Pots & Planters

Get the size right first

Pot sizing has one reliable rule: the new pot should be 50mm to 100mm wider than the container the plant is in now. A plant in a standard 200mm nursery pot moves happily into a 250mm to 300mm pot; jumping straight to a 500mm planter leaves a doughnut of wet, unused mix around the roots that turns sour before the plant can reach it. For small trees, olives and frangipani, start at 400mm to 500mm wide and expect to go up a size every three to four years. If the plant will stay in its plastic grower pot, buy a cache pot with an opening comfortably wider than the grower pot's rim so it drops in and lifts out for watering.

Volume matters as much as width. A 300mm pot holds roughly 10 litres of mix, a 400mm pot about 25 litres, and a 500mm pot 45 litres or more. Bigger pots hold moisture longer and buffer summer heat, which is why generous pots are the low maintenance choice, not the indulgent one.

Materials and how they weather

Terracotta is porous, so it breathes, wicks excess moisture away from roots and develops a chalky patina with age. That same breathability means it dries faster and asks for more frequent watering, and cheap terracotta can flake in hard frost, so in cold districts choose quality Italian made pieces like those in the terracotta pot range. Glazed ceramic holds moisture longer and brings colour that does not fade. Concrete and terrazzo are the heavyweights: stable under big plants, cool in summer, and they age from crisp to softly weathered. Lightweight stone composites such as the StoneLite pieces give the look of concrete at roughly a quarter of the weight, which makes them the sensible pick for balconies, rooftops and anywhere pots get rearranged. Timber crates and wine barrels breathe well and suit edibles, gradually greying to silver outdoors.

Drainage, weight and moving day

Outdoors, a drainage hole is not optional. Water must leave the pot, so sit outdoor pots on pot feet to keep the hole clear and stop tannin stains on paving. Indoors, either use a sealed cache pot with the plant in its grower pot, or a drained pot with a saucer. Think about weight before you fill anything: a 500mm concrete pot can pass 40kg empty, and wet potting mix adds roughly a kilogram per litre, so a big planted pot easily exceeds 100kg. Position large pots empty, in their final spot, then plant them. If you know you will rearrange, the large pot range includes lightweight options made for exactly that.

Self watering and indoor pots

Self watering designs hold a reservoir under the root zone that the mix draws on as it dries, stretching watering to weekly or better and smoothing out the wet-dry swings that stress ferns, herbs and leafy tropicals. They are the best answer for busy households, hot balconies and anyone who travels. The self watering planter range covers indoor pots through to full sized outdoor troughs.

Styling that keeps working

Groups of odd numbers in one material family always resolve: three pots in the same finish at staggered heights make a composition, while five unrelated pots make clutter. Repeat one shape, an egg pot or a cylinder, along a path or across a terrace and the repetition reads as design. Keep tall narrow forms for entries and corners, low bowls for tabletops and succulents, and troughs for hedging lines and balcony edges.

Common questions

What pot size do I need for a plant in a 200mm nursery pot?

A pot 250mm to 300mm wide. Going one size up at a time keeps the mix healthy and the plant growing; going three sizes up usually backfires.

Do terracotta pots crack outdoors?

Quality terracotta handles Australian conditions well. Frost is the main risk, because saturated porous clay can flake when it freezes, so in frost prone districts lift pots onto feet, keep drainage sharp and favour premium Italian terracotta.

Do I need to seal the inside of my pot?

Only if you want terracotta to hold water longer, in which case paint the inside (never the outside) with a pot sealer. Glazed, composite and concrete pots need no sealing, though raw concrete can leach lime at first, so flush it with water a few times before planting acid lovers.

How much potting mix will I need?

About 10 litres for a 300mm pot, 25 litres for a 400mm pot and 45 litres or more at 500mm. Always use a premium potting mix rather than garden soil, which compacts and drains poorly in containers.

How are pots delivered?

Pots are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Oversized and extra heavy pieces are freighted at cost, and everything is packed for transit by suppliers who ship pots daily.