If you are a houseplant lover, it’s inevitable that plant pots are going to be part of your life. With rare exceptions, you just can’t have a plant without a planter. This post is going to be all about the potty side of houseplants – specifically, Indoor Decorative Planters.
To clarify what I mean by indoor decorative Planters, they are the outer pots that go around the (usually brown) plastic ‘nursery pots’ your plants come in when you buy them. When I repot my plants, I usually reuse these nursery pots, which have drainage holes, and then use a decorative planter with no drainage holes on the outside of them.
Obviously, these Decorative Planters are optional and you can simply place a tray underneath your plant pot. However, there are many excellent reasons to use indoor decorative planters. Let’s take a look at these!
11 Reasons To Use Indoor Decorative Planters for Your Houseplants
1. They look nice
This is a very obvious reason to use indoor decorative planters – they simply look nicer than plastic nursery pots. They are not only functional but also aesthetic decorative items for your home.
2. They are more weighted
Most indoor decorative planters are heavier than plastic pots. This additional weight keeps them stable so they are less likely to be knocked over or fall over with the weight of a growing plant.
3. They are space efficient
Unless they are particularly bulky, decorative indoor planters usually take up less width than having a tray under the nursery pot. This means you can group your plants more closely together and make better use of your space.
4. They catch water
Even if you are not overwatering your plants, it’s common for some water to come through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pots when you water them. If you have a tray, there is a risk of it overflowing, or spilling if you move the plant without realising there’s water in the tray. With an outer planter, you remove the risk of overflowing or spillages.
5. It’s easier to move the plant around
Using decorative planters makes it easier to move your plants around, provided the planters are not too heavy. You only have to pick up one thing rather than a pot and a separate tray. If it’s a small plant, you can pick it up with one hand rather than having to hold the pot in one hand and the tray in the other. This adds that little bit more convenience to your daily life!
6. They can match your home decor
Houseplants are already part of your interior design. You can make them fit in even better by choosing planters to match your home decor or colour scheme. By having all your plants in similar planters you can achieve a neat, clean look, whereas if you fancy a quirkier look you can have a variety of different planter colours and styles.
7. You can be creative
Indoor decorative planters present an opportunity for creativity. You can make your own planters from scratch or buy plain ones to paint or decorate. This would be such a relaxing creative activity and you’ll be making something useful.
8. They are versatile
If you fancy a change in your home decor, it’s easy to swap your planters for different ones. You needn’t spend money for this – even just swapping planters around within your home can create a totally different look as the planters will look different in other locations and with different plants in them.
9. They can emphasise plant features
Choosing the right planter can bring out features of a plant that you want to emphasise. For example, if you have a plant with pink flowers or pink splashes on its leaves, a pink planter would bring these out and show your plant in its best light.
10. They are reusable
Indoor decorative planters are truly an investment for any plant lover, as they can be used again and again. When a plant needs repotting into a larger pot, you can put a smaller plant into the old planter. This cycle can repeat again and again with your planters constantly being reused.
11. They are clean
When you have trays under your plants they can often get grubby where the soil leaches out when watering. Decorative planters keep any dirt and soil hidden away and less exposed. It’s also easier to wipe clean the surface of a planter, rather than trying to clean a plastic pot and tray without getting soil everywhere.
Cons of indoor decorative planters (and how to remedy them!)
It’s important to mention that there are some cons to using indoor decorative planters, compared to just using a plastic tray under the nursery pot. Overall in my opinion the pros far outweigh the cons, especially as most of the cons can be easily remedied. I will explain how in this section of the post.
1. Higher risk of overwatering your plants
When you use decorative planters, it can be harder to notice if you have overwatered the plant. To remedy this, always check that there is no water sitting in the outer pot before you water your plant.
2. They can be expensive
When bought new, indoor decorative planters can be pretty expensive. I’ve mentioned before that they are an investment as you can use them again and again, but still if you have a lot of plants to buy planters for, it can add up to a lot of money.
There are a few possible solutions to this. The first is to shop in the sales. Garden centres often have big reductions during their sales and this can include planters. The second is to buy second-hand planters, from charity shops or eBay. The third is to repurpose other items into planters, for example, an old watering can, old mugs, candle jars or robust packaging you’ve received with other products.
3. They are often breakable
Decorative outer pots are often made of materials like terracotta or china which are breakable if they get knocked over. One option is to find planters made from non-breakable materials such as strong plastic, rubber or stainless steel. Alternatively, just be extra careful to make sure your planters don’t get broken. Keep them out of reach of children and pets, and make sure that the plant won’t overbalance the pot as it grows. This is especially relevant for trailing plants and they will require heavier pots for this reason!
4. They can be heavy
It’s important for planters to be heavy to give them stability and prevent them from toppling over. However, heavy pots can be an issue for people who have difficulty moving or lifting heavy items. If this is the case for you, you might want to opt for smaller houseplants in general so that the pots won’t be too heavy. If you do have any large plants, look for lightweight planters and find other ways to support your plants and keep them upright, for example, leaning them against a wall or growing them up a trellis.
What are your thoughts on indoor decorative planters?
Do you use decorative indoor planters, or do you tend to simply put a tray under your plant pots? Do you have a theme or colour scheme for your planters, or do you have a mixed collection? Are there any more pros or cons that I have missed? I’d love to know your thoughts on the subject – let me know in the comments below!
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