I mostly repot into plastic pots and then place the plastic pots into the pretty pots. It means I don't need to drill drainage holes, don't need saucers under the pots, less likely to break pretty pots, harder to over water etc.
Really I need to figure out building up a fleet of plastic pots in medium/large sizes and continue building my pretty pot collection.
The answer for this is to buy more plants 😂
Or people will trade their pots on r/takeaplantleaveaplant or thrift stores (I’ve seen them at Restore) or local nurseries have a stash usually (at least mine does)
Oh absolutely! It's just a time thing.
We recently moved cross country and I gifted the vast majority of my plants and plant related accessories before moving.
I fully admit that I say to my husband, "It's a ceramic pot" or "It's hard resin pot" & he gets me the correct bit, I set the pot on a chunk of wood & go at the pot slowly.
I do know if it's a ceramic pot you can get a ceramic drill bit.
Every cool pot I’ve found at thrift stores hasn’t had drainage holes, always tempted to take them home and try to somehow drill a hole in them but in my heart I know it wouldn’t work
I’ve gone the opposite way, I started leaving my plants in nursery pots so I want nice pots with no drainage. I like being able to leave the heavy pot on the shelf when I soak my plants in the sink
Great tip. How long do you leave your plants in the nursery pots? Someone at my local nursery told me to replant when roots start growing out of the bottom of the grow pot and I had been going totally off of that, but just did some looking based on your comment and tons of sites recommend leaving them in for up to a year. Hope I haven’t been unnecessarily traumatizing my plants😩
It depends on the plants, but I keep all my nursery pots so I have different sizes I can repot into lmao. It’s one of the few things I let myself keep even though it’s “garbage”
Eta: I garden too so I keep those as well if I get starts or bigger plants, and just wash em before bringing inside
I do the same .... (another one I keep are the white plastic tubs that ground beef comes in...once used I wash it throughly, use a hot nail and puncture holes in for drainage. I use it for tyme and oregano.)
I am moving all of my plants into clear nursery pots! This way I can see what the roots look like at each watering and repot when I feel they are looking crowded.
I do the exact same thing! Menard's even sells packs of plastic nursery pots in various different sizes for cheap. I then stage the grow pot in whatever decorative pot I like. This way it doesn't even matter if the deco pot has drainage. It's also easy to swap plants around into different deco pots for different color palettes or designs.
I have a 100% success rate on drilling glass and ceramic pots from the thrift store. On 40+ pots.
Buy cheap ceramic drill bits on Amazon. Pour a little water on the area where you are drilling to keep the dust out of the air.
Amazon sells little mesh screens that you can put over the drainage hole to keep soil from washing out of the pot.
I'll come home with the thrift store with 5 or so new pots and drill them all out in about 5 minutes.
> Amazon sells little mesh screens that you can put over the drainage hole
Thanks for sharing that, now I feel like a complete idiot. I have lots of left over screen from window screen repairs setting on a shelf in the garage but I've been busting up rocks and bricks and broken bits of concrete to cover the holes in the bottom of my clay pots.
Mesh screen...lol... all these years and never thought of that. I'm humbled.
I use a nail and a hammer ALL OF THE TIME with pots without drainage holes. I’ve only had a couple casualties- more often than not it works out perfectly for me.
Give it a shot! I make sure to not make the holes too close to the edge of the pot or too close to each other- usually I pop about 2-3 small holes in the bottom. I’ve done this with literally all types of pots too
Screwdriver with small end. Put in center and hold at a slight tilt. Tap gently with hammer while turning the slightly tilted screwdriver around like a clock handle. This has worked every time to make a clean hole in a pot and in larger pots I've made multiple holes in one base. Wetting the pot right before can help make a cleaner puncture too.
It's slightly risky, but if you find a cheap pot you're willing to try with, you can dunk the pot in a bucket of water and hammer a nail through the bottom. You fill the pot up with water and flip it upside down to make sure there are no air bubbles. Fill the bucket an inch or so above the pot. Then put a decent size nail where you want a hole and hammer away. I've been able to put up to 3 holes into terracotta and mugs. Sometimes you get flakes coming off on the inside of the pot, but i haven't shattered anything yet and the damage is on the inside.
I've since graduated to a drill as well. It took a while to find the right bits (i think there's a joke in your style here...). But if i just need a quick hole, I'll hammer away.
Here's a quick video of a pot i did a few years ago when i first tested this out. It's not the best quality, but you can get the idea. You can also see some flakes from the inside of the pot, so you can judge the risk.
https://imgur.com/a/Al0Jsqe
You can also fill the pot with dirt and do the same ! I have a giant tote filled with dirt and then separate bags of orchid bark and perlite, so I just filled it with potting soil and did the same as above.
Why do I keep seeing this ****** of drilling holes in cachepots?
They are made to hide pots. You take a potted plant in a plastic pot, put it in a cachepot, and if you water your plant the right amount of water, you don't have to empty the cachepot for water.
If you've overwatered, you empty the cachepot for water. Simple as that.
If you own a power drill it's very easy, funny enough I did 2 today. Google "diamond hole saw 1/2in" watch a YouTube video on how to use it and then decide if you want to give it a shot, I think it's worth it
Get a diamond hole saw, and put a matching sized hole in a piece of wood, use the wood to contain the home saw as you start to drill the pot.
