How then do you pick a pot that will keep your succulents growing, flowering, and viable? Learn more below.
Size
Choose a pot that is just big enough for the plant to grow in, but not too big. The circumference of the appropriate pot is 5–10% greater than the size of the plant. Choose pots with a maximum excess space around the sides of an inch or two. If the pot is too large, the fragile roots will spread before the plant has time to grow. There won’t be any room for the roots to spread in a pot that is too tiny.
Style
The ideal pot will match your decor and taste, but it should also match the plant’s physical characteristics. Tall pots look excellent with upright-growing succulents, like aloe. Low-growing cultivars, like Echeveria, look fantastic in little pots. Not to mention spillers with trailing growth tendencies like String of Pearls. Spillers in shallow pots or hanging plants look fantastic and grow well.
Material
There are many different types of materials for pots. The most prevalent materials are wood, terracotta, metal, ceramic, and resin. Terracotta or ceramic pots work best for succulent plants. Both of these materials allow for proper air and water circulation because they are both breathable. Just keep in mind that both ceramic and terracotta are weighty, especially after adding soil and plants.
Pick resin or plastic pots for larger plants, especially ones you plan to move around. Your back will thank you for using those lighter pots as you move or reposition plants.
Drainage
Before you plant and cultivate succulents, the most important thing to understand is that they don’t like a lot of water. Even before you develop a watering schedule, this is relevant. Without adequate drainage, water that accumulates at the bottom of a container without anywhere to go may cause root rot in your succulent.
The ideal pots for succulents, regardless of design, are planters with drainage holes in the bottom. Since many succulent planters lack drainage holes, you can use any of them as long as you keep in mind to water succulents sparingly and keep an eye on them frequently.
Are small pots preferred by succulents?
It can often be difficult to determine the proper size of pot for your succulents and arrangements. As a general rule, I recommend leaving about a half-inch of space between your succulents and the edge of the pot, so they’ll have a little room to spread and grow.
Because the roots stretch out before the succulent has a chance to catch up, too much room can actually stop a succulent from growing much larger. A 2.5 inch pot is typically a decent choice if you’re planting a two-inch succulent alone.
You should allow some space around each succulent in your arrangement if you’re mixing many of them so they have room to spread out.
Once completed, a closely packed arrangement like the one below will be stunning and will typically stop the succulents’ growth.
Give your succulents enough “breathing room” so that new growth may occur if you want them to grow bigger and spread out. The optimal ratio is often 1/2 to 1.
You ought to feel better prepared to buy a new pot for your succulent plants today. Even though there are many factors to take into account, picking a pot is still a lot of fun when growing succulents.
It’s time to start potting after choosing the ideal container! For a detailed guide, see my post on potting succulents.
Do succulents grow better in the ground or in pots?
All cacti and succulents require sufficient drainage to keep their roots from rotting. No matter where you decide to plant your succulents, you’ll need to ensure sure the proper kind of soil is used and that there is a method for any extra water to drain.
Obviously, succulents in containers have the advantage as far as soil. You can pick the right kind of soil and a container with a drainage hole when you plant a succulent in a container. Drainage holes are obviously not strictly necessary, although they are advised.
The ability of succulents and cacti to drain excess water depends on the type of soil they are placed in. If you reside in a warm, dry climate, your soil might already be suitable for cultivating cacti and succulents. If not, you may need to make changes to your garden or landscaping areas before planting succulents.
Does plastic work well for growing succulents?
Which is preferable for succulents and cacti: plastic or clay pots?
This argument has been around for a while—at least since the late 1960s, when I first developed an interest in indoor plants. At the time, I was informed that terracotta pots (unglazed pottery) were the ideal container for succulents and cactus, which are a type of succulent “more air to reach the roots since they could breathe (were porous). Additionally, they lost water more quickly due to their porosity, and succulents didn’t like to sit in soggy ground. It made logical at the time, and there is some truth to it, but…
In actuality, plastic pots work just as well for growing succulents as clay ones. And given how costly terracotta pots are right now, I predict that most succulent lovers use plastic more frequently than clay.
That “As long as you use a potting mix with lots of air gaps, it doesn’t matter that terracotta pots dry out more quickly than plastic ones (potting mixes have significantly improved in aeration since the 1960s!) and water your plants appropriately by not watering again until the growth medium is completely dry. If the plant is carefully placed in well-aerated soil, the difference in drying times between soil in terracotta pots and soil in regular pots will probably be negligible.
But terracotta pots would be a better option if you tend to overwater (and ideally, you’d learn not to do so!). That would also be true if you frequently place your succulents in dim areas where they don’t get enough light, develop slowly, and consume little water. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t be mistreating your succulents in this manner. (They enjoy lots of light in general!)
