What Kind Of Pot For Chinese Evergreen? (Pot type, Size, Material & More)

Chinese evergreen is a popular houseplant due to its low maintenance nature. If you are getting a Chinese evergreen for your house, you must also understand which pot will suit it. Not all kinds of pot will suit your Chinese evergreen.

So, in this article, we shall discuss what kind of pot is best for Chinese evergreen.

In general, Clay, terracotta, and unglazed ceramic pots are best for Chinese evergreens as they are porous and allow good airflow into the soil and roots. Also, remember that the pot you choose must be 1-2 inches bigger than the current pot, and it must also have adequate drainage holes.

Before you decide which pot you want for your Chinese evergreen, I’ll discuss the pros and cons of using these different types of pots. Let’s find out.

Which pot size is suitable for Chinese evergreen?

All plants require correct-sized pots, and Chinese evergreen is no different. You can’t keep it in a pot that is too small or large and expects it to thrive.

Therefore, when deciding the pot, never overlook the size and always get a pot that is one size larger than the plant size.

Using an overly big pot for your Chinese evergreen will require more soil that needs more water.

The soil will take time to dry out, and due to remaining in soggy soil for too long, the roots will get overwatered and might even undergo root rot.

You can use a big pot for big heavy plants. You can also grow multiple plants together in big and broad pots.

If you get a pot that is too small for your Chinese evergreen, the plant will get rootbound fast, and you’ll soon need to repot it.

Although Chinese evergreen plants have a shallow root system, it doesn’t mean you can keep them in smaller pots.

Small pot contains less soil which dries out fast, and this condition is not suitable for Chinese evergreens as they prefer slightly moist soil.

If you keep your Chinese evergreen in a small pot, it might grow bigger than the pot within a short period and might fall on a side if you don’t repot it on time.

One significant disadvantage of using a small pot is that the plant will require repotting more frequently.

All plants get stressed when you repot them, and going through that stress multiple times can take a toll on your Chinese evergreen’s health.

After keeping all these in mind, I suggest you go for a pot that is 1-2 inches bigger than the roots of your Chinese evergreen. The roots should get enough space to breathe and grow freely inside the pot.

Also read: What Kind Of Soil Does A Chinese Evergreen Need? (+Best Soil Mix)

Which pot shape is suitable for Chinese evergreen?

Pots are available in different shapes in the market, such as round, oval, square, rectangle, etc.

You can use whichever shape you prefer as long as it is appropriate for your Chinese evergreen and provides enough space for the roots.

Which pot material is ideal for Chinese evergreen?

Here comes the tricky part where you have to decide the potting material for your Chinese evergreen. You can opt for any material as long as you can keep your plant healthy and happy in it.

Understanding the pros and cons of different pot materials will help you take care of your Chinese evergreen based on the pot you have placed it in.

Here are some common pot materials that you’ll find in the market.

• Ceramic pots
• Terracotta pots
• Wooden pots
• Plastic pots
• Fiberglass pots
• Metal pots

Let’s understand these in a few more details.

Ceramic pots

Ceramic pots have a glazed finish and have become a popular choice due to their looks. They are not as porous as terracotta pots.

Pros:

• These are suitable for plants that require evenly moist soil.
• These pots are heavy and provide stability.
• Ceramic pots will not break as easily as terracotta pots.
• The soil will not dry out as fast as in terracotta pots.

Cons:

• These might come without drainage holes, so you need to drill some yourself.
• These pots can get heavy when your plant grows big and can be difficult to move around. But you can keep the pots on rollers.

Terracotta pots

These are by far the most suitable pots for houseplants. These are clay-based and porous. These pots come in warm colors, and you’ll find these in different gardens and houses.

Pros:

• These pots are porous and let the soil dry out on time.
• These pots allow good airflow inside the pot and the roots.
• Terracotta pots are heavy and provide stability to the plants.
• These are available at different price ranges.

Cons:

• The pot can break easily if dropped.
• Your plant will require frequent watering if sitting in a terracotta pot. This is because the soil will dry out faster in terracotta pots.
• Terracotta pots with big plants are heavy, and you would need to keep the pots on rollers.

Wooden pots

You might have seen wooden pots in different gardens, but these are also used indoors. Wooden pots provide a different look altogether and last for many years.

