Can Flower Pots Upgrade Your Patio?

Your patio is an extension of your house – an outdoor haven where you can relax, entertain, dine, or enjoy the fresh air. 

While there are countless ways to decorate your patio, one effective method that is sometimes overlooked is decorating it with flower pots. Yet, you can liven up your patio with stunning pots filled with your favorite flowers.

Keep reading to learn the right pots for your patio based on their material ensuring healthy growth of your flowers. Included is what to look for when choosing the shape, size, color, and design for your flower pots. 

What Material For Flower Pots?

To achieve your desired patio look and ensure your flowers thrive, choose pots with materials that add visual appeal and that can keep your flowers healthy.

To assist you in making the right choice, here are overviews of common pot materials, highlighting their pros and cons.

Fiberglass Flower Pots

Fiberglass is made by spinning glass into a fiber and mixing it with resin, a type of plastic.

Preferred by many landscapers for outdoor pots, they are great for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your patio, as it is a material that can be molded into various shapes, sizes, and designs. A wonderful feature of this product is that it can be molded to look like metal, terracotta, stone, and others.

Considering fiberglass pots? Here are the pros and cons:

Pros

Durable: Due to its properties, fiberglass is strong, making it resistant to harsh weather conditions like rain, snow, and sunlight. Furthermore, if the finish applied is automotive-grade it will prevent the harmful effects of UV rays that cause cracking, fading, and peeling.

It can remain as good as new for a long time, especially because the material is easy to buffer when tiny scratches appear.

Minimal maintenance: Fiberglass is your go-to material if you don’t have time to care for your pots. You don’t have to wash them all the time, however, an occasional wash like twice a year will keep them looking good.

Maintains plant health: This material is not toxic to plants. It is also not porous, hence it does not absorb moisture. That means the quantity of moisture for your plant is maintained.

It does not attract mold or mildew, which can rob the plants of water and nutrients, causing your flowers to grow weak. 

However, mold can grow if conditions allow, for example, the accumulation of debris and organic matter on the pot. Thus, maintain a balance; even if it’s not washed often, ensure it’s clean to avoid such a problem.

Visually appealing: Fiberglass is available in many colors and shapes, enabling you to match them with the patio furniture, accessories, and surroundings.

Con

Cost: Despite this material being an excellent choice for healthier plants and relatively cheap compared to wood and metal, it is more expensive than terracotta and plastic.

Plastic Flower Pots

Made from crude oil, plastic has been around for over a century with all kinds of containers manufactured using this material.

Ideal for any patio, plastic flower pots are affordable and versatile. Available in vast colors, shapes, and sizes, they can fit diverse styles. They are easy to maintain as they are lightweight and durable, making them suitable for beginner gardeners. 

Now let’s explore the pros and cons:

Pros

Cheap: Plastic is extremely affordable.

Light: Plastic pots are very light, making them easy to work with and move around.

Visual appeal: Like fiberglass, plastic is available in various colors and shapes.

Cons

Harmful To Plants: Growing flowers in a plastic pot means they will gradually absorb the toxins produced by the plastic, which can cause poor growth. But, if you must use a plastic pot, use one made without plasticizers, resulting in a type of plastic known as uPVC. It’s resistant to corrosion, minimizing the chemicals released into your flowers.

Less durable: Though it can last long, it can easily crack and break, especially after prolonged exposure to the sun. Just one crack can render it useless.  

Non-porous: Plastic is non-porous and thus retains a lot of heat leading to dehydration of the plant causing it to wilt.

Ceramic And Terracotta Flower Pots

Clay pots have been around for many centuries. Both ceramic and terracotta pots are made from the same clay material but with slight variations.

Ceramic pots are typically glazed and fired at higher temperatures, resulting in a smoother, less porous finish. On the other hand, terracotta pots are unglazed and fired at lower temperatures, giving them a more rustic and porous texture.

