Our Guide to Choosing the Right Plant Pot
Choosing the Right Pot: Why Container Choice Matters
When it comes to gardening, most people focus on the plant, however the plant’s container can also make or break its success.
From boosting root health to pest & disease management, and enhancing your home’s style, plant pots do far more than just hold soil. With so many materials, shapes, and sizes available, choosing the right pot can feel quite overwhelming.
In this guide, we’ll break down the different types of plant pots, what they’re made of, and the specific advantages each one offers, so you can give your plants the home they need to thrive.
Keep in mind, your plant pot isn’t just a container; it’s properties can also directly affect how well your plant grows.
Why do People Grow Plants in Pots?
Mobility – You can can move your plants to chase the sun, avoid frost, or bring them indoors when needed, this is a huge benefit, especially in unpredictable climates.
Soil & Water Control – Pots let you control the exact soil mix (ideal for picky plants like chillis), and they prevent your plants from sitting in soggy ground. Drainage holes mean there’s no root rot.
Space Efficiency – Not everyone has a garden—pots let you grow things on balconies, patios, windowsills, even kitchen counters.
Pest & Disease Management – It’s easier to isolate and treat a plant in a pot if pests or diseases show up.
Style & Design – Let’s be real—pots can look great too. They can match your space, add color, or just make your setup feel more put-together.
When choosing a pot, ask yourself:
Where will the pot live? (Indoors or outdoors?)
How much sunlight and heat will it get?
Does your plant like dry or moist soil?
Will you need to move it often?
Are aesthetics or performance more important for this plant?
Exploring the Different Kinds of Plant Pots We Sell:
Plastic Plant Pots
Available in various sizes, plastic pots are highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of plants. Their design facilitates easy handling and efficient space utilization in greenhouses or gardens.
Plastic plant pots offer several practical advantages that make them a popular choice among gardeners and commercial growers. They are lightweight and durable, making them easy to handle, move, and transport without breaking. Plastic retains moisture better than porous materials like clay or fabric, which can be beneficial for plants that require consistently moist soil or in hot climates where water evaporates quickly.
Plastic pots are also typically more affordable and widely available in various sizes, shapes, and colors to suit different plant types and aesthetic preferences. Additionally, plastic pots are resistant to weathering and pests, and can be reused for many growing seasons with proper care.
Recommended for Plants that Prefer Moist Soil:
For plants that thrive in consistently moist soil and for situations where moisture retention is desired.
Round Pots
Orchid Pots
Square Plant Pots
Origin Pots
Eco Square Pots & Saucers
These square pots are made from recycled materials, offering an environmentally friendly option without compromising on durability. Paired with matching saucers, they help in maintaining cleanliness and preventing overwatering.
Eco Square Pots & Saucers offer a sustainable and efficient gardening solution, made from recycled materials to reduce environmental impact. Their square shape maximizes space usage, making them ideal for compact areas, while also promoting healthier root development by preventing circling.
These pots are durable and weather-resistant, suitable for long-term outdoor use. Paired with matching saucers, they help manage excess water and protect surfaces, making them both practical and eco-friendly for gardeners focused on sustainability and plant health.
Recommended for Eco-Conscious Gardening:
Eco Pots & Saucers are perfect for those looking to reduce their environmental footprint.
Eco Square Pots
Eco Square Saucers
Fabric Pots (Such as Root Nurse & Root Pouch)
These breathable fabric pots enhance aeration, prevent root circling, and regulate temperature, leading to robust plant growth. They’re lightweight, reusable, and perfect for both indoor and outdoor gardening.
Fabric pots offer several key advantages for plant health and sustainability. Their breathable fabric promotes air pruning, which not only naturally prevents root circling but also encourages the growth of a dense, fibrous root system, leading to better nutrient and water absorption. The enhanced aeration also helps regulate soil temperature and prevents overheating, especially in warmer climates. Fabric pots also provide excellent drainage, reducing the risk of overwatering and root rot.
Additionally, many Fabric Pots are made from recycled materials, making them an environmentally friendly choice. They’re also lightweight, durable, and reusable, ideal for container gardening, indoor grows, or transplanting.
Recommended for Vegetables & Herbs:
Fabric Pots provide superior aeration, promoting healthy growth for edible plants.
Root Nurse 25 Litre Fabric Pot
Root Pouch Grey – Air Pruning Fabric Pots
Grassroots Living Soil Pots
Grassroots Living Soil Pots are designed with MoistureLock technology, a liner that prevents the soil in the pot from drying from the sides. While regular fabric pots are made from breathable fabric that allows for excellent air pruning and drainage, this is a problem when used with living soils.