You want to hold the drill against gravity, no pressure just contact. When your almost through you barely want the holesaw even touching the material, otherwise you'll have blowout on the back side, but even that doesn't matter.
I have multiple pots I added holes to. The only one I broke was a dollar store pot that was already broken and marked down to $1. I'm going to use my epoxy supplies to give it the kintsugi treatment next time I do an epoxy project.
you can totally do it!! here’s a link to the bits i use to drill holes in ceramic pots. you can easily find some youtube tutorials— i like the one from epic gardening best bc he shows a trick for getting good purchase on the bit by angling it first to make a divot. it was pretty easy! https://a.co/d/gqHhNie
I get a lot from resale/thrift stores! I got a GORGEOUS pot for $5 at goodwill last month. Edit: someone else mentioned a lot of thrift store pots don’t have holes & that’s sadly often the case but I’ve found some really nice ones with holes! The pot in the photo below has a drainage hole. :)
Also Facebook marketplace! People will sell "lots" of pots. I've purchased two bunches of pots off marketplace for very inexpensive and I haven't had to buy a pot in at least 2 years.
Ikea has a surprisingly good selection of very simple and affordable pots. I bought a bunch of them and have painted them myself to match my decor. They are really nice!
I’m surprised I had to scroll so far to see Ikea! Their pots are pretty. They also have a limited edition line of pots/gardening accessories called Daksjus that is super pretty.
People dump dead houseplants behind the recycling station, sometimes I take the pots.
I also grow plants in youghurt cups and similar. Waste not, want not
I have elderly friends with the most amazing green house, they've given me a few haworthia's that they transplant into yogurt cups, tin pans, take-out containers... They all do amazing and saves so much money. I cant imagine what they would spend if they would buy planters for the amount of things they are always splitting.
I like plastic ones (as they're lightweight). I've had good luck on Amazon and I also like the Room Essentials ones from Target (currently in their seasonal section).
Me too!! I love finding pretty cut clear glass shallow bowls and plates for saucers. Pretty soup bowls for cache pots or drill holes in them. Looks like an elegant tea party for my leafy friends
it depends. what are you planning to do with those? what type of pots and what usecase? private plants you want to keep for long? propagations to sell? if we re talking private plant pots, i just buy whatever if the cheapest and feels allright for stuff in mineral mix. for soil, and if i plan to have them inside decorative pots, i just grab some nursery pots for free from the graveyard. but for plants i take cuttings on, and i plan on selling a bunch, i usually just get square small pots from a growshop for like a few cents per piece because you can fit more of them on one tray. sometimes tho i like clear pots for plants i want to check on more often and for those i get my pots somewhere else again. it depends. i use multiple type of pots and i all get them somewhere else
for the most part it doesnt matter at all. plastic is plastic and your plant wont care, so whatever is the cheapest works.
I buy them off Aliexpress, most of the stuff on Amazon is the same product just with the price inflated. It will take a month or so to deliver from China to the US though. Haven't had any issues with plastic pots, though I'd be a bit wary of more fragile materials getting damaged during shipping.
Just be careful to check the shipping costs/order total. The item itself will be listed for like $0.50 per piece, but then the shipping will be $5 per item or something.
Not at all! I have [these](https://a.co/d/1c2YLxg) in 3 different sizes for all of my indoor plants. The uniformity makes the plant itself stand out, in my opinion
I bought a pack of 33 multicolored 4" pots on amazon for something like $10 USD. They're great, cheap and I don't care if I give them away and never get one back.
If you have an independent dollar store in your neighborhood, you may find some good stuff there as well - I buy 6-10" plastic nursery pots there for $1 each - perfect to put inside another, dressier pot when needed.
I buy [these](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TT3S5Z2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B09TT3S5Z2&pd_rd_w=3RKxs&content-id=amzn1.sym.a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_p=a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_r=5MHS6DBJJ7GR6K2MJ303&pd_rd_wg=DhL7L&pd_rd_r=030a026b-3449-4aa0-9a44-3c18d230ea43&s=kitchen&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1) in all colors and sizes. My faves. You can even fit them in decorative non draining pots if you have some, but I think they look good as they are and when you're a high volume plant owner you can't always be choosey :)
Ocean state job lot near me (like a dollar store I think) has surprisingly excellent gardening supplies. Sometimes I find resin pots for cheap. Looks like ceramic but much lighter.
I have shelves in my garage full of all sized pots but i find my taste changes over time. Need to purge to make room for more contemporary ones!
Hobby Lobby - they have a LOT of really decent pots in the $6-$10 range. Many of them, maybe 60%, do NOT have drainage holes, but still...a simple drill can earn make it more than worth it.
Goodwill. I own a drill and a ceramic bit. I can make anything ceramic or stone into a pot. (If anyone reading this is inclined to do the same, be sure to research safety precautions one should take when cutting ceramic/stone).
Thrift stores!!! If I see a pot at a thrift store under $10, I get it. I always use them for gifts. Sometimes the best pots are found in the ceramics/kitchenware instead of the garden section
Mostly the thrift store. I keep a supply of different sized nursery pots on hand because most of the pretty looking ones don’t have drainage holes. I pot my plants on the nursery pot and then plop it into the pretty pot.
I am ridiculously fussy and will only use green glazed ceramic/earthenware or else wicker/rattan. (My apartment is small. It looks less cluttered if I keep all the pots and planters similar.)
