This pots and planters guide helps you match the right container to your plant, spot and budget. The three things that matter most are size (room for roots), material (weight, warmth and durability), and drainage (holes plus the right potting mix). Get those right and almost anything you grow will thrive.
What makes a good pot or planter?
A pot is really a tiny growing environment. It controls how much soil the roots can reach, how fast water drains, and how hot or cold the root zone gets through the day.
Australian conditions add pressure. A dark pot in full western sun can cook roots by mid-afternoon, while a pot with no drainage drowns them after a single downpour.
So before you fall for a colour or shape, weigh up three fundamentals: size, material and drainage. The rest of this pots and planters guide works through each in turn.
How do you choose the right pot size?
Size is the number one thing people get wrong. Too small and roots circle and choke; too large and the excess soil stays wet, inviting root rot.
As a rule, step up one or two pot sizes (about 25-50mm wider in diameter) when repotting an established plant. For seedlings or a fast-maturing baby-leaf spinach sowing, start smaller and pot on as they grow rather than drowning tiny roots in a giant tub.
Match the pot to the plant
Shallow, wide bowls suit succulents, herbs and annual colour. Deep pots suit tomatoes, small shrubs and anything with a taproot. Big feature trees need a heavy, stable planter that will not blow over in a gust.
Always check the pot has enough depth for the mature root ball, not just today's seedling.
Which pot material is best?
Material affects weight, insulation, watering frequency and how long the pot lasts outdoors. There is no single winner — it depends on where the pot lives and how often you water.
Terracotta and ceramic
Terracotta is porous, so it breathes and wicks away moisture — brilliant for plants that hate wet feet, like succulents and Mediterranean herbs. The trade-off is that it dries out faster and can crack in frost. Glazed ceramic holds moisture longer and looks the part indoors.
Plastic and composite
Lightweight, cheap and frost-proof, plastic holds moisture well and is easy to move. Modern composite and fibre-clay planters mimic stone or concrete at a fraction of the weight, which is ideal for balconies and rooftops where load matters.
Concrete, stone and metal
Concrete and stone are heavy, stable and insulate roots from temperature swings — perfect for large feature plants that stay put. Metal looks sharp but heats up fast in sun, so line it or keep it shaded to protect roots.
Why does drainage matter so much?
More pot plants die from overwatering than from anything else, and poor drainage is usually the culprit. Water must be able to leave, or roots sit in a stagnant pool and rot.
Every functional pot needs at least one drainage hole. Skip the old myth of gravel in the base — it actually raises the waterlogged zone. Instead, use a quality free-draining potting mix and a saucer you can empty after heavy rain.
Feeding the soil life helps too. A dose of live composting worms to boost the mix keeps potting media open, aerated and full of nutrients, so water moves through freely instead of pooling. Healthy soil biology is your best insurance against a soggy, airless root zone.
Which planter suits which situation?
Use this quick comparison to narrow your shortlist before you browse our garden range.
| Material | Weight | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terracotta | Medium-heavy | Herbs, succulents, plants that hate wet feet | Dries fast; can crack in frost |
| Glazed ceramic | Heavy | Indoor feature plants, patios | Heavy to move when planted |
| Plastic / composite | Light | Balconies, hanging pots, movers | Cheaper plastic fades in UV |
| Concrete / stone | Very heavy | Large permanent feature plants | Hard to reposition once set |
| Metal | Medium | Modern courtyards, screens | Heats up; line it in full sun |
Indoor pots and styling
Indoors, drainage still matters — sit the growing pot inside a decorative cover pot and empty any runoff so roots never stand in water. Group odd numbers of pots at varying heights for a designer look.
Pots are only half the styling story. Soften a shelf or windowsill with texture from our wider home decor collection, and echo the greenery with natural fibres underfoot, such as a hard-wearing natural seagrass door mat at the threshold to your indoor-outdoor space.
If you are short on light or windowsills, a self-contained kit like the all-in-one mushroom growing kit grows a crop in a box with no pot or drainage decisions at all — a fun, low-effort way to garden indoors.
Care and watering tips
Once your pots are planted, a few habits keep them thriving through an Australian summer:
- Water deeply, less often — soak until it runs from the drainage hole, then let the top few centimetres dry before the next drink.
- Group thirsty pots together so they shade each other's soil and cut evaporation.
- Mulch the surface of larger pots to slow moisture loss on hot, windy days.
- Refresh the mix yearly — replace the top third of potting mix each spring to restore nutrients and structure.
- Raise pots on feet so water drains freely and the base does not stain or rot decking.
Choose the right size, a material that suits the spot, and real drainage, and your containers will reward you season after season. When you are ready to plant up, a live worm booster is a simple upgrade that keeps every pot's soil healthy from the roots up.
Frequently asked questions
What size pot does my plant actually need?
Pick a pot that gives the root ball room to grow without swimming in soil. When repotting, step up one or two sizes — roughly 25-50mm wider in diameter. Seedlings start small and get potted on as they grow, while feature trees need a deep, heavy planter for stability and root room.
Do pots really need drainage holes?
Yes. Without drainage, water pools in the base and roots rot — the most common cause of pot-plant death. Every growing pot needs at least one hole. Skip gravel in the base; use a free-draining potting mix instead and empty the saucer after heavy rain so roots never sit in water.
Which is better, terracotta or plastic pots?
Terracotta breathes and dries faster, which suits succulents and herbs that hate wet feet, but it is heavier and can crack in frost. Plastic is light, cheap, frost-proof and holds moisture longer, making it ideal for balconies, hanging pots and anything you move often. Choose by plant type and location.
How do I stop pot plants drying out in summer?
Water deeply until it runs from the drainage hole, then let the top few centimetres dry before watering again. Mulch the soil surface, group pots together so they shade each other, and move sensitive plants out of harsh western sun. Larger pots and moisture-retentive mixes also buy you time between waterings.
