A Guide To Choosing The Right Succulent Pot

It’s essential to choose the correct succulent pot if you want your plant to thrive. Many people think succulents are hardy and will flourish no matter what, but that’s not always true. Succulents can survive in hot or cold climates and don’t need much care, but they need the right pot and the correct amount of water to thrive.

Succulents need pots with good drainage to avoid root rot, so drainage holes are essential. Choose a pot that’s the right size. There should be no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space around the succulent. It also helps to use breathable pots, such as unglazed clay, for better air circulation.

The rest of this article will take an in-depth look at choosing the right pot for your succulent. So, whether you want to buy your first succulent, or replant one you’ve had for years, read on to ensure you choose the right pot.

What To Consider When Picking a Pot for Your Succulent

Buying a pot for your succulent can be overwhelming. There are so many options out there, and if you don’t know which factors to consider, you can easily find yourself with a pot that isn’t suitable.

It’s important to get a pot that you like, something that is visually appealing and fits with the color scheme of your house or garden.

Finding the perfect one may be challenging. And although you need a beautiful pot, there are other elements that are vital to consider. These factors include the following:

Drainage
Size
Material

These elements play a huge part in the health of your succulent and can be the difference between your plant thriving or dying.

Your Succulent Pot Should Have Proper Drainage

Succulents can go for a long time without being watered as they store water in their stems and leaves. These plants don’t require a lot of attention to flourish, but they do need proper drainage to avoid root rot.

They are hardy plants, but if the soil that they’re planted in remains wet, your succulents will suffer. If the soil is constantly wet, their roots will develop root rot, and their leaves can swell and eventually fall off.

To ensure that your succulent is healthy, it’s essential to choose a pot with drainage holes. This way, excess water will drain from the soil and help prevent over-watering.

Pots like these COLOAPT Succulent Plant Pots (available on Amazon.com) are perfect for your succulents. They’re made from ceramic and have a drainage hole to ensure your soil doesn’t stay wet.

These succulent pots are tiny and beautifully decorated. They will brighten up your house and be the ideal pot for a small succulent to thrive in.

One of the concerns people have when buying a pot with drainage holes is that the soil will leak through the holes.

You can use the Le Tauci Mesh Pad (available on Amazon.com). This product can help secure the soil and prevent bugs from climbing into your plant from below. Just place it inside the pot before pouring in the potting mix to prevent soil loss.

Creating Drainage Holes

If you have a pot that you would like to use for your succulent, but it doesn’t have drainage holes, don’t worry. You can create them yourself or ask a friend to help you.

To add drainage holes to your pot, follow these simple steps.

Gather all the tools you need. You will need tools like a drill and drill bits.
Mark the spots where you want to add the drainage holes.
Hold the drill in place, straight above the marked spot, not at an angle.
Spray water on the surface of the pot and around the drill bit.
Start drilling slowly. Don’t apply too much pressure.
Keep watering the area, as you don’t want it to get hot.
Once the holes are in place, clean the pot.

It’s important to use the correct drill bit for different materials, so before starting the project, ensure you have the proper tools.

You can start by using a small drill bit and then make the hole bigger by using a bigger drill bit once the hole has been created.

Here is a fun and informative YouTube video showing how to drill drainage holes in pots:

It’s also super important to use the right soil to aid drainage. When planting succulents, you need a well-draining potting mix that includes the following:

Soil
Coarse sand
Pumice
Perlite
Pebbles

The Size of the Pot Is Important

Many new gardeners might not know this, but the size of a succulent pot plays a vital role in whether the plant will flourish or not.

Before choosing a pot, you will have to decide whether you want your succulent to grow bigger or stay the same size.

For Compact Succulents

If you want your succulent to remain compact or delay its growth, you should get a pot that is just big enough for the plant to fit in. Leave little space between the plant and the edges of the pot.

Succulents are generally slow-growing plants that can take several years to outgrow their pots.

To prevent overcrowding, you can leave up to half an inch (1.25 cm) of space between the edge of the plant and the rim of the pot. Any wider and you’ll encourage your plant’s roots to grow bigger.

For Larger Succulents

On the other hand, if you want your succulent to grow bigger, you will have to choose a slightly bigger pot. The pot should not be too big, though, as this can hinder the succulent’s growth.

Ideally, for your succulent to grow, there should be an inch (2.5 cm) of space between the plant and the sides of the pot. If the pot is bigger than that, the roots of the succulent will spread out, and the plant will struggle to grow.

Some succulents have hairy roots, while others have taproots. It is essential to know which kind of root system your succulent has before choosing a pot.

If your succulent has hairy roots, it needs a shallow pot. Conversely, succulents with taproots will require a deeper pot.

The Pot’s Material Can Make a Difference

When choosing a pot for your succulent, it’s important not only to look at drainage and size but also at the material the pot is made of.

Pots can be made from various materials, each having unique qualities. The following items are common materials used to make pots for succulents:

Plastic – These pots are easy to find and affordable. They’re lightweight, so you can easily move them around. They can also be used indoors and outdoors. They won’t break easily but aren’t as breathable as other materials.
Terracotta and Ceramic – Succulent pots made from these materials look amazing. These pots are breathable, which helps to prevent root rot, and can be used indoors or outdoors. However, they’re heavy and fragile, so make sure of your placement. Ceramic and terracotta heat up fast in direct sunlight, so you might have to water your succulent more often.
Wood – Pots made from wood look beautiful but are more suitable outdoors than indoors. Wood is affected by temperature and can absorb water, so it breaks down over time. This material can keep your soil wet for longer, which is excellent for direct sunlight but not shade.
Glass – Glass pots look great and should be used indoors as they are fragile. These pots don’t usually have drainage holes and are not breathable. They’re also very susceptible to temperature change, so you will need to keep a close eye on your succulent.

So, when buying a pot, think of where you want to place it and how much effort you want to put into keeping your succulent healthy. This will give you an idea of which material is best for you.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to get a visually appealing pot for your succulent. You want it to essentiate the beauty of your plant, but it’s also vital to ensure the pot will help keep your succulent healthy.

When choosing a pot for your succulent, ensure that it has drainage holes and that it is the correct size for your plant. It’s also important to decide where you want to place your succulent so that you can choose a pot made from the right material.