Choosing the right planter is not only a question of how it looks. Material, dimensions, weight, resistance to the weather and agreement with the architectural style all bear on how long the plant survives and on how the space reads. If you are buying a planter for a house, a villa, a courtyard, a terrace or a landscape project, it is worth knowing what each type does before you buy.
Why the choice of planter matters
A planter holds the plant, but it is also part of the decorative and landscape design. The wrong choice can damage the plant's roots, shorten the life of the planter itself, and unsettle the look of the space.
Types of planter, by material
Fibreglass planters
Light, tough and modern in form, fibreglass planters are among the most popular options on landscape projects. They stand up very well to sunlight, to rain and to changes in temperature.
Advantages:
- Light weight
- High resistance
- A range of colours
- Suitable indoors and out
Terracotta planters
Terracotta is the classic choice, and because it lets the soil breathe it is ideal for a great many plants. Its drawbacks are its weight and the chance of breakage.
Concrete planters
If you want a modern look for a villa or a garden, concrete planters are a good choice. They are extremely durable and are widely used outdoors.
The best planter for outdoors
Outdoors, a planter has to resist rain, sun and cold. Fibreglass, polyethylene and concrete are usually the best options, because changes in the weather affect them least.
The best planter for indoors
Indoors, weight and agreement with the surrounding decoration matter as much as appearance. Modern fibreglass or ceramic planters are usually the right choice for a home, an office, a lobby or a retail space.
What to check when buying a planter
- A size matched to the plant's growth
- Proper drainage
- A material suited to where it will stand
- Agreement with the architectural style
- The quality of the colour and of the shell's finish
- Resistance to sunlight and to damp
The planter's part in landscape design
On a landscape project a planter is not merely something to plant into; it is one of the principal design elements. Large planters at the entrance to a villa, beside the pool, on the terrace and through the garden can give the whole place a modern, high-end presence.
In summary
The right planter bears directly on the health of the plant and on how the space reads. If you are having planting done professionally, or buying a planter of quality, choose a piece that is well made and durable as well as well designed.