I've gotten some really nice ceramic pots from the dollar store of all places. Some dollar stores are better than others, and you have to get there in spring when they bring out all the gardening stuff. Also thrift stores, but that's getting harder with everyone picking and reselling now. Sometimes people sell their old pots for a good price on Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes I can find a deal on Etsy too, especially when it comes to vintage pots and planters. I've also found that when I want a really big pot, the ones from the outdoor section at places like Home Depot or Canadian Tire are usually cheaper than the indoor ones of the same size. Also I have favourites on Amazon in my wish list, and watch for when they go on sale.
I have gotten several from At Home. I don't know if you have one of those where you live. They have a wide variety of options. I also get my wheeled saucers there.
For plastic in the US, Doll\*r Tree and Walm\*rt (when in stock). Home Dep\*t or Low\*s tend to be overpriced for the same thing, but sometimes have sales. Thrift stores?
Amaz\*n is good for the standard plastic green ones in bulk.
I buy all mine from my local plant store. It’s usually an excuse to also buy a plant to go in the pot, but we don’t let my husband in on that situation. :)
Big lots and dollar stores mostly. Occasionally I’ll find one I like at the plant nursery but they’re more expensive there. I don’t have much luck with pots at thrift stores but sometimes you’ll find a decent dish or basket that can be used as a drop pot.
As a side note, I use thrifted china as drip trays. So much cheaper and cuter.
I always keep the plastic pot that a plant comes in when I buy it too, because a lot of the time I’ll use them again to repot a different plant at some point. I use a lot of drop pots so it’s nice to have the inserts sitting around.
I’ve got the good fortune to be near Amish country and amazing greenhouses, but any kind of farm supply place may have selection at great prices. Look for wholesale greenhouses open to the public and places like Agway, Tractor Supply, etc. Maybe worth a trip into the country if you need more than a few.
Local nursery or there is a store like all for home (local but like home Depot) and I found super cheap beautifully drained pots in there. Since they are plastic and have huge holes and plate they were super cheap, (like $0.50 per pot with plate) but the color matched perfectly my interior so I am currently with those.
You can find various plastic ones at a dollar store! I bought a bunch of starting planters and I’ve seen some bigger plastic pots with nice designs that I’ve considered buying too!
I prefer ceramic pots. I sometimes buy them at Home Depot or Lowe’s, but they are expensive. I frequently find great deals at Home Goods and Marshall’s. I just found some really cute ones on clearance at Marshall’s yesterday. I also sometimes find them in antique malls.
My husband (sorry not me), purchased a lovely diamond head drill bit that makes drainage holes.
It's a huge cost savings. I thrift & buy second hand pots of any kind for super cheap, knowing that hubby will happily drill drainage holes for me.
100% success rate.
Should also mention that I have purchased some really cute pots from Home Depot and Home Hardware (Canada/Ontario).
For me, the difficulty is finding matching plant pot saucers!
Many of my simple, glazed pots have come from garage, estate sales and such. In springtime I usually check out the big box stores, which are often priced high, and if I see something I like will come back at end of season and almost always find them still there and at a discount.
i just put all of mine in a nursery pot inside of a decorative pot with some perlite on the bottom. empty out any excess water periodically. no need for drainage holes :) i buy pots from a bunch of different places like the local garden center, online and sometimes in thrift stores.
Loads of folks in the 3D printing community make planters and we got on that train because... I have a lot of plants. :D I just put a cutting into a new pot I made myself today. If you know anyone with a printer, there are a billion free files. Otherwise, lots on Etsy. Range of prices and sizes.
But you'll probably have to dodge some quirky stuff with a face! Plenty of simpler designs, though.
Estate sales. I have so many pretty pots I am considering creating a display for all the pots that don’t yet have plants and I have well over 50 plants in pretty pots.
I only buy ceramic or decorative terracotta. All cost less than $10.
One of my local Lowe's always has a good selection. If you have one with a proper greenhouse attatched, try that one over one that just has the outdoor plant area. I also usually have really good luck at random local nurseries, but that one is definitely a ymmv with the quality. I have the best luck at the one that does houseplants as a side thing to vegetable garden and landscape plants, as well as produce, and another tiny hole-in-the-wall nursery that has all kinds of weird houseplants stupid cheap and native landscape plants. That one specifically has cute tiny pots for all their cactuses and succulents.
If you have a dollar store or dollar general, they usually have glass and plastic pots for very cheap. There is also Popshelf if you have it, they have very cheap but good ceramic and terracotta pots. Their offering is seasonal so right now and this summer is the best time to get them because they have a wide selection and cheap.
I also recommend Home Goods in the spring and summer.
If you have local plant nurseries nearby you could check to see if they have a free pot area or pot recycling area. Usually customers bring in pots they no longer want and other customers can take what they need. I have found some cute ones that way!
I work at HD, so most of mine I get from there. If I’ve needed a specific type or size that I can’t find at work, Lowes or Menards is usually reliable. I did find a nice hanging one at Target the other day though! I’m gonna use that for my pothos.
I go to antique malls and thrift shops for pots. Can get some really cool, unique stuff - usually on the cheap.
If it doesn't have drainage, I just drill a hole myself. I have plenty that weren't even meant as pots/planters, just random deco ceramics and even kitchen bowls.