The implication of the foregoing is that you should probably choose plastic if you have a tendency to forget to water. That might only prolong the life of a highly drought-stressed succulent by one or two days.
Of course, you can use either one if you’re just a typical houseplant owner who pays attention to watering requirements.
What Commercial Succulent Growers Do
The fact that commercial succulent nurseries have mostly converted to plastic from terracotta pots, which they formerly used almost exclusively, is revealing, in my opinion. Now, that’s primarily due to cost—terracotta pots are just so dear! However, they would still be using clay pots if they were truly necessary for maintaining the health of succulents.
In fact, it’s fashionable right now for succulent nurseries to grow succulents in flimsy, inexpensive plastic containers before slipping them into more decorative cachepots to boost sales. When watering these, all you need to do is take the “grow pot” out of the cachepot 10 to 30 minutes after watering and drain any extra water.
Other Pros and Cons of Terracotta and Plastic
- Even though terracotta pots are heavier and may support taller succulents better, a plastic pot might just as easily be inserted into a large cachepot.
- As already stated, terracotta is pricey. There are some plastic pots that are, but you can easily locate affordable ones.
- Plastic pots can be considered pollutants unless they are recycled or reused, which I do and believe most gardeners do (ditto).
- Over time, the outside surface of terracotta pots frequently acquires pale mineral stains where water once permeated and evaporated. However, some designers consider it elegant and even refer to it as patina, so that drawback might be perceived as a benefit.
- There are practically no limits to the shapes, sizes, textures, and colors of plastic pots. Even some of them precisely mimic clay! Terracotta has a lot more limitations. Although there is a considerable variety of sizes and forms, and it could potentially be available in a wide range of colors (owing to various clays as well as dyes and stains), terracotta typically only appears in the well-known brownish-orange shade that we have come to associate with it.
- Most polymers are less brittle and less likely to break than terracotta. However, I do not advise testing this by dumping any kind of pot from a significant height.
- Plastics can withstand frigid temperatures better, and some of them are really thought to be weatherproof. Terracotta pots should never be left outside in subfreezing temperatures since they may fracture. Still, if you don’t leave a pot outside in subfreezing temperatures, it will generally last longer.
- In the past, terracotta pot shards that could be found by (hopefully accidently) shattering terracotta pots were frequently utilized as a drainage layer in pots. But drainage layers have long been frowned upon in horticulture, and as a result, most terracotta fragments today probably end up in the trash.
- Because they evaporate moisture (and evaporation has a cooling effect), and because they are rather thick, terracotta pots shield plant roots from heat better than most plastic ones. When put in direct sunlight, black and other dark colors of plastic can dramatically heat up the soil in a pot. However, if heat is a concern, you could achieve the same appearance by encasing the pot in a pale-colored cache-pot or utilizing white and other light-colored plastics.
However, as long as it includes a drainage hole, it usually doesn’t matter what kind of pot you choose to grow your succulents.
Succulents: Can they flourish in pots without holes?
Whether you’ve planted succulents before or not, you probably already know that the subject of drainage holes comes up very frequently. What makes drainage holes crucial? They help prevent moisture from accumulating at the pot’s base by allowing extra water to seep out of the container.
Because succulents store water in their tissues, leaves, and stems, this is a significant concern. They are vulnerable to root rot if submerged in water for an extended period of time. Some folks are rigid about all planters having drainage holes.
Some people don’t care as much about holes. Here are some things to think about if you have a container that you really want to use for growing succulents and cacti but you’re worried about drainage problems.
To Drill or Not to Drill?
You can certainly drill a hole into the planter, and you don’t need to be skilled with tools to do so. How to start drilling a hole in ceramic, glass, etc. is covered in a ton of free video tutorials. Please click on “How to Grow Succulents in Pots without Holes” for detailed instructions on how to drill a hole in glass or ceramic containers.
Things to Consider Before Drilling a Hole
What would drilling a hole cost you? Would it be more expensive to buy a pot with drainage or to drill a hole? Most households already have a drill.
Most likely, all you need to spend money on are some reasonably priced diamond drill bits. When you consider how much use you will get out of a drill, even if you don’t already own one and must buy one, you might view the purchase as a wise financial decision.
You must decide which item you value more, the plant or the pot. You might want to think twice before drilling a hole in a particularly expensive pot that you spent a lot of money on or perhaps an antique. Additionally, once a hole has been made in something, there is truly no going back; it is irreversible.
So think about which is more essential to you: the plants’ value or the container’s value. Succulent plants are fortunately inexpensive and simple to replace. The reason we adore them so much is that they are extremely simple to cultivate and spread.
Do Succulents Need Drainage?
Succulents in pots—can they thrive without drainage? In light of this, you’ve made the decision to plant the succulents in a container without holes. How long will they be able to survive? Succulents can live and even flourish in pots without holes, so yes, they can. Everything hinges on how you take care of the plants.