Here is a table comparing terracotta and ceramic pots:

	Terracotta	Ceramic
Material composition	Clay is fired at around 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, hence they are porous, allowing air and moisture to pass through the pot walls.	Clay fired at higher temperatures between 2100 to 2300 degrees Fahrenheit, making it less porous than terracotta.
Appearance	A natural appearance that’s reddish-brown, suitable for a traditional or Mediterranean patio.	With the option to glaze and polish ceramic pots, they offer great flexibility in design, available in a vast array of colors and textures.
Durability	Durable but prone to cracking during freezing temperatures.	Ceramics are more durable than terracotta as they are less prone to cracking. The glaze also provides an additional layer that protects the pot against the elements.
Water Retention	It allows for better drainage and aeration but dries out faster due to its porous nature, requiring more frequent watering, ideal for plants that prefer drier conditions or well-draining soil.	It’s less porous than terracotta, retaining more moisture. Suitable for flowers that require a lot of moisture.

Pros

Aesthetic appeal: Due to the glazing done, ceramic pots come in various colors, patterns, and finishes. If you are a minimalist, terracotta, which is normally unglazed, is your best bet. Its reddish-brown color adds a natural look that can blend with other patio materials like stone, wood, and flowers. 

Cost: Clay pots can range from very cheap to luxuriously expensive. However, it can be reused safely, helping you save more money. 

Maintains Plant Health: Clay pots provide a healthy environment for most flowers. Their porosity allows air and water to penetrate the pot, which roots absorb for their growth.  On the other hand, it prevents waterlogging as it acts like a wick, removing excess water.

Con

Ceramic and terracotta pots can be heavy, especially the large ones. Hence, move them carefully because they are prone to cracking if dropped. Furthermore, they can crack and split during the freezing and thawing cycles.

A freeze-thaw cycle (FTC), happens when the air temperature drops to 32 degrees Fahrenheit; cold enough to freeze water, and then increases again to a point when the water thaws. Whereas this normally occurs during winter, it can happen at any time of the year. For example, during spring, temperatures can dip below freezing during the night and rise above freezing during the day.

To reduce the risk of freeze-thaw cycles during the winter, you may need to cover your flowers and pots with materials like anti-frost covers, burlap, or bubble wrap.

Concrete Flower Pots

These flower pots are manufactured using cement, water, sand, and rock. Sometimes chemicals such as silicon, calcium, aluminum, and iron are added to the concrete mixture to bind and harden the mixture even more.

Here are the benefits and drawbacks of concrete flower pots:

Pros

Durable: You can expect your concrete flower pot to last long because it can withstand harsh weather conditions, including extreme heat or cold without breaking or cracking.

Stable: These pots are heavy and therefore cannot topple over easily in strong winds or when holding large plants.

Insulation: Concrete pots will provide insulation to your plant roots, keeping them cool during the hot season and warm during the cold season.

Aesthetic appeal: Concrete pots can be molded into any shape or design, hence they are available in various finishes, colors, and textures. When no color is applied or added during molding the pot will have a light gray color.

Porous: Concrete pots are porous, permitting air and moisture to circulate plant roots. This circulation prevents the water from logging at the bottom of the pot, which can cause root rot. 

Cons

Weight: Concrete is heavy, hence rearranging your pots can prove challenging, especially when filled with soil and plants.

Susceptible to cracking: Though durable, concrete pots can crack and eventually break when subjected to freeze-thaw cycles as explained earlier. If this happens, the roots will be exposed, drying them out and eventually causing the death of the plants.

Cost: Concrete pots can be expensive, especially if the quality is high.

Plant health affected: Concrete can leach lime into the soil, increasing its alkaline levels that can harm acid-loving plants.

Choosing The Right Size And Shape Of Flower Pots

After selecting the flower pot material, the next step is to choose the shapes and sizes of the pots you need. Let’s see how to approach this.

Pot Size

Whereas it’s essential to ensure that your flowers receive the correct soil mixture, amount of water, and nutrients, the size of the pot can impact its growth. So, you need to know the pot size to grow your flowers. 

Choose a pot that has enough room for the plant to grow. If it’s too small, it will restrict the growth of plants. If it is too large, you’ll risk overwatering leading to root rot. And, too little water in a big pot can cause the large soil volume to dry out, stunting the plant growth.

Ideally, use a pot with a diameter of around two inches more than the plant. Also, allow a one-inch distance between the root mass and the inside of the pot to provide adequate space for the plant to grow well.

As the plants grow, transferring them to bigger pots will be necessary. Do this gradually to ensure the plant receives the correct amount of water.

If you plan to plant several flowers in one pot, add two inches for each plant size. This gives each plant enough space to grow, preventing them from competing for sunlight and nutrients. 

