Find solution
What are some fast-growing pot plants?

Pots for Plants: *Which size & shape* is the *best* pot for which plant . . . ?

  • I've been given several, plus bought a few used ones at a thrift store. They are various shapes, & sizes. Some only have drainage holes in a 1" raised center area, some are V-shaped, etcetera... I made cuttings of several plants last year, & they're ready to re-pot. I want to give them the best opportunity to be healthy. Most of my plants are Succulents (Aloe, Echevaria, Stapelia, Cacti, Kalanchoe, 'Ghost Plant' / Graptopetalum), Agave, a small-leaf bush Ivy, Rosemary, Haworthia, Aeonium, Bird-of-Paradise Bush / Caesalpinia gillesie, AND, a Desert Willow Tree--we have Heavy Clay soil, but it requires EXC. drainage!) The bush & tree I may have to build raised planters for, but I read that they will grow in pots(?). I also got plenty of coarse sand, either to use alone, or, to mix with some of the clay, (& compost for the Narcissus.) I don't have the money --or need-- for commercial potting soil. My plants need good drainage mostly, & to dry out between waterings. Mostly coarse sand is fine for this, as my plants can attest. But, I want to move them into real pots, out of flimsy, homemade plastic pots (prior water & food recyclable containers). I'd like to know why some pots are narrow at the bottom, & some have straight sides---Do some plants do better in certain shapes (&, why?), or is it strictly for looks? Thank You!

  • Answer:

    hi there, well terracotta pots dry out quicker then plastic pots so they will be okay for cactus etc. put some little stones or gravel in the bottom of the pot for about 4cm or 1 and a half inches, deep this will allow a little drainage for the plants. Really the shape of the pot doesnt matter as the last person answered its just for looks, I say the only thing that is good about the plastic pots its easy to remove plants when they get bigger, if the top of the new pots is smaller then the base then its hard to remove plants when they grow bigger, I hope this helps a little, by the way sandy soil definately better for cactus and with the succulents use the sand buy add a little clay soil to it have a happy planting day :)

MakeSure at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Well as a cactus grower myself, I know the benefit of a good draining soil and pot. It wouldn't make any sense to go to the trouble of preparing a proper mix only to put it in a pot that will hold too much water. Generally I think the differences are mostly aesthetic. A rule I use when re-potting my cactus is to bump it up into a container 1/3 larger than what it's currently in. Coarse sand may be fine for some but there's no real nutrient in sand alone and some of those cactus may starve without some organic material. A large bag of soil can be had at wal-mart for 3 bucks. Mixed with your coarse sand this would be ideal. I'm speaking on the succulents and cactus only ok.

Clark W. Griswold

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.