Succulent pots: only with the right choice is it easy to grow them into good condition

          All kinds of flower pots make succulents look cuter and more beautiful. How do you choose a suitable pot for planting succulents? Is a bigger pot always better? In this issue we will look at how various pots pair with succulents.

          First, choose the size of the pot opening. The size of the pot opening depends on the size of the succulent to be planted; generally we choose one whose opening is about 2-3 cm larger than the succulent. This size is chosen mainly because if the pot opening is too large and the succulent too small, it affects the look; if the pot opening is too small, there is not enough room for the succulent to grow, and frequent repotting can easily cause the plant to stop growing.

          Second, choose the depth of the pot. Generally, a shallow pot is chosen for planting, because the root system of succulents is usually not very developed; with too much soil, the moisture cannot evaporate and transpire in time, which easily leads to rot, and it also wastes a lot of soil. But for Haworthia cooperi, Haworthia retusa, Haworthia maughanii and the like, a pot with a certain depth should be chosen, because their carrot-like roots are thick and well developed. Old plants or succulents with stems can also be given a deeper pot, for two reasons: first, the shape looks beautiful and elegant; second, a deeper pot keeps balance and will not be top-heavy.

        Third, choose pots of different materials. There are many kinds of pot materials, and the three we use most are: clay pots, porcelain pots and plastic pots. Clay pots are divided into red clay pots and coarse pottery pots; red clay pots are the most free-draining, so for some that need controlled-water cultivation you can choose clay pots. Porcelain pots are more common, with more colors and patterns, and their drainage is between clay pots and plastic pots; with good ventilation there will not be much of a problem. Plastic pots are common; generally I use the Maughanii pots used for Haworthia planting, and also some DIY plastic pots made from drink bottles. Besides these three commonly used pots, there are also glass, bamboo tube and stone pots, which we can choose according to the actual situation; pay attention to ventilation and drainage, and you can add more grit to the soil mix to increase drainage and air permeability.

          Finally, if you want to grow them outdoors or semi-outdoors, you can choose pots with small feet at the bottom, so that the bottom of the pot will not be affected by standing water in terms of drainage and air permeability, enhancing the ventilation at the bottom of the pot and helping the succulents withstand wind and rain.