What time can teach you about your planters

One of the essential aspects of raising succulents is selecting a suitable planter. The right planter will complement the beauty of the succulent and help succulents grow healthy and strong.

This blog will talk about the planters that I most highly recommend using when growing succulents at home.

Drainage holes — the essential feature of a planter

During monsoon seasons, water accumulates quite substantially in the planter.

This can result in a great many issues. It can deplete the oxygen supply in the root system, causing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. If water sits for extended periods, the rood system will become damaged and result in a weaker succulent with lots of fallen and swollen leaves. This becomes an even worse problem when the sun comes out, as the water in the planter will heat up and cause the leaves to fall off. 

Water cannot escape the planter when the drainage holes are too small. Having some drainage holes are better than none but, as time goes on, the root system may grow enough to block the hole and prevent water from escaping normally. 

If possible, select planters with a larger drainage hole. If the hole is small, pay extra attention to the roots so that when repotting your succulent in the future is possible. 

Planters with saucers — pay attention to the material of the planter.

Watering plants indoors may be a little messy if there is no structure to catch the water that flows through the planter. This is why many people opt for planters that have a saucer underneath. When selecting this type of planter, it is vital to check the material of the planter and saucer. What the planter and saucer are made of can affect water drainage efficiency.

Planters that are smooth or glossy with no space between the bottom of the planter and the saucer will have a more challenging time draining water. They are also less effective at promoting ventilation since their surface is so smooth and doesn't allow proper airflow. An excellent suggestion is to buy planters with feet on the bottom so that both water and oxygen flow in and out more efficiently, allowing the soil to dry better in-between watering sessions. 

Beware of pretty planters.

It may be tempting to select a planter based on its aesthetic appeal and how well it will match your home décor. Unfortunately, many of these planters are created solely for their looks and don't consider your plant's health. 

One type of planter that is very good at promoting ventilation and water evaporation is made from ceramic. While they may not be the prettiest of planters, they are lightweight and provide superb ventilation. Plus, they will look great in any room, no matter your style.  

Beware of planters with thin walls.

Many places sell planters with very thin walls. This may be alright for moderate temperatures, however during the hot summers; the thin walls will fail to block out heat, thus speeding up the drying process of the soil. This may stress the roots and ultimately weaken the plant overall. When selecting a planter, keep in mind that those with thicker walls can adjust to a wider range of temperatures. 

Beware of colorful planters.

Planters are available in a wide variety of bright and attractive colors. They may look much more pleasing than the boring little planters your plant came with, but due to the coloring material, they may decay from repeated exposure to sunlight and water. If you would like to sport planters with lovely designs and colors, choosing ones where the coloring is not painted on the planter, would be better.

Be cautious with planters of different shapes.

Planters with small openings with irregular shapes may all inhibit proper ventilation. Although this may not be a problem in the short term, be sure to check on the plant every six months. The problem with these pots is that they may prevent you from seeing potential problems that have already begun and therefore delaying treatment of the issue. 

Also, keep in mind the height of the planter. Always make sure that the planter itself is taller than the root system of your plant. One way to estimate this is to find a container that is 10% larger in diameter and height than your succulent, as those that are shorter may prevent proper root development.

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