POT SELECTION

We have finally added some greenery to our veranda.  The veranda has been renovated for over two years but I could not make a decision on which pots to use and what plants to plant out.  I didn’t want to end up with all different pots everywhere and I really wanted the planting to give a softness and some screening from neighboring properties. 

Pot selection is really important as the pots have to give you the correct amount of volume to grow your plants in.  Unlike growing in an open soil areas where the soil volume is almost limitless, pots will limit the size a plant can grow. They will affect the growth of the plant and also how much watering the plant will require. 

Here are some factors to consider when you are selecting your pots

Materials/Colour
Pots are available in so many different materials – reconstituted sandstone, ceramic, terracotta, fibreglass, concrete, plastic and glazed.  Whilst the water holding capacity of all pots are very similar the material selection of your pots will be influenced by the existing garden area and structures.  For example you might want them to match the type and colour of the surface they will be sitting on or the colour of your outdoor furniture or the theme and overall style of your garden.  For example if you have a more traditional style of house and garden, possibly using stone or terracotta pots would be best.  If you have a modern house and garden then a black glazed or concrete pot will tone in better with your garden style.   I would suggest trying to stick to one colour and material when you select your pots so that there is a more cohesiveness in their layout.

Size
Unlike planting in garden beds or open soil areas the pots are required to be suitable to support or allow the plants to grow to the size and or shape they need to be to fill the space. For example if you need potted plants for a more practical purpose such as to screen out a view or give privacy to a certain height and width then possibly using a rectangular or trough like planter to plant out a row of plants to form a hedge would be the best option or you could do a line of larger individual square pots with one plant in each. The pots might be used to provide a more decorative and softening purpose where you group them in clusters around a space.

This will also be affected by how much area you want to dedicate to your pots.  If it is a pathway or access way you may want something more linear and narrow in the space.

Size will affect what plants you want to grow as well.  It is finding a balance between the plant you want to use, the size you want your plants to grow to and how much area can be taken up by pots.  I would advise that you go for the largest size pots you can fit so that the plants have the largest amount of root space possible

Plant Selection
The plants used need to be able to grow within pots and they also need to be suited to the space they will be growing in.  Pots will dry out quicker than garden beds so aim to select hardy plants that can cope with the conditions they will be growing in.

You can use saucers under pots however whilst they help with watering your plants, many plants won’t like sitting in saucers of water constantly.

My advice is to know the size of your space, know what the purpose of the pots are and then aim to select pots in a material that is relevant to your space.  I always think it is better to select pots in the same or similar colours and materials but mix them up so they are in varying sizes and styles