Five inches sounds like it ought to fit inside five inches. With plant pots, it often doesn't. One measurement may be the outside of the decorative planter, another the rim of the nursery pot, and neither tells you quite enough about the space inside.
If you already have the plant, start there. A few measurements will help you choose a pot you'll enjoy looking at without getting it home and finding that the plastic rim sits awkwardly above the edge.
The measurements that help
Measure the nursery pot at its widest point, including any lip around the top. Then measure its base and height. Compare those with the decorative planter's inside opening and usable depth. You want the pot to pass through the opening and sit where you expect it to sit.
If only outside measurements are given, ask us for the interior ones. It's especially worth doing when the fit looks close. Handmade pieces vary a little, and that little bit can matter here.
The Portal planters
Stanley Chester & Albert Ceramics makes the Stacey, Daisy, Megan, Betty and Rosalie Portal planters. They're hand thrown in brown stoneware, with matte colored underglazes that let the clay's speckles show through.
Each is approximately 5 inches tall and 5 inches across the top. Those shared dimensions give you a starting point, then the surface designs give you the enjoyable choice. Once you've worked out the fit, you can look at which colors belong beside your plant and the things already on the shelf.
Look underneath, too
The Bad Dogs planter with a chunky tray is approximately 3 inches tall and 4 inches across. It has a drainage hole, and the tray is included. That is useful to know before planning where it will live.
For any planter, decide whether you'll keep the plant in its nursery pot or plant directly into the vessel, then confirm the drainage arrangement for that piece. A decorative outer pot and a pot for direct planting may need different setups. If it will stand on furniture, protect the surface underneath and check for escaped water when you water the plant. Follow the maker's placement guidance for the piece.
For stems instead of a potted plant
The Small Citreum Haus Vase is approximately 3 by 5 inches, in LUVHAUS's yellow glaze with a hint of green. It has a different job: holding an arrangement of cut stems.
Think about the opening and the height you'd like the arrangement to reach. A few stems in a small vase can occupy a very different amount of space from a leafy potted plant. If you're choosing for a narrow shelf, measure the spot and leave room for what's going above the vessel, too.
A planter can arrive empty
For someone who enjoys plants, choosing their own plant may be part of the pleasure. You can give the vessel with its dimensions and care information and leave that choice to them. If you're planning to plant together with a child, our indoor gardening guide has ideas for getting started.
For the wall above that shelf, there's our small print-gallery guide; for a different sort of home gift, browse the gift guide. And if you're looking at a planter and wondering about that last quarter inch of room, ask us. It's a much easier question to answer before the pot is on its way to you.
Leave a comment