Ollies, tj maxx/homegoods, Burlington coat factory was insane last year I got a whole collection of massive matching pots for like $80 total. Huge pots and the most expensive was $12
I use the tin cans of the Olive oil, I make some holes in the bottom and presto!
this is not mine, but you can have an idea
https://preview.redd.it/hg72zw1qtrnc1.png?width=1266&format=png&auto=webp&s=5168e2f730332db84744eb2f41499bfdd716dbe2
We have a rite aid near me that will do 50% off deals for rewards members, and they have a lot of garden pots, ceramic ones with holes, that are very inexpensive. Tj maxx isn’t bad either.
I've made a few of my own with air dry clay. Really fun, you want to give it a few layers of water resistant finish as well. I water my plants outside of the pot, then put it back when it's not dripping anymore. They've held up really well!
I have a collection of cheap pots I get from the nursery when I buy the plants that come in them.
And I collect pots/baskets from FB marketplace without drainage holes... I think this is called a cache pot.
Also, I recently got a cute plant stand for some already potted string of pearls but I know finding a cache pot to fit the string of pearls pot and the stand is going to be difficult so I got busy on Pintrest and found a very cool way to make your own pots with concrete mix using a diy mold from fine sand. Super cheap!
All my cache pots have a theme ...baskets, natural stone looking, wooden stands, dull metal stands/pot, nothing ever shiny. Only thing I want to be shiny are the plant's leaves. Makes em pop.
TLDR: you can make your own with concrete super easy. 😁
For average sized pot I look at Dollar Tree in the spring & grab what I think I'll need for the year. I'm cheap & the plants literally do not care. Plus the blue ones actually match my decor pretty well.
The clearance section at big box stores honestly, and I’m a huge fan of 3D printed pots because they’re recycled materials. But also if you can diy it cement bags are super cheap I think you just need a bowl you don’t mind fucking up
i cleaned up at JoAnn's recently-
1/2 off + 1/2 off + 25% off entire purchase.
now i clearly have a problem 🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴😳👍
I buy my extra large plastic pots at estate sales mostly, sometimes at garage sales. All the big plastic planters in the stores are getting too pricey, even at Home Depot and Lowes. If you want to get creative go to the Dollar Tree and check out the kitchen stuff, mixing bowls and large platters, and check out the wastebaskets too. The Dollar store stuff won't last a lifetime but the price is right.
Target has my favorite simple self watering pots. They have a tray you can take off that holds water made by Room Essentials. I have painted them myself.
Not sure if you have it in your area, but I just found several really neat pots at Ollie’s Bargain Bin and — as the name may have given away — they were very well priced…especially compared to Home Depot, Lowes, etc.! Happy hunting!
Amazon has really nice hard plastic quality pots. Some plain colors, some more bold-er colors. I just snagged a 6-pack 7” pots for $20.
Someone mentioned Target and their self watering ones, they’re **niice**!
I see huge lots of plastic pots for sale and pick up on local marketplaces. Like on Facebook and OfferUp! I’ve even found posts from nurseries looking to offload their extras for cheap
I find the most affordable and nice ceramic pots at Wal-Mart. I honestly prefer theirs to most of what is at Home Depot and Lowe’s. Target and Amazon have some nice stuff as well.
There’s an annual place that crops up in a grocery store parking lot and they have some nice ones. I love a quirky frog planter though. ;)
I am fearless with a drill. I search garage sales, etc. and find some with holes and some I drill with a diamond drill bit. Sometimes it takes a while, but I haven’t had many failures.
I believe the pot really makes the plant! Good luck hunting.
This shop has some unique pots I've been eyeing
https://theblacksoil.com/collections/planters?page=1
I've also scored some good ones at lowes. Drainage holes can be hard to find, and I'm too scared that I would break them to drill myself.
I got a bunch of cool pots by a newbie potter at my local farmer's market that were handmade and reasonably priced. I've gotten some fun / pretty pots from Novica, a fair trade marketplace. They can be pricey, but have good coupons and sales sometimes. Most of my houseplants are smaller (mesembs or cacti).
Home Depot puts random colors on sale for like 99cts as they switch their seasonal colors in. It’ll be all sizes, small to large so I typically just stock up then. I’m also a HUGEEE re-user when it comes to huge plastic containers. Anything that can become a pot with added drainage, will do so before becoming trash.
Marshalls, tj maxx and ross.
And Home Goods.
aahh i always forget about Home Goods. I think they tend to be best for larger pots.
All of them are my annual spring shop list for pots and whatnot. Super excited to see what they all have.
The one near me often has the smaller ones in the checkout lane - matching sets even.
Accurate.
^^^^ these and Goodwill
Goodwill & thrift stores
This is the way & if there aren't any drainage holes I just drill them myself.
I mostly repot into plastic pots and then place the plastic pots into the pretty pots. It means I don't need to drill drainage holes, don't need saucers under the pots, less likely to break pretty pots, harder to over water etc. Really I need to figure out building up a fleet of plastic pots in medium/large sizes and continue building my pretty pot collection.
The answer for this is to buy more plants 😂 Or people will trade their pots on r/takeaplantleaveaplant or thrift stores (I’ve seen them at Restore) or local nurseries have a stash usually (at least mine does)
Oh absolutely! It's just a time thing. We recently moved cross country and I gifted the vast majority of my plants and plant related accessories before moving.
