Sign up for our daily newsletter
Plants can be tricky to take care of, often needing specialised soil, frequent watering and lots of sunshine (or as much as the glum British climate can provide). However, one thing we can take care of relatively easily is our plant’s home. So, to that end, we’ve rounded up the best outdoor plant pots for all your gardening and patio decorating needs. Whether you’ve got a monstera that needs more space out in the garden, a herb box you’d like to start on your windowsill or an outdoor space that just needs some greenery to liven it up, we've got you covered.
Our handy buying guide will offer some green-thumbed tips and take you through whatever questions you might have regarding outdoor plant pots. A little further down the page you’ll find our round-up of mini-reviews, where we assess the materials, aesthetic appeal and suitability of our favourite outdoor plant pots.
READ NEXT: The best hedge trimmers you can buy
You might wonder if it's as simple as buying a pot and sticking the plant in it – unfortunately, it’s not quite that easy. There are a few factors you’ll have to consider before purchasing an outdoor plant pot, namely:
Drainage: If your plant is still in a nursery pot (the plastic pot you bought it in) then this will already have drainage holes; if you intend to keep it in one, you don’t need to worry about drainage. If you plan to put your plant into a bigger pot, then you’ll need to ensure it has drainage holes, as well as a water saucer underneath to prevent drips.
Size: If you’re leaving your houseplant in its nursery pot, you can place it into any decorative pot that’s larger than the nursery pot, filling in the gap with soil or bark. You might need to repot your plant into a larger nursery pot as it grows to prevent it becoming root bound, so make sure to plan ahead and leave sufficient room in your secondary outdoor pot.
Watering needs: When purchasing an outdoor plant pot, it's worth thinking about how much water the plant will need. This will affect your choice of material, as some, like terracotta or concrete, are more porous than others and help prevent overwatering and keep soil on the drier side. If your plant needs a lot of water, it might even be worth investing in a self-watering planter. This might sound overly high-tech, but it refers to a type of planter with a water reservoir, which you fill up and then let the plant drink from over time – much handier than watering twice a day.
Placement: Some plants need lots of sunshine, whereas others, like plants newly introduced to the outdoors, need a little more shade. Before purchasing your plant pot, check out its volume and dimensions to make sure it will fit nicely in both shady and sunny spots of your garden or patio, in case you’ll need to move your leafy friend around.
Plant pots can be made from various materials, each with their own benefits and downsides.
Terracotta: This is a type of unglazed, porous ceramic which has a reddish-brown colour. Terracotta is a popular plant pot material as it is very pleasant to look at and can be very durable, even frost-proof, when well-made. However, lower quality terracotta can be quite brittle and susceptible to shattering in colder conditions, so try to assess its quality in your relation to your needs.
Metal: A popular choice for unique pieces and stand-out looks, metal containers can jazz up your garden or patio with shiny surfaces and interesting colours. One notable disadvantage is metal’s tendency to absorb heat in warm weather, which could lead to burnt or dried out plants if not properly managed.
Plastic: Lightweight, generally inexpensive and resistant to damage, plastic pots are a good all-round container for housing your plants. Plastic pots suffer a little in the looks department, lacking the character of metal or ceramics. They can also be potentially unsafe for growing food in the long-term – so make sure any edible plants you’re planning on growing are housed in food-safe plastic pots.
Wood: Using a material like wood provides a rustic and natural look, as well as being generally inexpensive. However, if not properly treated and maintained, wooden containers can suffer from accelerated decay compared to synthetic materials.
Fibreglass: This versatile, synthetic material is made from fibres and resin, and can be easily formed into various shapes and textures. Durable, light and suitable for elegant shaping, fibreglass’s main downside is its high-cost. Concrete: This is the material to go for if you want durability, as not much is going to damage a large, concrete pot. Often subtle and simply designed, concrete brings a touch of elegance to your outdoor spaces. The main drawback of concrete is its weight – make sure you have some helpers on hand if you’re going to be installing a concrete pot in your garden.
READ NEXT: The best patio heaters
Price: £10 | Buy now from B&Q Whether you’re looking for an additional pot to compliment your garden’s rustic aesthetic or are starting from scratch, you can’t really go wrong with a simple terracotta pot. This Verve Lyna terracotta planter, with its rippled design and light colouring, is an especially pretty option, while being unobtrusive enough to fit into a variety of settings. With its 9L capacity, it would be a perfect fit for a mid-sized plant or a selection of flowers. It also has all the classic positive features of well-made terracotta – it’s lightweight, robust, porous and notably inexpensive. Beyond that, it offers weather-resistance and drainage holes to prevent over-watering.
