10 Best Pots for Succulents 2023

Are you thinking about growing some succulents at home? Scrolling through Pinterest, it’s difficult not to come upon a beautiful succulent placed in a minimalist living room or a colorful terrace. Why are these plants so appealing to us? We might not be able to answer this question, but in this article you’ll find all the information you need for the purchase of the perfect pot for your succulent. When combined with a good amount of sunlight and water, the right container will make your succulent grow beautifully and lighten up the room. Here we will present you the top 10 best pots for succulents with great reviews on market.

How to Choose the Best Pots for Succulents

There are many things to take into consideration when buying a container for your plant. Mainly, it depends on when are you going to place it, that is, if it’s indoors or outdoors and how much amount of sunlight does the place get. We will give you advice on what are the best materials for you depending on where are you going to put your succulent, the choice of shape, texture and color is yours!

Firstly, it is extremely advisable to choose pots with drainage holes, which will make watering the succulents easier. This applies to every plant, especially if you are starting with gardening. However, if you have fallen in love with the perfect pot and it doesn’t have drainage holes, don’t worry. It is still possible to grow a perfectly healthy succulent in there, it will only require a little extra care. You also have the option to make the drainage holes yourself (more information on that below).

Regarding the size of the pot, there should be a few centimeters between the succulents and the edge of the pot, so they have space to grow. Let’s say you have a succulent that measures 3 centimeters across. Then you would want to choose a pot of 5 or 6 centimeters. If you want to create an arrangement of various succulents in one pot, make sure to leave some space around each of them to allow them to grow and spread. If you prefer tightly packed arrangements, you can place the succulents closer to each other in order to prevent them from growing as much.

Next comes the choice of the material the pot is made of. The most usual materials are ceramic, plastic and glass, although there can also be found wood and metal pots. The selection of the material will depend on the location where you will place your succulent. In the next section you will find an explanation of the pros and cons of the most common materials and two recommended pots of each material.

Top 10 Best Pots for Succulents (divided by material)

1. Terracotta and Ceramic

Terracotta and ceramic are very breathable materials, which means they work well in areas that might not get much airflow. Actually, they can work well both indoors and outdoors.

However, these materials can heat up in direct sunlight, which is not ideal for the succulents. Because of this direct sunlight, the soil will dry out faster. Even so, if you water the succulents more often, the sun shouldn’t entail a major problem.

What must be kept in mind when choosing a terracotta or ceramic pot is that these –especially the larger pots– can be extremely heavy, and therefore difficult to move. You should be very careful when moving them, particularly if the succulents are already inside. What’s more, this material is quite fragile, and that should also be considered when moving the pot.

If you decide to buy a terracotta pot, here is our recommendation:

1.1 Pack Terra Cotta Pots with Drainage Holes

It consists of a set of nine pots. The measurements of the pots are 3.62×3.62cm. Since there are so many pots, this option is perfect for creating a little urban garden on your terrace. They all have drain holes, which will make taking care of the plants a bit easier.

This set has very good reviews on Amazon. They come in a classic style, and that allows the buyer to leave them as they are or paint them and adjust them to their style. You could also start a little creative project with the youngest members of the family to decorate them. There are endless possibilities, let your imagination fly free!

If, on the contrary, ceramic is your material, we recommend you these beautiful pots:

1.2 Ceramic Succulent Planter Pots

6 pots of 6.5×6.5cm. You can keep them all or share with friends! They provide a nice drainage.

They come in a cube shape and ice crack glaze in bright colors, which makes their appearance elegant and classy, perfect to brighten up your kitchen, your office or your bedroom. Also, the pots are made of high-quality material that ensures good temperature resistance. Also, they are sturdy and corrosion-resistant and carefully polished and processed. A final remark: it is very easy to keep them clean!

2. Plastic

Plastic is a very popular choice as well. It is not the eco-friendliest material, but it has many advantages, the biggest being that it is very light and not as fragile as terracotta or ceramic. However, plastic is not as breathable as these materials, so it is harder for the water to evaporate in plastic pots in comparison with other materials. Even so, this shouldn’t be a problem, providing that the pot has drain holes and you use a well-drain soil.

Another huge advantage is that plastic pots come in all the shapes and colors you can think of. The range is so wide you’ll spend hours deciding which to choose!

Here we suggest you two nice options:

2.1 Hook Hanging Chain Flower Pot Basket Planter

This beautiful hanging pot measures 12.5x20cm, great for an arrangement of various succulents! It is perfect for terraces without much space for a normal pot. It’s easy to hang and comes in beautiful light pastel colors. It has also a drainage hole at the bottom.

2.2 Pots Planters Automatic Watering Plastic

You can order it in three different sizes: small, medium and large. The perfect size for the succulents would be the small one, which measures 11x10cm. It is made of very high-quality plastic that can be fully recycled.

But in this case, the icing on the cake is its automatic suction system: it is provided with a cotton rope that absorbs the water that is resting at the bottom of the pot and keeps the soil moist. That way, it’s not necessary to water the succulents as often. It is perfect for people without much time to take care of the plants or for people who travel a lot.