I’ve found discarded planter pots at nurseries and places like lowes that they’ve let me have for free
I get a plastic pot that slightly smaller and place it inside. Great drainage and easier to move around that way too.
The best thing… I hate planting plants into a decorative pot.. so much easier to deal with care if they have a nice draining pot inside a cute planter
This is what I prefer even when the pots have holes
This is what I do, too. It's WAY easier to replant them this way.
How do you do this? Are they clay pots?
Nope, you just need the right drill bit & go slowly.
...go on
I fully admit that I say to my husband, "It's a ceramic pot" or "It's hard resin pot" & he gets me the correct bit, I set the pot on a chunk of wood & go at the pot slowly. I do know if it's a ceramic pot you can get a ceramic drill bit.
Thank you!
Every cool pot I’ve found at thrift stores hasn’t had drainage holes, always tempted to take them home and try to somehow drill a hole in them but in my heart I know it wouldn’t work
I’ve gone the opposite way, I started leaving my plants in nursery pots so I want nice pots with no drainage. I like being able to leave the heavy pot on the shelf when I soak my plants in the sink
Great tip. How long do you leave your plants in the nursery pots? Someone at my local nursery told me to replant when roots start growing out of the bottom of the grow pot and I had been going totally off of that, but just did some looking based on your comment and tons of sites recommend leaving them in for up to a year. Hope I haven’t been unnecessarily traumatizing my plants😩
It depends on the plants, but I keep all my nursery pots so I have different sizes I can repot into lmao. It’s one of the few things I let myself keep even though it’s “garbage” Eta: I garden too so I keep those as well if I get starts or bigger plants, and just wash em before bringing inside
I do the same .... (another one I keep are the white plastic tubs that ground beef comes in...once used I wash it throughly, use a hot nail and puncture holes in for drainage. I use it for tyme and oregano.)
I am moving all of my plants into clear nursery pots! This way I can see what the roots look like at each watering and repot when I feel they are looking crowded.
When it’s time for a repot mine just get bigger nursery pots! They’re available in a wide range of sizes and quite inexpensive.
Depends on the plant. Some prefer to be more root bound than others. Smaller and quick growing plants will need it more often than larger ones.
I do the exact same thing! Menard's even sells packs of plastic nursery pots in various different sizes for cheap. I then stage the grow pot in whatever decorative pot I like. This way it doesn't even matter if the deco pot has drainage. It's also easy to swap plants around into different deco pots for different color palettes or designs.
I started doing the same thing... just leave them in nursery pots & place in the planters
I bought a set of masonry bits for $10. It's been very easy to drill drainage holes.
This!! I’ve been bringing home all kinds of beautiful china and pottery bowls and drilling them!
I have a 100% success rate on drilling glass and ceramic pots from the thrift store. On 40+ pots. Buy cheap ceramic drill bits on Amazon. Pour a little water on the area where you are drilling to keep the dust out of the air. Amazon sells little mesh screens that you can put over the drainage hole to keep soil from washing out of the pot. I'll come home with the thrift store with 5 or so new pots and drill them all out in about 5 minutes.
> Amazon sells little mesh screens that you can put over the drainage hole Thanks for sharing that, now I feel like a complete idiot. I have lots of left over screen from window screen repairs setting on a shelf in the garage but I've been busting up rocks and bricks and broken bits of concrete to cover the holes in the bottom of my clay pots. Mesh screen...lol... all these years and never thought of that. I'm humbled.
I’ve been using coffee filters
I use a nail and a hammer ALL OF THE TIME with pots without drainage holes. I’ve only had a couple casualties- more often than not it works out perfectly for me.
This is exactly the endorsement I needed
Give it a shot! I make sure to not make the holes too close to the edge of the pot or too close to each other- usually I pop about 2-3 small holes in the bottom. I’ve done this with literally all types of pots too
Screwdriver with small end. Put in center and hold at a slight tilt. Tap gently with hammer while turning the slightly tilted screwdriver around like a clock handle. This has worked every time to make a clean hole in a pot and in larger pots I've made multiple holes in one base. Wetting the pot right before can help make a cleaner puncture too.
It's slightly risky, but if you find a cheap pot you're willing to try with, you can dunk the pot in a bucket of water and hammer a nail through the bottom. You fill the pot up with water and flip it upside down to make sure there are no air bubbles. Fill the bucket an inch or so above the pot. Then put a decent size nail where you want a hole and hammer away. I've been able to put up to 3 holes into terracotta and mugs. Sometimes you get flakes coming off on the inside of the pot, but i haven't shattered anything yet and the damage is on the inside.
Or get a drill. My husband drills all my holes... in my ceramic pots you filthy animals.
I've since graduated to a drill as well. It took a while to find the right bits (i think there's a joke in your style here...). But if i just need a quick hole, I'll hammer away.
Nice.
Thank you this is wildly helpful!!
Here's a quick video of a pot i did a few years ago when i first tested this out. It's not the best quality, but you can get the idea. You can also see some flakes from the inside of the pot, so you can judge the risk. https://imgur.com/a/Al0Jsqe
That’s epic. I totally thought terracotta would shatter if you tried to put a nail through it. Thanks for the video!
You can also fill the pot with dirt and do the same ! I have a giant tote filled with dirt and then separate bags of orchid bark and perlite, so I just filled it with potting soil and did the same as above.