Soil in fabric containers dries quickly from the bottom and at the sides. This is generally great for hydroponic style irrigation, where you want quick drying and frequent watering. However, this quick drying at the sides creates a zone of soil that is not good at supporting soil microbial life. Here, the soil can get so dry the microbial communities go dormant or even die, and therefore cannot unlock nutrition from the soil and supply it to the plant.
This zone around the edge of the pot is essentially wasted soil, that can be kept moist and allowed to flourish with microbial activity with the help of the MoistureLock liner.
Recommended for Living Soils:
For use with living soils as the MoistureLock liner prevents the pots from drying from the sides. This mimics the way soil dries in nature and helps the microbiology thrive. Also availabe as Living Soil Garden Beds for outside use.
Grassroots Living Soil Pots
Air Pots
Air-Pots have a unique structure that offers significant advantages for healthy root development by promoting air pruning, which occurs when roots reach the sides of the pot and are naturally exposed to air.
This exposure causes the tips of the roots to dry out and die, stimulating the plant to produce more lateral roots rather than circling around the pot. As a result, plants grown in air-pots develop a dense, fibrous root system that enhances nutrient uptake, water absorption, and overall growth.
Additionally, the increased airflow and drainage provided by the perforated design help prevent overwatering and root rot, making air-pots particularly beneficial for vigorous or fast-growing plants.
Made from recycled plastic, Air-Pots are durable and reusable, suitable for both soil and hydroponic systems.
Reccomended for Fast Growing Plants:
Great for growing plants that benefit from vigorous root development and consistent aeration. They’re ideal for fast-growing plants like tomatoes and peppers, which need a strong root system to support rapid vegetative growth.
Air Pots
Biodegradable Coir Plant Pots
Crafted from natural coconut coir, these pots are eco-friendly and decompose over time, making them ideal for seed starting and reducing transplant shock.
Biodegradable coir pots offer several advantages for both your plants and the environment. Made from natural coconut husk fibers, they are eco-friendly and decompose naturally in the soil, reducing plastic waste and the need for transplanting. Because they can be planted directly into the ground, they minimize transplant shock, helping roots adjust quickly and grow undisturbed.
Coir pots also provide excellent aeration and drainage, promoting healthier root systems and reducing the risk of root rot.
Additionally, they retain moisture well while still allowing excess water to escape, creating an ideal growing environment for seedlings and young plants.
Recommended for Seed Starting:
Biodegradable Coir Pots are excellent for germinating seeds, allowing for direct planting without disturbing their roots.
Biodegradable Coir Plant Pots – Round
Coco & Coir Plant Pots Square
Garland Garden Trays
While not technically a pot, Garland trays provide a practical and efficient solution for managing plant watering and organization, particularly in greenhouse and propagation settings. These sturdy, reusable trays are designed to catch and contain excess water, reducing mess and preventing damage to surfaces while maintaining optimal moisture levels for seedlings and potted plants. Their rigid construction ensures durability and stability, even when fully loaded, and their ridged bases help with drainage and preventing root rot.
Ideal for grouping multiple pots together, Garland trays make it easier to move plants and manage watering schedules, supporting healthier growth and more organized gardening.
Recommended for Greenhouse Gardening:
Useful for holding pots, catching spills and run-off, or as seed trays. They can also be used as resevoirs for bottom feeing plants. They can also be used effectively for growing microgreens, which are very popular at the moment.
Garland Garden Trays
Garland XL Seed Tray with Holes
Saucers
We have saucers for all sizes of pots to help prevent water runoff, protect surfaces from stains and moisture damage, and support cleaner, more controlled growing environments.
Whether you’re caring for a few potted plants at home or managing a larger operation, our saucers provide the durability and convenience growers need to maintain optimal plant health and cleanliness.
Also, we have specialist clear saucers for Orchids to allow them to take up light through the clear pot/saucer.
Heavy Duty Saucers
Saucers for Orchid Pots
Square Saucers
Our Final Thoughts
Plant pots aren’t just containers—they’re part of your plant’s ecosystem. The right pot can help prevent disease, improve growth, and even save you time on maintenance. Whether you’re growing fiery chillis in fabric pots or styling your living room, there’s a perfect pot for every purpose.
We offer a comprehensive range of pots, with options suitable for various gardening styles and needs, you’re sure to find the perfect pot for your plants. If you want to pick them up in person, pop down and see us in Milton Keynes.
Browse our great selection of plant pots and find the ideal match for your plant and your space.
GHEDirect LTD, 
