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Advice on plant pots

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  • 11-04-2016 4:54pm
    #1
    NiallBoo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,504 ✭✭✭


    Hi there,

    I want to plant some climbers and I'm looking for advice on what kind of planters to use.

    The current plan is for some kind of honeysuckle and/or clematis (though I may go for wisteria in one part) to climb a trellis on the side of the house and then across a pergola.

    A couple of question:
    1. What kind of pots? - terracotta, fibreclay etc?
      They'll need to be quite durable - once they're there, I'm guessing they'll be a pain to repot.
      So far the nicest looking ones I've found are fibreclay, but will they last?
    2. How big will the pots need to be?

    Thanks for looking and any suggestions are welcome.


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    #2
    macraignil
    Registered Users Posts: 3,380 ✭✭✭macraignil


    Have you considered planting the climbers directly in the ground?

    There would be more space for the roots to develop over time. I have also read that containers expose roots to more cold in the winter months.


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    #3
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users Posts: 28,914 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    macraignil wrote: »
    Have you considered planting the climbers directly in the ground?

    There would be more space for the roots to develop over time. I have also read that containers expose roots to more cold in the winter months.
    +1

    If this is an option, then there's no contest.

    You'll have to be very dedicated to watering if you plant stuff in pots, in the ground you'll get away with far less attention.


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    #4
    NiallBoo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,504 ✭✭✭NiallBoo


    macraignil wrote: »
    Have you considered planting the climbers directly in the ground?

    There would be more space for the roots to develop over time. I have also read that containers expose roots to more cold in the winter months.

    Hi thanks,

    It would definitely be a better option but there's a patio on that side of the house which we don't want to start digging up.

    I'd like to at least try pots first.

    We get a lot of frost (still getting it now), so I was thinking of lining the internal sides of the pots with a layer of aeroboard and bark on the top. Will this help?

    What are the thoughts on fibre clay pots?


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    #5
    macraignil
    Registered Users Posts: 3,380 ✭✭✭macraignil


    Don't know anything about fibre clay pots. Also not sure how well insulation would work outdoors but a covering of mulch over the surface is supposed to help protect plants from what I have read. Solid clay or concrete containers might retain more heat from the day and be better than a lining of insulation.


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    #6
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,163 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Don't use pots that are narrower at the neck than the body. If you need to repot you will find it very difficult to get the plants out.


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    #7
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users Posts: 28,914 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    I'm no expert on pots I'm afraid (although I have a few, and am demented trying to keep them watered in the summer, hence my post above!) - but I seem to remember hearing that terracotta will hold moisture better than others so may help in the keeping-the-plants-alive department.

    My instinct would be that if you're looking for a climber to spread over a large area then you're going to need a very big pot to cope with those roots.

    Any good garden centre will be able to advise you, they're usually incredibly helpful..


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    #8
    Marhay70
    Registered Users Posts: 1,913 ✭✭✭Marhay70


    HeidiHeidi wrote: »
    I'm no expert on pots I'm afraid (although I have a few, and am demented trying to keep them watered in the summer, hence my post above!) - but I seem to remember hearing that terracotta will hold moisture better than others so may help in the keeping-the-plants-alive department.

    My instinct would be that if you're looking for a climber to spread over a large area then you're going to need a very big pot to cope with those roots.

    Any good garden centre will be able to advise you, they're usually incredibly helpful..

    I would expect the opposite, any type of clay pot will act like a sponge unless effectively glazed and I'd imagine they would be quite expensive.
    OP, Clematis are much better in the ground but if you really want to grow them in pots, look for the slower growing varieties whose roots will take longer to develop. Clematis also like their roots to be cool so standing a pot in full sun in July will not make them happy, cover the top of the soil with pebbles and keep it moist. Also bear in mind that you'll need a pot of about 50cm diameter to house the roots and when that is filled with soil and drainage medium it''s not something you'll want to carry around.
    Why not go for wooden boxes and line the sides with plastic which will both delay decay and also serve to keep the moisture in the soil? Also more aesthetically pleasing IMO.


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