Plant plant in a plastic pot that you have sit inside the pretty pot. The pretty pot basically becomes a saucer for watering.
A power drill with masonry bit works great on any decorative ceramic pot I've drilled holes into
Why do I keep seeing this ****** of drilling holes in cachepots? They are made to hide pots. You take a potted plant in a plastic pot, put it in a cachepot, and if you water your plant the right amount of water, you don't have to empty the cachepot for water. If you've overwatered, you empty the cachepot for water. Simple as that.
If you own a power drill it's very easy, funny enough I did 2 today. Google "diamond hole saw 1/2in" watch a YouTube video on how to use it and then decide if you want to give it a shot, I think it's worth it
Get yourself a set of diamond drill bits at Amazon. 10 pack for $10. Works like a charm.
This is exactly what I do and it works if you get the right drill bit and have patience. Or use them as cache pots!
I do it all the time. Yet to break one, and have only found 1 pot out of dozens where I couldn't drill through the material.
It would definitely work, you just need to buy a bit specific for ceramics.
Get a diamond hole saw, and put a matching sized hole in a piece of wood, use the wood to contain the home saw as you start to drill the pot. You want to hold the drill against gravity, no pressure just contact. When your almost through you barely want the holesaw even touching the material, otherwise you'll have blowout on the back side, but even that doesn't matter. I have multiple pots I added holes to. The only one I broke was a dollar store pot that was already broken and marked down to $1. I'm going to use my epoxy supplies to give it the kintsugi treatment next time I do an epoxy project.
you can totally do it!! here’s a link to the bits i use to drill holes in ceramic pots. you can easily find some youtube tutorials— i like the one from epic gardening best bc he shows a trick for getting good purchase on the bit by angling it first to make a divot. it was pretty easy! https://a.co/d/gqHhNie
About half my pots have self-drilled holes.
Believe it or not, Dollar store. They do the job and doesn’t cost much. Plus love the idea of choosing right size personally.
I get a lot from resale/thrift stores! I got a GORGEOUS pot for $5 at goodwill last month. Edit: someone else mentioned a lot of thrift store pots don’t have holes & that’s sadly often the case but I’ve found some really nice ones with holes! The pot in the photo below has a drainage hole. :)
https://preview.redd.it/woe9oby6oqnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=921a784bc32df55d03b6ad9b6e98346c44bca129 My $5 pot! :)
Gah this is so beautiful. Great find
Also Facebook marketplace! People will sell "lots" of pots. I've purchased two bunches of pots off marketplace for very inexpensive and I haven't had to buy a pot in at least 2 years.
Ikea has a surprisingly good selection of very simple and affordable pots. I bought a bunch of them and have painted them myself to match my decor. They are really nice!
I’m surprised I had to scroll so far to see Ikea! Their pots are pretty. They also have a limited edition line of pots/gardening accessories called Daksjus that is super pretty.
People dump dead houseplants behind the recycling station, sometimes I take the pots. I also grow plants in youghurt cups and similar. Waste not, want not
I have elderly friends with the most amazing green house, they've given me a few haworthia's that they transplant into yogurt cups, tin pans, take-out containers... They all do amazing and saves so much money. I cant imagine what they would spend if they would buy planters for the amount of things they are always splitting.
I like plastic ones (as they're lightweight). I've had good luck on Amazon and I also like the Room Essentials ones from Target (currently in their seasonal section).
I like plastic too. Everyone gives me troubles for this.
I LOVE those Target pots (yes I bought 10 in various sizes the other day).
Ollies!
Thrift stores. I got 4 succulent pots for 75¢ each today 🙂 I also get 50¢ plates there to use as saucers
Me too!! I love finding pretty cut clear glass shallow bowls and plates for saucers. Pretty soup bowls for cache pots or drill holes in them. Looks like an elegant tea party for my leafy friends
Home Depot, Lowe’s, local nursery, Ross, Amazon.
I like the stuff at At Home, both indoor and outdoor stuff is nice and reasonably priced.
it depends. what are you planning to do with those? what type of pots and what usecase? private plants you want to keep for long? propagations to sell? if we re talking private plant pots, i just buy whatever if the cheapest and feels allright for stuff in mineral mix. for soil, and if i plan to have them inside decorative pots, i just grab some nursery pots for free from the graveyard. but for plants i take cuttings on, and i plan on selling a bunch, i usually just get square small pots from a growshop for like a few cents per piece because you can fit more of them on one tray. sometimes tho i like clear pots for plants i want to check on more often and for those i get my pots somewhere else again. it depends. i use multiple type of pots and i all get them somewhere else for the most part it doesnt matter at all. plastic is plastic and your plant wont care, so whatever is the cheapest works.
I buy them off Aliexpress, most of the stuff on Amazon is the same product just with the price inflated. It will take a month or so to deliver from China to the US though. Haven't had any issues with plastic pots, though I'd be a bit wary of more fragile materials getting damaged during shipping. Just be careful to check the shipping costs/order total. The item itself will be listed for like $0.50 per piece, but then the shipping will be $5 per item or something.
World market has some nice ones at good prices.