Key details – Volume: 9L; Material: Terracotta; Height: 19cm; Diameter: 26cm; Weight: 5kg; Drainage: Yes; Weatherproofing: Weather-resistant
Buy now from B&Q
Price: £14 | Buy now from B&Q A hanging basket is a fantastic way to get started with outdoor planting, being small and easy to maintain while not requiring any ground space to be taken up. This Panacea model from B&Q is a basic (but super functional) option, boasting a sturdy metal frame and durable coconut fibre lining. It has enough space to fit a healthy bunch of flowers and, handily, also comes with an easily-assembled wall bracket and screws – so first-time planters can hang their new basket anywhere they like.
Key details – Volume: 7L; Material: Metal and coconut fibre; Dimensions: 35cm (DIA); Weight: 705g; Drainage: Yes
Buy now from B&Q
Price: £39 | Buy now from Wayfair Not everyone has a large garden or a patio, and even if you do, you still may not have the room for an army of plants and bushes. When space is limited, a small window box is a great option for working a little bit of garden into a compact outdoor space. This ceramic window box has a very pleasing tiled design, with an Iberian pattern that would add a touch of charm and flair to any windowsill. It’s well-sized, weatherproofed and not overly heavy, making it a perfect all-round pick for starting a herb garden or maintaining a small selection of flowers.
Key details – Volume: 1L; Material: Ceramic; Dimensions: 13.3cm x 39.4cm x 13.4cm (HWD); Weight: 3.85kg; Drainage: No; Weatherproofing: Weather-resistant
Price: £145 | Buy now from Primrose This is the planter for you if you’re looking for a statement piece. Large and elegant, yet simple, its rounded design and soft, grey colouring will catch people’s eyes and draw them to whatever selection of plants you put in it. Due to the lightweight concrete used in its construction, it’s relatively portable at 48kg, while still maintaining all the strength, durability and natural weather resistance that concrete has to offer. The planter itself has drainage holes and, in combination with concrete’s porous nature, this makes it very hard to overwater your plants – ideal for us well-meaning but confused souls, who are never quite sure how much to give our plants to drink.
Key details – Volume: 150L; Material: Lightweight concrete; Dimensions: 65cm x 55cm x 55cm (HWD); Weight: 48kg; Drainage: Yes
Price: £53 | Buy now from Wayfair This planter is made from a combination of stone, resin and fibreglass, which allows it to be super lightweight while keeping its strength and durability. It’s a fantastic option for those who don’t want to deal with constant maintenance, being frost and rust-proof, as well as self-watering. It has an attractive glazed finish and is available in two colours: two-toned, muted shades of green or a simple blue, both of which blend nicely into natural foliage or stone. Given the bevy of features and high-quality materials packed into this planter, it really justifies its price-tag, having one of the best quality-to-price ratios on this list.
Key details – Volume: 32L; Material: Stone, plastic, fibreglass, resin; Dimensions: 36cm x 37cm x 37cm (HWD); Weight: 2.4kg; Drainage: No; Weatherproof: Frostproof, rust-resistant
Price: £180 (Set of 2) | Buy now from Made This summer, why not bring a little high-fashion to your patio, courtesy of this stylish planter set? These pots have an aesthetically pleasing geometric shape and restrained, yet vibrant, yellow and teal colouring, which fit nicely into most spaces and design schemes. They may run a little expensive, but it’s somewhat to be expected given their sleek design and the high-quality fibreglass used to make them.
Said fibreglass makes them super light and therefore easy to try out in different spots. The size and shape also make them ideal for small to mid-sized plants or trees, while the drainage holes in the bottom give you the option to plant into them directly – what’s not to love?
Key details – Material: Fibreglass; Dimensions: 30cm x 48cm x 50 cm, (Yellow) 45cm x 43cm x 45 cm (Teal) (HWD); Weight: 4kg (combined); Drainage: Yes
The best tumble dryers you can buy
The best cordless vacuum cleaners to buy
The best mattresses you can buy
The best dehumidifiers to buy
The best Wi-Fi extenders to buy from £35
The best bathroom extractor fans to buy
The best leaf blowers you can buy
The best AA batteries from £3.60
The best indoor and outdoor home security cameras
Best webcam: HD and 4K cams from just £30
DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress review: Save a huge 45%
Simba Hybrid Luxe: Get the Luxe for 40% less
Simba Hybrid Pro review: Get 40% off
Eve Premium Hybrid Mattress: Eve's best yet
Brook and Wilde Elite: Now 55% cheaper
Worx WG779E.2 review: Just a great cordless mower
Worx WG730E review: A mighty, compact cordless mower
Worx WG749E: All the mower you need for a bigger garden
Worx Landroid M500 Plus WR165E: Cuts grass to perfection
Make the most of the warmer months with garden furniture
The best garden hosepipes you can buy
The best outdoor plant pots you can buy in 2022
The best bird feed for tits, sparrows, finches – and ducks
The best hedge trimmers you can buy
The best Wi-Fi extenders to buy from £35
Copyright © Expert Reviews Holdings Ltd 2022. All rights reserved. Expert Reviews™ is a registered trade mark.