Extra Large Pots

How to choose an extra large pot

Start with the spot, not the pot. Measure the space, then decide whether the piece will be planted or stand as a feature on its own. A planted pot over 80cm is staying where you put it once it is full of mix and roots, so settle position, sun and hose access first. Then choose the material to suit the job. Lightweight GRC pieces such as the Harper and Emmerson troughs weigh around a third of cast concrete, so two people can still lift a metre wide piece into place. Glazed jars from the Premium Glaze range bring colour and shine, while Thai limestone is carved stone with real mass, positioned once by trolley and never moved again.

What fits in a pot this size

A pot over 80cm across takes a 400mm to 500mm nursery pot dropped straight in, the easy way to style seasonal colour or hold a plant you may move later. Planted directly, an 85cm to 100cm pot holds roughly 200 to 400 litres of mix, enough root room for an olive, a citrus or a clipped bay for a decade or more. Leave 5cm to 10cm between nursery pot and decorative wall if dropping in, and keep the rim 5cm above the mix line if planting directly so water soaks in rather than sheeting off. For pieces between 50cm and 80cm, see the large pots collection.

Weight, moving and setup

Think in filled weight, not empty weight. Moist potting mix runs close to a kilogram per litre, so a 30kg GRC pot can pass 300kg once planted. Position the pot empty, check it is level, and raise it on pot feet so the drainage hole never sits flat on paving. On balconies, confirm the load rating before committing to stone or cast concrete. Oversized pieces are freighted at cost, and everything here is delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95 and no minimum order.

Drainage and weathering

At this scale drainage is not negotiable: a metre wide pot with a blocked hole becomes a pond after one storm. Cover the hole with mesh or shade cloth rather than a layer of rocks, and use quality potting mix, never garden soil. Materials weather differently. GRC softens slightly in tone and may show faint lime bloom early on, which rinses off. Glazed ceramic holds its colour for decades, and limestone develops the grey patina that is the point of buying stone. If you want weathered character from day one, the rustic and aged pots arrive with it built in.

Common questions

Do I need to fill the whole pot with potting mix?

Only for trees and large shrubs. For shallow rooted plantings, fill the bottom third with upturned plastic pots, cover with shade cloth, then add mix. It saves weight and money without harming the plant.

Will a large pot crack in frost?

GRC, lightweight concrete and glazed ceramic handle Australian frosts well. Unsealed earthenware is the risk, and in cold inland districts porous pots should sit raised so they drain fully before a freeze.

What plants suit a pot over 80cm?

Olives, citrus, frangipani, dwarf magnolias and clipped bay all live happily long term in this volume. It is the size where small trees stop being temporary residents.

Is there anything even bigger?

Yes. The grandest jars and metre wide bowls sit in the statement pots collection, and the mineral finishes have their own concrete and stone pots page.