like keeping the soil moist, but you might be wondering if there are any other reasons to choose ceramic pots for houseplants.
Read on to discover more...
Appearance
The forming process of a ceramic planter is mainly divided into two types, manual molding (by hand) or mechanical molding (by machine or silicone mold)
Both forming processes create a variety of unique designs and styles.
In general, it could be said that ceramic pots for plants are more modern and elevated than pots made from other materials.
This can certainly be said of plastic pots that don’t have the aesthetic look of a natural product and are also bad for the environment.
We also like aluminum pots as an alternative to ceramic.
Aluminum pots are gaining popularity as a great option for houseplants. Be sure to check out this article and explore the benefits of aluminum.
Better For Those Who Tend To Overwater
Porous ceramic pots also known as unglazed clay, allow air and water movement through the sides of the pot. Air movement stimulates root growth, which results in healthier plants.
But these types of more porous ceramics also wicks moisture out of the soil, making porous ceramic pots a better choice if you tend to overwater or for plants that prefer drier soils.
This also means plants in porous ceramic pots require more water than plants in plastic pots or glazed ceramics.
So, now that we've covered the main benefits of using ceramic pots for your houseplants, you might be wondering how best to plant indoor plants using ceramic pots.
Let's take a look!
How Should I Plant Using A Ceramic Pot?
Whether you choose ceramic or plastic, make sure the pot has proper drainage. Waterlogged soil can lead to root rot, even if the pots are sitting on a tray to catch water, remember to dump the tray after watering. Alternatively, you can put a layer of pebbles in the tray to lift the pot above the water level.
For those of you wondering whether plants grow better in ceramic pots, you might also be thinking about what size ceramic pot is best.
How To Size A Plant For A Ceramic Pot
Choosing the correct pot size is also important. For most plants, the pot's diameter should be the same as one-third of the plant's height from the soil to the top of the foliage.
Plants are sold in a variety of different sizes. Remember, these sizes always refer to the diameter of the pot, not the size of the plant inside it.
"The pot's diameter should be the same as one-third of the plant's height from the soil to the top of the foliage."
Occasionally Re-Pot
To keep your plant in a ceramic plant growing, make sure to occasionally re-pot it in order to let the roots extend and keep it healthy and thriving.
However, it’s important to remember that you could shock your plant and cause it to stop growing if the pot you choose is too big.
A good rule of thumb is to increase your pot size only by one or two inches for smaller plants and two to four inches for larger plants each time you re-pot.
As the plant grows, trim it to maintain the size or transplant it into larger containers as needed.
Fast-growing plants with deep root systems need deeper containers, while slow-growing plants with shallow roots do well in shallow containers.
"You could shock your plant and cause it to stop growing if the pot you choose to replant in is too big."
And Finally…
Hopefully we've fully answered your questions as to whether plants grow better in ceramic pots!
Don’t forget to check our store for some fun modern, wall mounted plant shelves, ceiling suspended plant hangers and plant stands!
