Pots & Plants

Pots, planters and indoor plants

Plants are one of the few decor items that grow into themselves. The pot you buy at the start has to accommodate the plant five years on, or you're committing to repotting work that most people forget to do. The decisions are pot size, pot material, and what's going inside.

Pot size follows the plant. Indoor plants want a pot 2-3cm wider than the plant's existing root ball. Outdoor potted shrubs want roughly twice the diameter of the original nursery pot at the time of planting, with room to grow. Pots that are too big for the plant cause root rot from waterlogged soil; pots too small starve the roots. Pot-bound plants will tell you with yellowing leaves and stunted growth.

Material:

• Terracotta: porous, breathable, reads classic. Outdoor terracotta needs frost-resistant rating in the UK or it cracks every January.
• Glazed ceramic: heavier, holds moisture longer, decorative. Right for indoor pots and sheltered patios.
• Plastic: cheap, light, holds moisture. Right for nursery use; less right for the long-term spec on the patio.
• Stone and concrete: heavy, frost-proof, the upper-tier choice for permanent garden positions. Worth the spend if the pot is staying put.
• Wood: warm, weathers naturally. Hardwood handles British weather; softwood needs liner protection.

Drainage is the spec to check. Pots with no drainage hole need a layer of gravel at the bottom and careful watering, or the plant drowns. Saucers under indoor pots catch overflow. Outdoor pots benefit from being raised on pot feet so water drains and the base doesn't rot.

Indoor plants: Thompson & Morgan covers the seed-and-young-plant end. Established potted plants from £10 to £200 depending on species and maturity.

The brands and retailers we list

We pull around 6,800 pots, planters and plant products across the UK retailer network.

The Range stocks the broadest selection of decorative indoor pots in the £8 to £40 bracket.

Cherry Lane Garden Centres covers established plants and outdoor pots.

Filter the grid above by colour, material, size or price to narrow things down. Prices update daily.