Large plant pots are what you reach for when a plant has outgrown the windowsill: an olive tree by the front door, a fig in the conservatory, bamboo screening a patio or a fiddle-leaf fig filling a corner of the living room. In this section, large plant pots means round pots from roughly 40 cm across and tall rectangular metal covers that hold several potted plants in a row.
| Plant | Pot to look for |
|---|---|
| Young tree or shrub (olive, bay, citrus) | 5–10 cm wider than the root ball, at least 40 cm across |
| Established patio tree | 50–60 cm across, 50 litres or more |
| A row of tall grasses or herbs | a long rectangular cover holding the plants in their own pots |
| Large houseplant in its nursery pot | a pot cover a few centimetres wider and taller than the nursery pot |
Measure the rim, not just the base: on a tapered pot the rim is the widest point and decides how close the pot can stand to a wall or railing.
A pot of 80–90 litres filled with wet compost is far too heavy for one person to carry, so put it where it will live before you fill it, or stand it on a plant caddy with castors. Outdoors, a heavy pot is also a stable one, which matters on windy balconies and roof terraces. Use proper container compost rather than garden soil, which compacts and holds too much water. Check there are drainage holes, raise the pot on pot feet so water can escape, and add a layer of grit only as extra help, not as a substitute for holes.
Frost damage usually comes from waterlogged compost that freezes and expands, not from the cold itself. Pots sold as frostproof cope best, but even they last longer if the compost is kept on the dry side through winter and the pot is lifted off the ground. Plastic pots need nothing more than a wipe with soapy water. Metal covers used indoors only need dusting; keep them away from standing water, and always lift the inner pot out to water and drain it.
Choose a pot 5–10 cm wider than the current root ball and move up again every two or three years. Going much bigger at once leaves a mass of wet compost the roots cannot reach.
Thick, UV-stabilised plastic pots labelled frostproof are. Thin plastic can turn brittle in sunlight and crack in the first hard frost.
No. A pot cover has no drainage, so keep the plant in its nursery pot and stand that inside.
For smaller plants, have a look at medium flower pots, or browse all flower pots and balcony boxes.
