To choose a suitable flowerpot, we must first consider the growth characteristics of the plant's roots. The roots of some plants are like a scattered net, and they expand horizontally in the soil. At this time, oblate or shallow flowerpots are more suitable, which can leave enough space for the horizontally growing roots. For example, the roots of common succulents are mostly not deep, but they like to stretch on the surface of the soil. If you use a deep-tube flowerpot, the bottom soil will be moist for a long time, affecting the root breathing. For woody plants such as money trees and rubber trees, the roots will go deep down, and a deeper flowerpot is needed to accommodate the growth of the taproot to prevent the roots from curling and knotting at the bottom of the pot, hindering nutrient absorption.
The growth rate of the plant will also affect the choice of flowerpot size. For fast-growing plants, such as green radish and ivy, if you use a small flowerpot at the beginning, it won't take long for the roots to fill the pot wall, or even drill out of the drainage hole. At this time, you must change to a larger flowerpot. But for slow-growing plants, such as orchids, too large flowerpots are not suitable. The excess soil will become hardened due to long-term unused, and it is not easy to dry out after watering, which can easily lead to root rot. Therefore, when choosing a pot for such plants, just make it slightly larger than the range of the root system, leaving a small amount of growth space.
The shape of the flowerpot also needs to match the plant type. Tall plants, such as Strelitzia and Bird of Paradise, are relatively tall plants, and the center of gravity is easily unstable. At this time, a flowerpot with a wide bottom and a stable pot body is needed, such as a trumpet-shaped or cylindrical flowerpot. The width of the bottom can increase stability and prevent the plant from tipping over due to wind or slight touch. For those plants with low plants and branches and leaves spreading around, such as pennywort and mirror grass, it is more appropriate to use a wide-mouthed shallow pot, which can allow the branches and leaves to stretch naturally without making the flowerpot appear too bulky, forming a harmonious proportion with the shape of the plant.
The difference in water requirements of different plants is also closely related to the size and shape of the flowerpot. Plants that like moisture, such as Monstera and Weeping Goddess of Mercer, need flowerpots with a certain depth and capacity, so that the soil can store more water and meet their needs for a humid environment. For drought-tolerant plants, such as cacti and cacti, shallow small flowerpots are more suitable, because there is less pot soil, and it dries quickly after watering, which can reduce the possibility of water accumulation, which is in line with their characteristics of fear of waterlogging. If a deep and large flowerpot is used for drought-tolerant plants, the soil will remain moist for a long time, which will cause their fleshy roots to rot.
Some plants will continue to divide and grow new side buds during their growth, such as Chlorophytum and Aloe. These plants need flowerpots to have enough horizontal space so that the new plants can take root. At this time, round or oval flowerpots are more suitable than square flowerpots, because the circular space distribution is more even, there will be no waste in the corners, and the new seedlings can naturally expand to the surroundings. The corners of square flowerpots often have low soil utilization, which may hinder the growth of roots in the corners over time.
For climbing plants, such as grapes and wisteria, the depth of the flowerpot is more important than the width. The roots of these plants will continue to extend downward as the vines grow, looking for deeper nutrients and water. The deep cylindrical flowerpot can provide them with space for vertical growth. At the same time, the pot should not be too wide, so as to avoid too much soil and slow evaporation of water, which will affect the health of the root system. If the flowerpot is too shallow, the roots of the climbing plants cannot fully extend, which will affect the growth rate of the vines and flowering and fruiting.
The size and shape of the flowerpot also need to consider the growth stage of the plant. Plants in the seedling stage, regardless of type, are not suitable for using too large a flowerpot, because the roots of the seedlings are still very weak and cannot absorb a large amount of nutrients in the soil. Too large a flowerpot will prevent the water and nutrients in the soil from being used in time, but will easily breed bacteria. At this time, a small flowerpot that matches the size of the seedling should be used, and as the plant grows, a larger flowerpot should be slowly replaced. For example, for roses, it may need to be repotted two or three times from cuttings to mature plants. Each time you repot, you should choose a flowerpot that is slightly larger and more suitable in shape than the original one based on the plant shape and root conditions at the time, so that the plant can always be in a comfortable growing environment.
