CONTAINER PLANTING
The containers within which we plant our collections may come as a second thought in the process of choosing our plants, but their shape and finish can completely transform how foliage appears in our spaces. The vessels we choose become an accessory in our interiors, gardens and balconies offering a variety of experimentation.
Image 01. Cactus and succulent display at Middleton Mews.
CHOOSING A POT
A few factors may influence your decision on choosing a suitable pot for your plant; size, shape, material, drainage.
For potting directly into a container, a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom is crucial to ensure that excess water can escape and reduce chances of the plant becoming waterlogged. If keeping the plant in its nursery pot, you may be looking for a decorative pot with no drainage hole which will fit the nursery pot fairly snug but still allow the roots some room to breathe.
Image 02. Chamaedorea elegans within a glazed pot, kept in its plastic nursery pot, and potted directly into a terracotta pot.
When changing the pot it’s also important that the new pot is fairly similar in size to its current, especially if potting directly in. If keeping the nursery pot you also want to make sure the plant doesn’t appear like it’s ‘drowning’ within its new pot, but rather that the pot and the plant appear in proportion with one another.
Image 03-04. Dracaena (Sansevieria) aubrytiana 'Marlowe' looks a little lost in the larger pot size. The next size down (03) is much more snug, and shows more of the plant off, keeping the stems and pot better in proportion.
SHAPE AND TEXTURE
The shape and texture of a pot have a great influence on our plants' overall appearance, with pot shape having a particular impact on accentuating the silhouette of a plant.
A plant with a branched stem and a lollipop shape, like the Ficus lyrata above, can appear more attractive in a short and wide pot which mimics its rounded tree top. While tall, towering and slender plants, like species of Dracaena with a single stem or multiple plants per pot, can be easily highlighted within similarly tall and slender pots.
Image 05. A branched-stem Ficus lyrata in two different pot shapes.
Image 06. The texture and shape of the planter highlights the scarring and chunky silhouette of the trunk of this rather short and stout Dracaena draco, while the tall pot increases the overall height of the plant and adds a bit of focus on the arching leaves.
Image 07. Slim and irregularly shaped stems of Brachychiton rupestris, alongside their delicate foliage, can be highlighted in taller pots of more natural materials. Terracotta or wicker baskets compliment the 'outdoorsy' feel of the B. rupestris silhouette.
The same plant can appear completely different depending on the style and finish of its vessel. While some finishes may bring out and highlight the tones across the foliage, others may not be so complimentary and cause the foliage to appear washed out. Although, in the end it's all down to our personal preference and home aesthetics.
Image 08. Calathea 'White Fusion' in three different pot styles. Each pot finish and colour highlights different characteristics.
CREATING A COMPOSITION
Similarly to creating a composition of plants based on the foliage texture or silhouette, their containers too can be easily experimented with. Pots with the same surface finish but in differing scale or shapes can work together to create an attractive contrast of scale.
The use of plants and pots in the same scale and texture can create a harmonious pattern of repetition, becoming the perfect backdrop, whereas contrasting scale is more informal and flexible, producing visual points of interest to draw our attention.
Image 09. On site at Uniqlo. Smooth and rounded grey pots with differing scale easily work to create contrast of scale for both the plants and pots, suggesting flexibility and movement.
Image 10. On site at Uniqlo. A repeated pattern of plants is created within the rectangular planter, while the rounded planters create a composition with a contrasting scale.
Natural finishes, like terracotta, often can be easily grouped together even if their shapes vary greatly from another. Pots with more unique textures, like the below, can be easily paired together with varying shapes and similarly rough textures in different colours.
Image 11. Multi-branched Ficus microcarpa specimens, each with varying silhouettes even though they are the same species. Their different shapes will work differently within the same pot shape.
Image 12. A variety of Ficus lyrata shapes.
Image 13. Dracaena fragrans 'Burundii' in a terracotta planter with pot feet under the base.
FOR CONSIDERATION
While shape and size are important when choosing a container, a few other things are also key to consider.
If placing pots on carpet or hardwood floors, pots or saucers made from porous materials may leave marks. Using pot feet underneath will help lift them up and allow them to dry out faster at the bottom while also avoiding any marks being left on the floor.
Image 14. Raising our plants up on stands or small stools helps reduce any issues which may occur due to underfloor heating.
For spaces with underfloor heating it is ideal to raise plants up from the floor so they're not sat directly on top of the source of heat, which dries them out much faster and affects humidity levels. Raising them up even a few centimetres makes all of the difference.
Image 15. An arrangement of Acer species in a mix of aged terracotta pots.
Pots meant for outdoor spaces need to be frost-proof, to avoid any cracking during the winter months. For saucers suitable for the outdoors it's also important they are not filled with water during freezing temperatures, as this can cause cracking even if they are frost-proof.
Image 16. Outdoor arrangement at Middleton Mews.