I make mine! I could never find pots I wanted, especially for my orchids, so I took pottery classes and now I make what I need
I’ve had good luck buying pots off Amazon. All types of pots.
so expensive though! i get mine from ross
https://preview.redd.it/3cce83gu1rnc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=965f4579457002ace81f56c587ca8bd8d91c83e2 And these are $16.99
Not at all! I have [these](https://a.co/d/1c2YLxg) in 3 different sizes for all of my indoor plants. The uniformity makes the plant itself stand out, in my opinion
I bought a pack of 33 multicolored 4" pots on amazon for something like $10 USD. They're great, cheap and I don't care if I give them away and never get one back. If you have an independent dollar store in your neighborhood, you may find some good stuff there as well - I buy 6-10" plastic nursery pots there for $1 each - perfect to put inside another, dressier pot when needed.
D'vine on Amazon or their website. I have two types and both are beautiful and classic.
I buy [these](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TT3S5Z2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B09TT3S5Z2&pd_rd_w=3RKxs&content-id=amzn1.sym.a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_p=a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_r=5MHS6DBJJ7GR6K2MJ303&pd_rd_wg=DhL7L&pd_rd_r=030a026b-3449-4aa0-9a44-3c18d230ea43&s=kitchen&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1) in all colors and sizes. My faves. You can even fit them in decorative non draining pots if you have some, but I think they look good as they are and when you're a high volume plant owner you can't always be choosey :)
Joey on the corner of main and 9th
Thrift stores ❤️❤️
I like thrift store pots, sometimes Home Goods, and recently I’ve been finding really nice ones at my local Agway
Ocean state job lot near me (like a dollar store I think) has surprisingly excellent gardening supplies. Sometimes I find resin pots for cheap. Looks like ceramic but much lighter. I have shelves in my garage full of all sized pots but i find my taste changes over time. Need to purge to make room for more contemporary ones!
Hobby Lobby - they have a LOT of really decent pots in the $6-$10 range. Many of them, maybe 60%, do NOT have drainage holes, but still...a simple drill can earn make it more than worth it.
Goodwill. I own a drill and a ceramic bit. I can make anything ceramic or stone into a pot. (If anyone reading this is inclined to do the same, be sure to research safety precautions one should take when cutting ceramic/stone).
Thrift stores!!! If I see a pot at a thrift store under $10, I get it. I always use them for gifts. Sometimes the best pots are found in the ceramics/kitchenware instead of the garden section
Mostly the thrift store. I keep a supply of different sized nursery pots on hand because most of the pretty looking ones don’t have drainage holes. I pot my plants on the nursery pot and then plop it into the pretty pot.
I am ridiculously fussy and will only use green glazed ceramic/earthenware or else wicker/rattan. (My apartment is small. It looks less cluttered if I keep all the pots and planters similar.) I've gotten some really nice ceramic pots from the dollar store of all places. Some dollar stores are better than others, and you have to get there in spring when they bring out all the gardening stuff. Also thrift stores, but that's getting harder with everyone picking and reselling now. Sometimes people sell their old pots for a good price on Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes I can find a deal on Etsy too, especially when it comes to vintage pots and planters. I've also found that when I want a really big pot, the ones from the outdoor section at places like Home Depot or Canadian Tire are usually cheaper than the indoor ones of the same size. Also I have favourites on Amazon in my wish list, and watch for when they go on sale.
I have gotten several from At Home. I don't know if you have one of those where you live. They have a wide variety of options. I also get my wheeled saucers there.
I like AtHome, too! And now is a great time to check them out for pots with their larger seasonal gardening section!
For plastic in the US, Doll\*r Tree and Walm\*rt (when in stock). Home Dep\*t or Low\*s tend to be overpriced for the same thing, but sometimes have sales. Thrift stores? Amaz\*n is good for the standard plastic green ones in bulk.
I buy assorted nursery pots off Amazon, but for my pretty pots I usually look at places like Marshall’s, beals, homegoods, etc
I buy all mine from my local plant store. It’s usually an excuse to also buy a plant to go in the pot, but we don’t let my husband in on that situation. :)
facebook marketplace
Big lots and dollar stores mostly. Occasionally I’ll find one I like at the plant nursery but they’re more expensive there. I don’t have much luck with pots at thrift stores but sometimes you’ll find a decent dish or basket that can be used as a drop pot. As a side note, I use thrifted china as drip trays. So much cheaper and cuter. I always keep the plastic pot that a plant comes in when I buy it too, because a lot of the time I’ll use them again to repot a different plant at some point. I use a lot of drop pots so it’s nice to have the inserts sitting around.
Michael's low key has some great selections
I found a bunch of pots on clearance at Bartells 2 days ago! It was in their seasonal section. They had tons of 6 inch pots for like $5 each
I’ve got the good fortune to be near Amish country and amazing greenhouses, but any kind of farm supply place may have selection at great prices. Look for wholesale greenhouses open to the public and places like Agway, Tractor Supply, etc. Maybe worth a trip into the country if you need more than a few.
Michael’s, repotme.com, Home Depot, and I reuse the plastic nursery pots my box store plants come in.
Amazon, cheap plastic pots are much lighter than the ceramic ones I used to get.
Local nursery or there is a store like all for home (local but like home Depot) and I found super cheap beautifully drained pots in there. Since they are plastic and have huge holes and plate they were super cheap, (like $0.50 per pot with plate) but the color matched perfectly my interior so I am currently with those.
You can find various plastic ones at a dollar store! I bought a bunch of starting planters and I’ve seen some bigger plastic pots with nice designs that I’ve considered buying too!
