Pots & Planters

For direct planting, yes. Drainage holes are the safest option because they let excess water leave the root zone instead of sitting around the roots. Decorative outer pots are fine too, as long as the inner pot can drain and is not left standing in water.

No. Gravel at the bottom does not solve poor drainage; it only changes where excess water sits. What actually matters is a planter with drainage and a growing mix that suits the plant.

Neither is automatically better. Terracotta dries faster and can help with plants that resent staying wet, while plastic holds moisture for longer and suits plants that dry out too quickly in porous pots.

Usually only one size up. Jumping too far up in pot size leaves too much wet mix around a relatively small root ball, which is where repotting problems often begin.

A self-watering planter stores water in a reservoir for the plant to take up as needed. Designs vary, so follow the selected model’s instructions for filling, the growing medium and when to top up the reservoir.