Cacti and other succulents require fast-draining soil and plenty of sunlight to thrive. This makes clay pots an ideal choice for growing these plants. Clay pots have been used for thousands of years due to their porosity and breathability. Here are some key reasons why terra cotta pots excel at growing cacti and succulent plants:
Excellent Drainage
The terra cotta material used to make clay pots is porous and allows excess water to evaporate through the pot walls. This prevents soggy soil that can lead to rotting of cactus and succulent roots. Clay pots effectively create the dry, well-drained conditions these plants need.
Air Circulation
The breathability of terra cotta clay allows air to reach the plant roots. Good airflow is essential for healthy cactus and succulent roots to prevent fungal diseases. The porosity prevents moisture from being trapped.
Wicking Action
Clay naturally pulls moisture from the soil to the surface of terra cotta pots where it evaporates. This wicking action keeps the soil drier. Cacti and succulents thrive in these drier environments.
Visual Soil Cues
As clay pots absorb water, they darken and change color. When the pot lightens again, it signals that water is needed. This makes it easy to visually determine soil moisture.
Insulating Properties
The clay helps protect roots from sudden changes in temperature. This keeps the soil from getting too hot while still letting it absorb heat during the day.
Natural Material
Terra cotta is an eco-friendly, sustainable choice over plastic pots. The clay is a natural material that is also breathable and healthy for plants.
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Key Benefits of Terra Cotta Pots
The porous terra cotta material provides several advantages that make clay pots well-suited for cacti and other succulents:
Selecting the Best Clay Pots
Follow these tips when choosing terra cotta pots for your cactus and succulent collection:
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Opt for unglazed clay rather than glazed for better breathability.
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Make sure pots have drainage holes so excess water can escape.
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Choose pots just slightly larger than the current plant, about 1-2 inches bigger.
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Use saucers carefully to avoid standing water. Consider skipping.
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Group pots together to increase humidity around the plants.
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Add sand or gravel layer to boost drainage and discourage evaporation.
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Match clay color with your home décor or go colorful with glazed pots.
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Prepare for the heavier weight of clay versus plastic pots.
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In cold climates, insulate pots in winter to prevent cracking.
Find plain terracotta or painted and glazed garden pots that are pretty and have good drainage. After that, put cacti and succulents inside to make the perfect dry garden!
Best Cacti and Succulents for Clay Pots
Many different cacti and succulents grow well planted in terra cotta pots. Some top choices include:
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Hens and chicks (Echeveria): Shallow clay pots suit these low rosette succulents.
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Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum): Trailing stems look lovely draping over pot rims.
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Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata): A unique succulent that enjoys clay pots with holes.
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Aloe vera: Fleshy aloe plants need fast-drying terra cotta to prevent rot.
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Ladyfinger cactus (Mammillaria elongata): Tiny round cacti thrive in small terra cotta pots.
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Ball cactus (Parodia magnifica): Shallow pots match these globe-shaped cacti.
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Aeonium: Rosette-forming aeoniums grow well in terra cotta’s airflow.
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Agave: Bold rosette and spreading agave varieties suit clay pots.
Match the clay pot size and style to suit your particular cacti and succulents. With the right terra cotta pot, these plants will prosper!
Caring for Succulents and Cacti in Clay Pots
It’s important to be extra careful when growing succulents and cacti in terracotta pots because the soil dries out faster. Follow these tips:
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Water more frequently whenever the soil is completely dry.
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Apply water slowly and deeply to soak the plant roots.
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Consider adding sand or gravel to help retain moisture.
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Mist plants occasionally to increase humidity around them.
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Move pots to shade on hot days to prevent overheating.
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Top dress pots with pebbles or sand to slow water evaporation.
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Repot into a slightly larger clay pot when the plant becomes root bound.
With proper watering and care, terra cotta pots allow cacti and succulents to thrive while providing the dry, well-aerated environment they need. Clay is one of the healthiest pot choices for these drought-loving plants!
Clay pots are clearly an optimal choice for growing cacti and succulents. Their porous terra cotta material delivers the fast drainage, breathability, and drying action these plants need to mimic their native desert habitats. With the right clay pot, cactus and succulent enthusiasts can create a thriving container garden!
Guide to Choosing the Best Pots for Succulents and Cactus
The first thing a succulent owner needs to know is that even though succulents are easy to care for, don’t need much attention, and do well in dry conditions, ignoring them could cause them to grow poorly or even die. Pots need special attention even though succulents are easy-to-maintain prettiest plants. Succulents favor pots that are spacious and are equipped for draining off the water well. Thus, simply focusing on the visual aspects and investing in decorative pots is not enough. This guide will help you pick cheap and easy containers for succulents and cacti.
Color of the Best Succulent Containers
When you sit down to choose, you will have a riot of colors and textures to pick from. Succulents in blue, black, white pots, and more – there are a multitude of choices. When it comes to succulent ideas in pots, you can either pick your succulent based on the color of the pot or pick the pot based on the succulent.
- Make sure the plant can handle cold weather before you buy a ceramic or terracotta succulent pot. These kinds of succulents don’t need to be brought inside for the winter. After plants are put in them, these pots tend to get heavy, making it hard to move them.
- If you use 2-inch wooden pots, make sure to line them with plastic to keep the wood from rotting.
- When picking plant containers for succulents, remember the drainage part. Succulents do not like standing water. It is important to choose a planter with drainage holes, even if you know how to water your plants properly.
- Ideas for outdoor containers—It can be hard to decide between hanging little succulent pots and best pots for small plants that are mounted on the wall. Hanging ones are good for small succulents, and wall-mounted ones are good for houseplants that bloom.
How to choose the best plant pots for your cactus & succulent collection #cactuscare #succulentscare
FAQ
Do cactus grow better in clay pots?
Following are some of the best pot materials for growing a cactus or a succulent: Terracotta, a breathable material, is one of the best indoor and outdoor succulent pots. The fact that terracotta absorbs heat easily is another thing that works in its favor. This gives the plant the best conditions for growth.
What is the difference between clay pots and terracotta pots?
The key difference lies in the manufacturing process. The difference between terracotta and “clay pots” is that “clay pots” can be made of fired clay, while “terracotta” is made of clay that has not been fired.
Do cactus pots need holes in the bottom?
The bottom line is, one shouldn’t be discouraged from not having a pot with a good drainage hole.
What are the disadvantages of clay pots for plants?
Yes, plastic pots hold more water than clay, but this makes them an ideal choice for plants that thrive in moist soil, or if you tend to forget to water. One of the downsides to clay pots is that clay is porous. Clay pots wick water and potting mix dries out faster which means you need to water plants more. Durability.