The main issue that individuals have is with irrigation. Succulents can suffer from people overwatering them, which is bad for the plants. Succulents can flourish for a long time in pots without drainage after you understand how to properly water them.
Here is evidence that succulents can thrive in containers without drainage for a long time. In this instance, the container failed much earlier than the plants. The containers of these plants have outlived them. The plants are still flourishing, as you can see. They spent around two years in this container. How did I manage to keep them around this long? primarily from utilizing the right potting material and adequate watering practices.
I’ve attempted to repair this in the past with hot glue. I decided to repot these plants after around two years.
How to Plant Succulents in Pots without Holes
You can make a layer for drainage in the bottom of the pot by adding a layer of rocks, pebbles, stones, or pumice (or a combination of these). By allowing extra water to flow out of the soil and into the rocks at the bottom, this can help prevent root rot. By enabling the water to drain from the soil more quickly and keeping the roots from spending too much time in moist soil, this helps prevent root rot.
Think about how big the pot is. You will primarily need pebbles, pumice, or smaller rocks if your pot is small. You’ll need bigger and more rocks the bigger the pot.
You can incorporate pebbles, boulders, pumice, or perlite into the cactus potting mix in addition to the drainage layer. Adding larger particles to the soil, which is typically highly compact, generates more space between them, allowing water to drain out more quickly and preventing the roots from soaking in damp soil for an extended period of time.
The aid of activated charcoal aids in water absorption. Additionally, it has inherent antibacterial qualities that can inhibit the growth of germs and fungi. A layer of activated charcoal, about 1/2 inch thick, can be added over the rock layer or in the bottom of the pot.
Although it is optional, activated charcoal is a nice choice to have if you want more drainage and absorption. It might not be possible to utilize activated charcoal if the pot you’re using is small. Please visit my resource page to learn where to buy activated charcoal online.
You’ll need extra dirt as the container gets bigger. More soil indicates that the soil can hold more water. Consider the plants you are utilizing while selecting the pot size.
Large containers are unnecessary for small plants. When repotting, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that the new pot shouldn’t be more than 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the old one. Succulents don’t require a lot of extra space because they prefer a small pot anyway.
How to Water Succulents Without Drainage
Your watering strategies are the key to the plants’ survival in pots without holes. Keep in mind that extra water cannot drain from the pot, so water the plant sparingly. You should take particular care when watering plants without holes if you tend to overwater your plants. In between waterings, let plants dry out, then check the soil for moisture.
Use a syringe, a spray bottle, or a squeeze bottle if you want to better manage the water you put into the containers. Make sure to spray the soil, not the plant’s surface, while using a spray bottle. You want the water to reach the plant’s roots so that it can be absorbed there.
The size of your container, the growing season, and the environment where you reside all have a significant role in when and how often you should water. The dry and growing season tends to increase the need for water on plants. Plants require less water during the slower growing season and cooler months. I normally observe the plant to determine when and how frequently to water it. In general, I water once every 7 to 10 days throughout the summer and less frequently, once every 10 to 14 days or more, during the cooler months.
My plants receive plenty of sunlight because I keep them outside the entire year. Additionally, my area is rather dry, and the midday sun may be quite warm. You don’t need to water as frequently if you reside in a humid climate.
Water the plants sparingly to begin with and then increase the amount as necessary. Until you determine the plants’ watering requirements, it is preferable to underwater rather than overwater.
If you mistakenly added too much water, you can carefully tilt the pot over while holding the plants in place to prevent them from falling out to drain the extra water. To dab the extra water, you can also use a dry towel or paper towel.
If you keep your plants outdoors, be sure to transfer the pots without holes to a shaded area when it looks like it could rain. Pour away the extra water as soon as you can if you forget to move the pots and it rains on them.
When your plants begin to shrivel, that’s a strong indication that they need more water. Usually, the leaves are the first to do this. You are typically underwatering if you touch a plant and it feels soft and unfull of water.
Time to Repot
Let’s assume that despite your efforts, the plants are not growing healthily. Not to worry. Succulents are extremely tolerant plants. The plants can be taken out and replanted elsewhere. When given the necessary care, they frequently recover quickly.
In this instance, the pot isn’t doing well, but the plants are. I potted these plants in the following manner. I took stem cuttings and placed them in several pots because I wanted them to grow more. As usual, I added perlite to a cactus potting mix for enhanced drainage.
They were divided into two pots. Jade clippings from a prior project were also included. My favored method for propagating and expanding my collection of succulents is stem cuttings. It seems to me to be the most straightforward and successful. For further information, please click on “Easiest Way to Propagate Succulents: via Stem Cuttings.”