Choosing Containers for Your Container Garden
Choosing the right container for a particular type of plant is critical to its success. If you choose the wrong size pot, it could seriously stunt the plant’s growth. You need to choose the right pot size, but choosing a container made of the right material is almost as important. Different materials will work better in different situations.
April 18, 2026 19:44
Consider Wooden Containers
Choose a large wooden container if you’re planning to grow a perennial plant, like a large herb bush. Wood is especially attractive for growing plants that will continue growing for over one season and plants that you intend to grow outdoors in a conspicuous location.
Wooden containers are best for larger plants and highly visible areas of your yard. One of the most expensive containers is wooden pots. Wooden pots may be expensive, but they’re extremely durable.
Be sure to get one treated on the outside but not inside. If you get a pot treated on the inside, you might end up with dangerous chemicals being leeched into the soil and making their way into your plants. This can damage the plants and make you sick if you eat them.
What About Plastic
Plastic pots are probably the most widely used pot for container gardening. This is because plastic pots are the cheapest. But cheaper isn’t always better. Try to avoid it if you are planet-earth friendly.
Plastic may be an excellent option if you only plan to attempt container gardening for one year. But if you think of having a container garden next year, stick with something a bit more durable.
You could be tempted to think individual plastic pots are durable because they’re harder or thicker than others, but that’s not true. If plastic is left outdoors in the elements for too long, it can warp and crack. Cracked pots are of little use for anything!
Go For Terra Cotta
Terra cotta clay pots are the second most economical type of container. They’re pretty cheap, but they are very delicate and break easily. They also don’t stand up very well to freezing temperatures, so you shouldn’t leave them out during the winter.
Fired ceramic pots are a pretty good choice. They can be delicate, but many of them are pretty durable. They’re usually glazed on the outside for appearance but are left unglazed on the inside. This is good since the glaze can damage plants if it leeches into the soil.
Things Around The House
You can also make your containers using things you find around the house. Most cheap plastic containers can work if they’re large enough for whatever you want to grow, as long as you cut drainage holes in the bottom.
Some good examples are milk jugs, and soda bottles with the tops cut off and holes cut in the bottom, empty margarine tubs, trash cans with holes cut in the bottom, and large plastic tubs with drainage holes drilled.
Bags Of Soil
Some people even use bags of soil as their containers, simply cutting a hole in the side of a bag of soil lying on its side and sowing seeds directly into the exposed soil! You don’t have to use standard-purchased containers. Almost any container can be used for growing plants if it is safe and allows adequate drainage.