When bringing home a new indoor plant, it’s only natural to want a container that fits your space and style—and the options today are virtually endless. But if you’ve ever fallen in love with a pot only to turn it over and find no drainage holes, you might have been left scratching your head.
Most modern decorative plant containers, known as cachepots, are intentionally made without drainage holes! Rather than planting directly into them, they work best as a decorative cover—simply keep your plant in its plastic nursery pot and drop it right in. It’s an easy, practical solution that protects your plant while giving you the freedom to style your space however you like.
With that in mind, here are a few things to consider from the plant’s point of view when choosing the right cachepot.
Cachepot Benefits & Drainage Tips
Good drainage is one of the most important factors in keeping houseplants healthy—poor drainage and overwatering are the leading causes of root rot, which is the number one killer of indoor plants. When roots sit in standing water, they are deprived of oxygen and begin to decay, often before any visible symptoms appear above the soil.
Using the drop-in technique not only creates a cleaner look by eliminating the need for a drainage saucer, it also makes watering simple: just lift the nursery pot out, water it thoroughly over a sink, allow it to drain completely, and drop it back in. While getting to know your new plant’s watering needs, you can also use the weight of the plastic pot as a guide—a heavy pot means wet soil, while a lighter one signals it’s time to water.
For larger plants that are too heavy to lift out, be sure to remove any water that collects at the bottom of the cachepot. A turkey baster or absorbent towel works well for this, as allowing the roots to sit in that pooled water defeats the purpose of using a nursery pot in the first place.
Choosing the Best Container Size for Your Plant
Houseplants range in size from adorable 2-inch succulents to majestically tall palm trees, but most growers tend to use a standard series of plastic nursery containers that are 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch, or more in diameter. Knowing your nursery pot size is the first step in choosing a cachepot that’s the right fit—both for your plant and your space. As a general rule, look for a cachepot that is one to two inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot, which allows enough room to easily drop it in and lift it back out without leaving so much space that it looks unfinished.
If your decorative container is much larger than the nursery pot, just prop the inner pot up with a smaller pot or fill the extra space with styrofoam or other water-resistant packing materials. This keeps the plant at the right height while allowing room to swap in a larger nursery pot as the plant grows over time. A decorative layer of moss on top is the perfect finishing touch, disguising the inner plastic pot and giving the arrangement a naturally planted look.
Most tropical plants prefer to be somewhat root-bound and thrive in modestly sized containers—so there’s no need to rush into a larger cachepot either. When your plant does outgrow its nursery pot, check out our guide to repotting houseplants for everything you need to know!
Transporting Your New Plant & Decorative Pot Home
Once you’ve found the perfect houseplant and cache pot to match, make sure they both arrive home safely. Tropical plants are especially sensitive to cold—temperatures below 50°F can damage new foliage, and prolonged exposure can be fatal in as little as an hour.
A few simple precautions go a long way: wrap the plant in a paper bag, tissue paper, or plastic before leaving the store, warm up the car beforehand in extreme cold, and always transport plants in the passenger area rather than the trunk. Take them straight home and avoid letting foliage rest against cold windows or sitting in a parked car while you run other errands.
If you’ve fallen for a large statement plant and gorgeous pottery to match, don’t let the logistics stop you—our garden centers offer home delivery. Just ask for details!
Indoor gardening with tropical plants continues to grow in popularity, and finding the perfect cachepot to complement your space is half the fun. As the seasons change and we spend more time indoors, houseplants add stylish color and vibrancy to home décor while improving air quality and naturally lifting moods. They also make incredibly thoughtful gifts—a beautiful plant paired with a decorative cachepot is a unique way to show gratitude to a loved one, give thanks to a host or hostess, or simply brighten someone’s day.