Shape Of Pots

Pots come in various shapes including square, round, rectangle, oval, tapered, cylindrical, and others, giving you plenty of options to match your preference.

For example, round pots provide a traditional look that’s suitable for a variety of plants. For a modern look, you can go for the square pots. For a unique aesthetic appeal, an oval or hexagonal pot can suffice.

For a sleek and elegant appearance, a tapered pot is suitable, and if you want to grow many plants in one pot, a rectangular one is what you need. If the roots run deep, grow your plants in tall pots, and for spreading plants, use shorter, but wider pots.

Here are some tips on what to consider when deciding the shape of pots for your patio:

Visual Harmony

You can create a dynamic space by displaying different shapes on your patio. For example, you can break monotony by mixing round pots with square or hexagonal pots. Or, you can use pots of various shapes in the same color. Think of your patio as a blank canvas and experiment with different shapes to create a unique outdoor space.

Grouping The Pots

You can create cohesiveness and variety in your patio by using the same shape of pots of different heights. For example, you can have a linear arrangement at the edge of your patio, by lining up the pots of the same color and progressing from the tallest to the shortest or vice versa. 

A tiered arrangement is another option. Place the tallest pots at the back or in the center of the grouping. Follow this by placing the medium-height pots in front of the taller pots or around the base of the taller pots. Finally, place the short pots at the front or around the medium pots.

Thematic Consistency

The shape of the pots can contribute to a thematic design. For example, round pots might suit a Mediterranean-themed patio, while geometric shapes like squares and rectangles might fit a contemporary theme.

Personalization

Adding shapes like hexagonal, oval, or custom-designed pots is one of the ways you can personalize your design by adding an element of surprise to your patio.

Pot Color And Design Considerations

You can increase the aesthetic appeal of your patio by carefully choosing the pot colors and designs.

For example, you can create a harmonious look by matching the color of the pots with that of the furniture, and accessories of your patio. In contrast, create a vibrant look by decorating pots that have a contrasting color with the furniture.

Moreover, you can decorate your patio by identifying pots with your favorite patterns and textures, creating depth and interest.

Here are some tips to consider when choosing pot colors and designs:

Thematic Color Schemes

Choose a color scheme that complements the overall theme of your patio. For instance, earthy tones like terracotta and browns complement a rustic or Mediterranean theme, while bright and bold colors suit a tropical design.

Seasonal Adjustments

You can change the pot colors according to the seasons to keep your patio looking fresh and current. Warm tones for autumn, cool blues and whites for winter, pastels for spring, and vibrant hues for summer to reflect the seasonal changes.

Focal Points

Use brightly colored pots as focal points to draw attention to specific areas of your patio.

Pattern Play

Incorporate pots with various patterns, such as stripes, geometric designs, floral prints, or ethnic motifs, to add character and a touch of your style to the patio.

Monochromatic Palettes

For a sophisticated and elegant look, use pots in varying shades of the same color. This can create a harmonious effect while adding visual interest.

Mix and Match

Don’t be afraid to mix different colors and designs, as this can create a dynamic and lively atmosphere in your patio. For example, combining various colors and patterns can make your patio visually stimulating and inviting. 

Textures and Finishes

Beyond color, consider the texture and finish of the pots. You can choose pots with Matte, glossy, or textured finishes, each offering a distinct aesthetic that can complement or contrast your patio decor.

Cultural Influences

Choose designs inspired by different cultures to create an eclectic patio. Moroccan patterns, Chinese porcelain designs, or Mexican Talavera can bring a global flair to your outdoor space.

In Closing

One of the ways of sprucing up your patio is by adding flower pots. By choosing the right pot size, shape, and colors you can create an inviting patio that reflects your style and nurtures your plants.

Fiberglass pots are durable and versatile in design, while ceramic and terracotta pots provide a natural environment ideal for plant health. Perfect for beginners, plastic pots are affordable and lightweight, though they can be toxic to plants. Concrete pots are durable and provide good insulation but can be heavy and prone to cracking in freezing conditions.

Whatever type of flower pot you choose, embrace your creativity and enhance your patio with flower pots and favorite flowers.

You are welcome to read our previous posts by clicking the links below:

The Right Way To Clean Patio Cushions

Home Decor That Fits Your Personality

​