My first instinct when purchasing the first pot I ever grew a houseplant in was to get the biggest pot I could for as cheaply as possible. I figured that if I bought a really big pot, the plant could live in it for a really long time and that seemed to make sense. I didn’t want to spend a 10 or 20 dollars on a smaller pot if the plant was just going to need a bigger one in a year. As far as ornamentation went: not in my budget.

Now that I’ve actually spent some time observing how different houseplants grow, I realized that if I want to get the most out of my indoor gardening, the “go big and cheap” method isn’t the way to go. Pots function differently based on the material they are made of and the size and shape they are. If you consider the type of pot you select for your plant, you will have greater success and get more enjoyment out of growing indoors. Hopefully this guide will help you select which type of pot to grow in.

Terra cotta pots are very porous, and so tend to dry out quickly. There is more air movement in terra cotta pots than other types, which is beneficial for root health. The porosity also has the drawback of making them difficult to sanitize between uses as fungi and algae can grow in and on the pot. They are also relatively heavy and can crack or chip easily. Terra cotta pots are usually priced very reasonably, although expensive terra cotta of higher quality is available.

Plastic pots are very light weight, and are great for placing inside of another (more decorative) container. They are the least expensive type of pot. Plastic does not provide much aeration, so you must be careful not to over-water with plastic pots. Fortunately, they are so light you can just pick them up to see if water is needed. Plastic will fade and become brittle after long exposures to sunlight, but you can always cheaply replace them with another plastic pot.

Ceramic pots are very heavy. I have some that are very difficult to move even when they are empty! I really like these pots because they have some very pretty finishes, and are usually very glossy. Ceramic pots are more durable than most: that is not to say that they cannot chip, but they can take some rough handling. Ceramic containers insulate and help to retain water moderately well.

Self-watering pots can use either a water-wicking system or a porous pot-in-pot set up to pull water from a reservoir. These are very popular for African Violets because African Violets are so sensitive to water temperature and saturation. If you are an over-waterer this style of pot may be perfect for you. Of course, these pots don’t serve their purpose if they don’t get filled with water often enough, so if you are a forgetful waterer these probably won’t help.

Foam pots are nice because they are light weight and are often designed to look like concrete or stone. Foam pots are great insulators, protecting roots from extreme temperatures. Some of the less expensive or lower quality foam pots can be dented or split when bumped or during potting. Another drawback of foam pots is that they can become brittle with age, but if you restrict use to the indoors this may not be an issue for you.

Fiberglass planters are more resistant to damage than other pots, are light weight, and are somewhat insulated from the environment. Fiberglass isn’t breathable like terra cotta, so it will retain water longer. I find fiberglass to function very similarly to plastic pots, but they are usually much more attractive. It is a great way to save money on very large containers for trees and yet still give an expensive appearance.