Pros:

• Wooden pots are cheap.
• You can make wooden pots with recycled materials such as barks or boxes.
• You can paint the wooden pots and create a different look.

Cons:

• These are porous and will allow the soil to dry up faster, so you will need to water your Chinese evergreen more frequently.
• The quality of the wood can decline over time.
• Wooden pots can also leak, so you can keep a tray underneath the pot to collect the excess water.

Plastic pots

Plastic pots are very common these days, and you will get them in different shapes with attractive looks.

Pros:

• These are light, and you can easily lift or move them around.
• These are cheap.
• These will not break easily.
• Plastic pots are available in different varieties.

Cons:

• The biggest demerit of plastic pots is that they are non-porous and don’t allow airflow inside the soil and the roots.
• Plastic pots can cause overwatering by retaining too much water.
• Plastic pots will lose color when exposed to the sun.

Fiberglass pots

Fiberglass pots resemble ceramic or plastic pots. These are made by mixing resins and fiberglass fibers.

Pros:

• These are lightweight and easy to handle.
• These can last long.
• These pots come in different shapes, sizes, and designs.

Cons:

• Fiberglass pots are non-porous like plastic pots and can cause overwatering and stop airflow into the pot.
• These pots are expensive.
• These can break easier than plastic pots.

Metal pots

Even metal pots are used for the unique look these add to the indoor garden.

Pros:

• Metal pots provide a unique look different from all other pots.
• Metal pots last long.
• Metal pots don’t break easily.

Cons:

• Metal pots can develop rust.
• Keeping metal pots in the sun can make them hot, which might not suit the plants.
• Metal pots are non-porous and can cause overwatering.

How to select the right pot for Chinese evergreen?

No matter the shape or material of the pot you select, there are some factors that you need to consider. Let’s find out.

Size

I have already mentioned the importance of choosing the correct sized pot for your Chinese evergreen. You must ensure that the pot has enough space to allow the roots to grow.

Many people mistake choosing a significantly big pot, thinking it will allow the plant to grow freely without repotting it for years. However, it can cause different issues, including overwatering.

On the other hand, a smaller pot will require you to repot your Chinese evergreen more frequently, leading to unnecessary stress and an unhealthy plant.

The pot should be 1-2 inches larger than the plant roots.

Drainage holes

Without drainage holes, your Chinese evergreen will sit in soggy soil that it doesn’t prefer. It will lead to deadly root rot.

Always choose a pot that comes with drainage holes. If the pot doesn’t have them, you can drill some before putting your Chinese evergreen in it.

Drainage holes let the excess water move out of the system and prevent making the soil soggy. These also allow oxygen to flow into the soil and roots.

Also read: Do all indoor plants need drainage holes?

Cleanliness

Pots can build up dirt over time that can become harmful to your Chinese evergreen. Therefore, you must clean the pots from time to time.

You can take your Chinese evergreen out of the pot and use a damp cloth to clean the dirt and the soil if it’s kept in a plastic pot. You can also use bleach to clean the pot.

But if your Chinese evergreen is placed in a clay pot, you need to wash the pot well and soak it in bleach water for half an hour. After removing the pot from the bleach, wash and rinse it well.

Repotting

Generally, Chinese evergreen requires repotting once in 3-4 years when it starts getting rootbound. You must remember these while repotting the Chinese evergreen.

• Take a pot that is only one size bigger than your Chinese evergreen.
• Prepare a well-draining soil mix that retains sufficient moisture to keep the soil evenly moist.
• Water your Chinese evergreen right after repotting to let the soil settle down and reduce the repotting stress.
• Don’t fertilize right after repotting as the soil remains nutrient-rich at the time of repotting and doesn’t require more nutrients.
• You can start repotting after a month of repotting.
• Don’t make the potting mix heavy, as it will retain excess moisture.

Final words

You can choose any pot for your Chinese evergreen as long as you can maintain the correct care routine based on the pot.

You can choose a plastic pot for your Chinese evergreen if you want to lift it quickly or if you don’t want to water it frequently. On the other hand, you can get a terracotta pot for your Chinese evergreen if you want to allow airflow into the soil and roots.

You can select the pot based on the kind of decoration you want to have in your house. I hope this article gives you an idea of the kinds of pots and whether those can be suitable for your Chinese evergreen.

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Reference: Wikipedia, Nasa clean air study, Missouri Botanical Garden, The University of Kansas, NC State University.