Gardening

Notice the difference between the two clay pots? An unglazed pot has a rough finish (left) while a glazed pot (right) has a shiny finish.

Always soak a new clay pot for at least 15 minutes in water before use. Otherwise, it will 'steal' water from the plant, leaving it thirsty.

Cachepots come in a wide range of materials. Clockwise from left: cachepots made of woven plant fibres, plastic, clay and metal.

Some pots can have holes, such as these used to grow epiphytic orchids. Epiphytic orchids prefer to dry out a little between each watering, and the holes in these pots provide aeration for the roots and also allow moisture to evaporate more easily.

When using a basket as a pot to grow or display your plant, do include a layer of plastic to help retain soil and water.

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While you take on the mammoth task of spring cleaning and redecorating for the New Year, you may decide to acquire new plants for your home. But why stop there? Take the opportunity to complement your home décor with new plant pots too.

Pots, in general, can be made of either plastic or clay. Plastic pots have the advantage of being cheaper, lighter and less fragile. Plastic is impervious to water, and pots made from this material retain more moisture than clay pots. However, they tend to deteriorate if they are exposed to direct sunshine for prolonged periods.

Plant pots made of clay, on the other hand, are heavy, and offer stability that is useful for the growing of tall, top-heavy plants. Unglazed flower pots are porous, and water can evaporate from the sides. As such, plants grown in unglazed pots usually dry out faster. This makes them highly suitable for growing epiphytic orchids, cacti and succulents that do not like constant moisture in the root zone. Glazed pots have a thin, glassy, shiny outer surface, which ‘seals’ them from moisture.

The plants that you purchase from nurseries are often directly grown in a plain and boring ‘grow pot’, which may stick out like a sore thumb amid the chic surroundings of your home. For a more pleasing visual effect, you can transplant the plant into a nicer grow pot – but this can prove to be a rather troublesome chore.

The good news is that you can easily disguise an ugly grow pot by slipping it into a prettier container. This outer container, usually slightly larger in size, is known as a cachepot. Cachepots are extremely convenient for gardeners, as they can be used interchangeably with different plants. They may come in the form of glazed ceramic pots, Italian terra cotta pots, woven baskets, or window boxes and tubs.

Some cachepots may lack drainage holes at the base. These are helpful for catching excess water, and are suited for displaying plants on surfaces that you need to keep dry, such as tabletops. Do be careful not to over-water plants in cachepots, so that they won’t be left standing in ‘wet feet’ collected at the base of the container.

By Joyce Foo & Pearl Ho