What To Plant In A Shallow Planter? 3 Best Shallow Pots For Succulents

The choice of a pot is an important consideration when setting up a garden. Pot depth is one of the critical considerations when choosing. Other considerations include the width of the pot, its color, and the material from which it is made. When determining the correct pot size, the primary concern is the depth of roots.

You don’t need a deep pot for a plant with shallow roots. If you used a deep planter, you would be wasting pottage. The pottage you use for your plant is often commercial; you must pay for it. A deeper-than-necessary pot requires you to buy twice the pottage you need for the plant. A deep pot may also occupy more space than necessary, among other issues.

Too much soil also means more than the necessary weight due to the different soil. Many plants we plant in pots need to be moved from time to time. You may be moving them because you want to decorate the house differently. You may also be moving the plant to more favorable weather conditions such as sunlight. When the pot is too heavy, it won’t be easy to carry, and it may break up the pot, mainly if you use a terracotta container.

While a deep pot may cause extra expense in the pottage, you can’t reduce the size of the pot so low that it can’t hold enough soil for the plant. Therefore, the root depth of the plant is the most critical consideration when determining the correct pot depth for your plant. The following are some plants for which you can use a shallow pot.

What To Plant In A Shallow Planter?

#1. Vegetables

The word vegetables refer to a broad range of plants. Some common vegetables with shallow roots can grow in shallow planters. Examples of the plants you can sell include lettuces and onions, which you can successfully grow within a few inches of potting mix. The shallow soil is applicable for reeks and bulb onions, even if bulb onion grows underground. Other root crops such as radishes and cucumbers can also be grown in these shallow pots even if they appear too big. Their enormous size is usually above the surface but not underground.

#2. Herbs

Some herbs in our homes for wellness and spices have shallow roots. They are therefore suitable to grow in shallow soil. Herbs such as thyme, sage, and oregano do exceptionally well in shallow containers. It is essential to study the root structure of the herbs before choosing the right pot for them. However, you can be reasonably sure that the herb will have shallow roots. The vast majority of herbs have shallow roots.

#3. Flowers

Flowers are a broad term referring to virtually all decorative plants, so some will be perennial trees. Perennial trees will not fit in a shallow pot or any other type. Almost all short-lived flowers, such as those with a life cycle of up to one year, have shallow roots, and shallow pots are suitable for them. These flowers include zinnias, petunias, impatiens, and lavender. The four are not the only annual flowers for a shallow pot; they are among the ones people popularly use in planters.

#4. Foliage

Foliage such as hostas has shallow roots even if it grows from rhizomes. They are just one example of many rhizomes that work well with shallow pottages. This foliage benefits immensely from the shallow soil because the pots are light to carry around. Moving the pots around helps protect the rhizomes from pests such as snails that feed on their leaves by forcing them to different locations. Plants of this nature are delicate, and you must constantly move them to keep them healthy. Shallow pots facilitate that.

#5. Shrubs

Some shrubs such as rhododendrons and azaleas do best in shallow soils. They usually have shallow roots, although the roots spread wide. While it may be necessary for the pot to be broad, it doesn’t need to be profound. These shrubs do best when planted in pots because their root systems give them difficulties penetrating hard and rocky soil. Planting the shrubs on soft, wealthy, well-chosen pottage helps them not struggle with the hard ground.

#6. Succulents

The vast majority of household or garden decorative plants are succulents. Typically, succulents have shallow roots; you should plant them in shallow pots. Sometimes, especially in winter, you need to take them out to get sunlight. Tilt the plant to keep to drain water that has lodged on the leaves because having water on leaves leads to root rot. The pot is easily movable to perform some of these husbandry tasks, and shallow soils make this even more possible. Fortunately for succulents, the shallowness of dirt doesn’t reduce the quality of the plant because it is usually just enough for the succulents’ roots.

Make sure to follow Succulent City on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram for more informative & interesting content about succulents & cacti 🙂 Happy planting, and live the moment, my friend!

Best Shallow Succulent Planters We Would Like To Recommend

The following are examples of shallow pots you can buy if you want to plant above.

#1. ZKF Small Mini Clay Pots

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These high-quality terracotta pots are only 2.16 inches deep and 2.16 inches in diameter. They are, therefore, both shallow and narrow best suited for plants that are small in roots and foliage. The pots are high-fired to strengthen them, and they have draining holes. Being terracotta also means that these pots have an inbuilt porosity that allows easy evaporation. The soil drains quickly, which is the ideal drainage condition for succulents.

Because they are so small, the manufacturer sells the pots in sets of 28! This means you can have enough for an entire start-up garden in a single purchase. The pots can also be ideal for succulent propagation, significantly if the propagated plant grows too big for these tiny pots. If the plant is on the smaller side, the pot is perfect for keeping it.

#2. ZOUTOG White Ceramic Planter

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This planter is only six inches deep, ideal for shallow-rooted plants. It is ceramic and white with a smooth interior and exterior finish. The farmer has a drainage hole at the center to drain excess water, and it comes with a bamboo tray that catches any extra water and other debris, such as dry soil, that might fall through the drainage hole. This bamboo tray contributes to keeping your house clean and giving your planter and home an authentic natural look. The relatively wide pot can handle more than one plant at once, thus giving it the feel of a tiny forest. The manufacturer sells the pots in sets of two.

#3. Laergin Shallow Terracotta Pots

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These clay pots are 2.2 inches deep and have a diameter of 6.43 inches. They are made from the highest quality clay and then hard-baked under high temperatures to give them a high level of durability. Like all terracotta pots, the pots are highly porous. Also, they have an even earthy finish both inside and the outside.

The finish makes the pots themselves a decoration for the house. Despite their natural porosity, these pots have a draining hole through which any additional water passes to prevent waterlogging, which can be lethal to some plants such as succulents. The pot has a broad base for stability and is easy to dye if you want to improve its natural beauty. It comes in a pack of six pots.

Make sure to follow Succulent City on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram for more informative & interesting content about succulents & cacti 🙂 Happy planting, and live the moment, my friend!

Final Thought

Shallow pots have many advantages, which we have enumerated in the article. It is, however, essential to note that the size of roots is the primary determinant of whether you will put your plant in a shallow or wide pot. It would be a great mistake to plant in a shallow pot without considering this factor.

Sometimes you can use these pots before transplanting the seedlings, especially when using seeds for propagation. If you are propagating using stem cuttings, ensure the cuttings are no more than two inches long.

ABOUT ME

Richard Miller

Salute everyone. It's Richard, the author of this Succulent & Xeriscaping blog. I am a traveler and a nature lover looking for a connection with the wild green. In my journey, I found a love for succulents and xeriscaping. What attracts me is the long-lasting & unique beauty of every plant I have the chance to see with my own eyes. Welcome to my little blog and let's enjoy a good time together!

Contact me: richard.succulentcity@gmail.com