3. Wood

Wood is not what pots are typically made of. It is certainly an unusual choice, but it is also a very interesting one. Since it is not so usual to see succulents planted in pots, when you see one, it is definitely eye-catching.

Actually, when sitting in a very dry environment or a place with direct sunlight, wood is very helpful for the succulents, because it helps them stay cool and retains water. However, if you are planting in an area that is the opposite of this, that is, a place without much sunlight and airflow, maybe wood is not the right option for you, as it can easily rot or keep the soil wet for too long. Also, it is likelier for wood to break down or split than for other materials, since it expands and compresses more easily due to the weather conditions or the watering of the plants. That said, if you find the right place for it, wood can look gorgeous and last for a long time.

Here are two recommendations:

3.1 Vintage Wooden Flower Pot

It measures 22.7x10x4.8cm and its imitation of a coffee box is so well done that it immediately brings a rustic atmosphere to the place.

It comes in two colors, white or blue, and it’s perfect for a lovely succulent arrangement. What’s more, it is built from strong and durable material that is corrosion-resistant and not easy to deform. Don’t worry if you buy it and it’s not what you thought, the seller accepts returns if the buyer is not happy with the product.

3.2  Succulent Small Flower Pots Handmade

This is the most creative option we suggest you. Originally made for holding candles, this handmade wood pots are also perfect for holding small succulents. They are great if you don’t have much space but you still want beautiful and original pots. Also, they are handmade of environmentally friendly materials. Despite being handmade, their edges are smooth and they haven’t got burrs, their texture is lovely! On the other hand, sadly, they don’t have drain holes, so they might not be the best option for beginner gardeners.

4. Metal

Metal is also not a typical choice for planting succulents. In fact, it is not very recommendable to choose a pot made from this material, as it is a good conductor of the heat and that can cause the soil to heat up in excess. Another downside to using metal pots for succulents is that this material rusts eventually –unless the container you are using is specifically designed for planting–, which is not healthy for the succulents.

Nevertheless, planting succulents in a metal pot can be done. Yet, if you choose this option, you have to keep in mind that probably you’ll have to move your plants to another pot eventually.

Here are the pots we have fallen in love with:

4.1 Antique Flower Pot Set of 3 Planters

It is composed of three classy copper-colored plant containers that measure 20x12x11cm. They are perfect for inside or outside the house and have great reviews.

4.2 10 Pieces Metal Iron Hanging Flower Pot

This set of 10 pots of different colors is perfect for the creative gardener. These pots will lighten up your garden, you won’t be able to stop smiling when you look at them!

What’s more, the pots are made of a durable material and they have a hanger, so they can be hung in the balcony or the window, but they don’t have a drain hole.

5. Glass

Glass containers are very popular, since they are generally very esthetically pleasing when combined with the beautiful look of the succulents. However, most glass pots lack drain holes, so we would advise that only more experienced gardeners use them. As well as the drain problem, glass containers have another issue: they are not very breathable, which means the soil won’t dry out easily. Some glass containers solve this problem by having a wide opening that favors the airflow. Other problems that this material might give rise to are the necessity to be cleaned more often and the collection of hard water deposits. Besides, this material is easily breakable, which implies that you have to be very careful when moving it.

But if you are determined to use a glass container and willing to take the extra care that it demands, we are sure its beauty will pay off!

Here are our two recommendations:

5.1  Clear Cup Shape Hydroponic

This classy glass container is great if you don’t have a very high budget but you still want high-quality products that add that small touch that makes the difference. We are sure that the simple and beautiful design of this pot will make your house much cozier!

5.2 Half Ball Glass Terrarium

This contemporary art piece consists of modern design from the brand Maison&White. It measures 17x17x17cm.

The pot comes with the pebbles and fake plant shown in the picture. However, you can remove the fake plant and put an arrangement of succulents in there, which you can decorate with the white pebbles to create a gorgeous decoration for your living room. It comes with a 2-year guarantee.

FAQs

Can I still plant a succulent if my pot doesn’t have drainage holes?

If you find the perfect pot but it doesn’t have drain holes, you still have some options. The one we recommend is creating your own holes with a diamond tip drill bit. However, this tool can only be used on hard materials, but not on metal, softwood, plaster or soft plastic, since these are too soft. If your pot doesn’t have drain holes and you are not able to make them with the diamond tip drill bit, you can also plant your succulents, but you will want to take extra care of them and make sure the soil doesn’t have too much water.

What do I do to keep the soil from falling out through the drain holes?

You can use mesh tape or mesh screens to cover the holes but still allow the water to fall through them.

I have a pot that is much larger than my succulent. Can I plant the succulent there?

A pot that is too large can keep the succulent from growing, as the roots will spread out too soon. It is not advisable to grow succulents in very large pots.

Conclusion

All in all, we are aware that the process of choosing the right pot for your succulent can be quite overwhelming, as there are so many things to consider. However, we encourage you to try to enjoy the journey. The learning process can be long and challenging at times, but in the end you will be rewarded with some beautiful succulents, a lot of gardening knowledge and, hopefully, the desire to learn more!

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