I’m starting to grow plants in pots and needed to research what pots to select. I wrote this post so you can understand why you need to select the right color for the pots.

The color of plant pots is important because it can affect soil temperature and heat retention. Dark-colored pots will absorb more sunlight and retain heat longer than light-colored ones. The color you choose should depend on the climate conditions in your area.

There are different types of pots available and you may get to choose the color in some but not in others. Let’s look at how you can select the best ones for growing your plants.

Terra cotta

Terra cotta is one of the best materials for plants because it’s eco-friendly, inexpensive, and sustainable.

Pots made with this material are available in an earthy color that does not impact heat retention as much.

The terracotta material is porous which means that water seeps out from the pores and evaporates. This keeps the plant’s temperature regulated but also means the pot loses water fast.

The type of plant you want to grow should help you decide whether to use terra cotta pots. Plants like succulents need dry conditions and are suited for such pots. But if you use such pots for other plants, you need to be careful to keep the plants watered enough.

succulents
Succlents on display at HortiPro Exhibition

If you’re growing plants in cold weather, terra cotta pots will do just fine. But in warm weather, the water will evaporate fast and you need to schedule watering the plants well.

Another drawback of using terra cotta is that it is brittle. So it will break if you drop it. And it will crack if there are fluctuations in the temperature causing freezing and thawing. You need to bring in the pots when the temperature drops too low.

You can get glazed terra cotta pots that don’t have the problem of porous materials and durability. However, ensure that there’s good drainage at the bottom so excess water does not collect in the pot. This can cause the roots to rot.

Plastic

plastic containers
Plastic containers I bought for plants

Plastic is a good choice to grow your potted plants because it’s lightweight, inexpensive, and reusable.

You can get plastic pots in a variety of colors based on your choice. But the ones you choose should depend on the weather conditions.

Black colored plastic pots will do well to absorb sunlight and keep the soil warm. They are a great choice for growing plants in cold weather. They will help extend the growing season for the plant as the soil retains the heat a bit longer.

Do not use the black colored pots in summer as this will heat up the soil and cause the roots to burn and kill the plants.

For the hot weather of summer, it’s best to use light-colored plastic pots. These will reflect the sunlight and keep the soil cool.

You can even change the pots depending on the season. Grow the plants in black pots but during summer you can place them in a larger plastic pot that is light-colored. And when winter approaches, you can take out the black colored pot.

Concrete

A concrete pot is a great choice for growing plants outdoors or in windy conditions. They are heavy and very durable against the elements.

You can paint the concrete planters with any color you like based on whether you want them to retain heat or not. Concrete material is a good insulator that helps the soil retain the temperature.

The drawback of using concrete is that it can get really heavy. So before using them make sure you have decided on the spot to place them.

Concrete pots can also be less attractive than the other types of pots that you have available.

Wood

wood pot
Wood Pot on display at HortiPro Exhibition

Wooden pots are a great choice because they’re inexpensive, sustainable, lightweight, and attractive.

You can get pots that have a natural wood color. Or you can paint them with the color of your choice. Just make sure that the color you use is non-toxic.

Wood has the benefit that it has good insulation and will keep the plant warm in cold-weather situations.

The drawback of using wood is that it can deteriorate with time. So you need to maintain it annually by using paint or stain.

Pressed Paper

Pressed paper pots are an option if you’re looking for something that is sustainable, eco-friendly, lightweight, and inexpensive.

You might get them in only a single color but always have the option to paint them with the color of your choice.

Pressed paper pots work great to insulate the heat in the soil. But you may need to replace them every year.

Coir

Coir pots are an alternative to pressed paper pots. They have all the benefits like being sustainable, eco-friendly, lightweight, and expensive.

But they are also a lot more durable than pressed paper pots and you won’t need to replace them as much.

Coir pots usually come in the standard earthy color as well. But you can paint them up with the color of your choice to make them attractive.

The coir is either obtained from the coconut coir or from the husk of grains.

Ceramic

ceramic pots
Ceramic pots on display at HortiPro Exhibition.

Ceramic is an option if you’re looking for pots with some really attractive designs. They don’t have the issue of seeping out water like terra cotta.

You can get ceramic pots in a wide variety of colors and attractive designs of your choice.

Make sure that the ceramic pots you choose have drainage at the bottom. You may also need to decide on the spot to use them because they can get really heavy.

I would suggest growing the plants in a plastic pot and then place them in a larger ceramic pot. This way you can move the plant around if needed but still get the attractive look of ceramic.

Another disadvantage of using ceramic pots is they can get really expensive. The larger the pot the more it’s going to cost you.

Fiberglass

fiberglass pot
Fiberglass pots on display at HortiPro Exhibition

Fiberglass pots are one of the recent options you have for growing plants. They are lightweight, durable, and cheaper than ceramic ones.

You can get the fiberglass pots in a wide variety of colors and designs like ceramic pots.

Make sure the fiberglass pots have good drainage at the bottom. Or you can consider growing plants in another material like plastic or terra cotta. And then placing the smaller pots into a larger fiberglass one.

Metal

Metal pots are the most durable for your plants but they tend to be heavy and expensive.

You can get the metal pots in the natural metallic color or have them painted with the color of your choice.

The materials used to create metal pots could be iron, copper, or aluminum. Iron and copper pots can get quite heavy and expensive.

Using aluminum pots is a good choice because they’re lightweight, inexpensive, and won’t rust as iron does.

You may have problems with drainage using these pots. So you either need to drill holes at the bottom. Or you can use the method of growing in a plastic pot and then placing that in a larger metal one that gives more appeal.

What is the best material for outdoor planters?

I think the best material for outdoor planters is concrete. You can grow your plants in such concrete pots without worrying about issues like the wind.

These concrete planters are very durable and can last you for many years without any problems. And there’s a less chance of someone stealing these planters from your garden.

You can color these planters with the color of your choice to make them look attractive.

How do you measure plant pots?

The standard way to measure plant pots is by using either inches or centimeters. The measurement will show you the height and width of the pot.

Sometimes, the pot might be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Then the specifications may show the width at the top and bottom of the pot.

You can get pots that are as small as 4 inches in height to as large as 20 inches or more.

How to choose the right size pot for plants?

It’s very important to choose the right size pot for plants because that will determine how healthy your plants grow.

You want to ensure that the pot is always one size larger than the plant you’re growing in it. This depends on the type of plant you’re growing.

Plants that have deep roots and grow wide will need taller and larger pots. But plants like succulents that are small may grow well in smaller pots.

You don’t want to grow a large plant in a smaller pot because the roots can get root-bound. This means they outgrow the soil in the pot.

This causes them to get fewer nutrients and they won’t grow well. They may suffer from diseases and may even die.

You also don’t want to grow the plant in a pot that is too big for it. This will cause a problem because the roots will have more nutrients than they need causing them to burn.

Ensure that the plant is in a pot that is just one size larger than it. When the plant grows larger, you can just remove it and grow it in a larger pot.


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