Consider this when buying outdoor pots

Growing outdoor plants in pots is both beautiful and practical in many ways. You can easily move your plants around in the garden, on the balcony or patio – whether it is to protect the plants from the weather or to rearrange the furniture and give the space a boost. If you have plants outside that need to be overwintered inside, it is easier to move them inside if they are already in pots. 

But it is important to be careful when buying outdoor pots. Different materials have different durability, and if the pots are going to be outside over the winter, it is also important to know how the outdoor pots are marked to indicate what frost resistance they can withstand.

Weather and wind can cause damage or affect the technical lifespan of the pots. If the pots are going to be outside, it is therefore a good idea to choose a pot that is made to withstand the weather and climate where you live, regardless of whether it is rain, frost, ice, UV rays (sun) or wind.

Light pots blow over faster and risk cracking, while heavy pots are harder to move around. 

Take a look at the space you plan to have the pots in. Is the place protected from wind? Is there a roof that you can move the pots under in the winter? 

Color and shape are of course also important to consider. Outdoor pots, like indoor pots, come in a wide range of different designs. They can be round, rectangular and square, in addition to hanging baskets that you can hang and strawberry pots with several openings on the sides. The pots can also be handmade or hand-painted, to name a few. 

But pots also differ from each other when it comes to function. Self-watering pots are an example of this, and these are especially practical if you want to avoid watering so often. There are also self-watering inserts that you can put in your regular pots, to achieve some of the same benefits. Which outdoor pots you choose should be based on both function and personal taste.

• Holes in the bottom 
  Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, so that excess water can drain out. If there are no holes in the bottom, you risk the pot breaking if the temperature drops below freezing – after the plant in the pot has been standing in water during the warm season. If there are no holes in the pot already, you can drill your own in most types of pots.
  
• Frost-resistant or frost-proof 
  Pots that will be placed outdoors should at least be frost-resistant if you want to have them outside all season. However, frost-resistant pots usually cannot withstand having plants and soil in them through the winter. If you want to use the pots outside all year round, you should instead look for a frost-proof pot. Frost-proof pots are also no guarantee against frost damage, but these pots are designed to be able to be left outside with soil and plants through the winter – as long as you follow the instructions. Frost-proof pots should still be placed under cover in winter, and the soil in them should not be wet – moist soil that freezes expands and can damage the pot.
  
• Placement 
  In the warm season, you should make sure that excess water can drain out of the pot. If the pot is standing upright on a solid surface, the plant may be standing in water. Place the pot elevated, on a potting trolley, on pot feet or on a potting tray that allows the water to drain out of the drainage hole in the bottom. You can also use things you already have available to raise the pot slightly off the ground, such as some stones or pieces of wood. In winter, the pot should be moved indoors. 
  
• Size 
  The size of the pot you need depends on what you are going to plant in it. For seasonal plants, size is not the most important thing. However, if you are going to plant larger plants in pots, such as shrubs and trees that will live in the pot for several seasons, you should choose a large pot! Larger pots allow the root system to develop better, while also making it easier to maintain a consistent level of water in the pot. It also allows the plant to survive for a longer period without care. Also, keep in mind that plants in pots do not have as much protection during the winter as plants planted directly in the ground. It may therefore be a good idea to choose a variety of tree or shrub that can withstand at least one hardiness zone above where you live. Choose one that can withstand H5 if you live in H4, for example. There is no guarantee that the plants will survive the winter in the pot, but with the right precautions, the odds are on your side.
  
• Features
  Some pots come with a plug in the bottom, which allows you to choose whether it will function as an outdoor pot or an indoor pot - to seal the pot, you simply put the plug in. 
  
• Leca balls
  Before you fill the pot with soil, it is a good idea to put a few cm of Leca balls in the bottom, so that the drainage is even better. To prevent the soil you put on top from filling the spaces between the balls, it can be extra smart to put a growing cloth between the Leca balls and the soil.

Ceramic pots are made from clay that is shaped and then fired in a kiln. There are different types of clay pots, ranging from terracotta and porcelain to pots made of fiber clay. Note that ceramic pots can be sensitive to frost and impact. 

Concrete pots made from cement that has been shaped and then hardened into concrete. Due to their weight, concrete pots can withstand a lot of wind. However, there is also lightweight concrete that weighs significantly less. Concrete pots can also withstand frost relatively well, as long as they are adapted to it and treated correctly - see the checklist above. 

Plastic pots can range from rattan pots to regular traditional plastic pots made of polypropylene. Such pots can be UV-treated to withstand the sun's rays better, or they can be made of materials that make them extra frost-resistant. They can also differ from each other in other ways, such as environmental friendliness - for example, we have pots made of recycled plastic. 

There are also pots made of metal and cast iron, such as corten steel, zinc and the like. Metal pots usually withstand cold well, but can have problems with corrosion and rust. If you live by the sea, the risk of corrosion is especially high, due to the salt water. In the summer, metal pots that are left in the sun become very hot, which can contribute to the soil drying out faster and, in the worst case, the plants being damaged.

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