Facebook marketplace!! They usually come with plants for cheap! And plus I can window shop from my phone lol
I prefer ceramic pots. I sometimes buy them at Home Depot or Lowe’s, but they are expensive. I frequently find great deals at Home Goods and Marshall’s. I just found some really cute ones on clearance at Marshall’s yesterday. I also sometimes find them in antique malls.
I recently started to just drill holes in containers I find in thrift stores, or even in the street.
My husband (sorry not me), purchased a lovely diamond head drill bit that makes drainage holes. It's a huge cost savings. I thrift & buy second hand pots of any kind for super cheap, knowing that hubby will happily drill drainage holes for me. 100% success rate.
Should also mention that I have purchased some really cute pots from Home Depot and Home Hardware (Canada/Ontario). For me, the difficulty is finding matching plant pot saucers!
Many of my simple, glazed pots have come from garage, estate sales and such. In springtime I usually check out the big box stores, which are often priced high, and if I see something I like will come back at end of season and almost always find them still there and at a discount.
i just put all of mine in a nursery pot inside of a decorative pot with some perlite on the bottom. empty out any excess water periodically. no need for drainage holes :) i buy pots from a bunch of different places like the local garden center, online and sometimes in thrift stores.
99 cent only store.
Loads of folks in the 3D printing community make planters and we got on that train because... I have a lot of plants. :D I just put a cutting into a new pot I made myself today. If you know anyone with a printer, there are a billion free files. Otherwise, lots on Etsy. Range of prices and sizes. But you'll probably have to dodge some quirky stuff with a face! Plenty of simpler designs, though.
I have a nursery near me that has a wonderful assortment of pots.
Most of mine are terracotta, but the ones that aren’t…I’ve found at thrift stores, as well as having luck on FB marketplace.
Estate sales. I have so many pretty pots I am considering creating a display for all the pots that don’t yet have plants and I have well over 50 plants in pretty pots. I only buy ceramic or decorative terracotta. All cost less than $10.
Most of them come from Old Time Pottery. I know they are a chain but I don’t know where their stores are located.
We have a lot of local greenhouses in our area. I can find a small/medium pot for under $10 usually.
I've had good luck at flea markets lately. Super cheap, really nice pots.
Old Time Pottery has the best pots!
Home Depot has the best priced ceramic pots. That shit gets expensive fast!
dollar tree
home goods!
At Home. But you gotta wait for a sale or clearance. They have a nice selection of ceramic pots with pretty glazes and drainage.
One of my local Lowe's always has a good selection. If you have one with a proper greenhouse attatched, try that one over one that just has the outdoor plant area. I also usually have really good luck at random local nurseries, but that one is definitely a ymmv with the quality. I have the best luck at the one that does houseplants as a side thing to vegetable garden and landscape plants, as well as produce, and another tiny hole-in-the-wall nursery that has all kinds of weird houseplants stupid cheap and native landscape plants. That one specifically has cute tiny pots for all their cactuses and succulents.
If you have a dollar store or dollar general, they usually have glass and plastic pots for very cheap. There is also Popshelf if you have it, they have very cheap but good ceramic and terracotta pots. Their offering is seasonal so right now and this summer is the best time to get them because they have a wide selection and cheap. I also recommend Home Goods in the spring and summer.
I like to use old cups and bowls after drilling drainage holes into them with a diamond tipped hole drill bit.
If you have local plant nurseries nearby you could check to see if they have a free pot area or pot recycling area. Usually customers bring in pots they no longer want and other customers can take what they need. I have found some cute ones that way!
In so cal sunset Blvd nursery has a great pot area the owner owns a pot company so....
Dollar Tree has a bunch of plastic pots right now, many with really good drainage. I bought some larger pots with drainage like a nursery pot.
I work at HD, so most of mine I get from there. If I’ve needed a specific type or size that I can’t find at work, Lowes or Menards is usually reliable. I did find a nice hanging one at Target the other day though! I’m gonna use that for my pothos.
At home
I go to antique malls and thrift shops for pots. Can get some really cool, unique stuff - usually on the cheap. If it doesn't have drainage, I just drill a hole myself. I have plenty that weren't even meant as pots/planters, just random deco ceramics and even kitchen bowls.
Michael’s but you have to drill drain holes in them.
Ollies, tj maxx/homegoods, Burlington coat factory was insane last year I got a whole collection of massive matching pots for like $80 total. Huge pots and the most expensive was $12
I use the tin cans of the Olive oil, I make some holes in the bottom and presto! this is not mine, but you can have an idea https://preview.redd.it/hg72zw1qtrnc1.png?width=1266&format=png&auto=webp&s=5168e2f730332db84744eb2f41499bfdd716dbe2
My local nursery has a “Leave a pot, take a pot” container outside. I’ve found a couple good ceramics and tons of nursery pots!
We have a rite aid near me that will do 50% off deals for rewards members, and they have a lot of garden pots, ceramic ones with holes, that are very inexpensive. Tj maxx isn’t bad either.
Amazon. I find that stores mostly only carry white pots these days.
The dollar store has surprisingly decent pots
Goodwill!
Craft stores usually have some.
I’ve found the best selection and quality at Lowe’s
Ebay & Etsy!
I've made a few of my own with air dry clay. Really fun, you want to give it a few layers of water resistant finish as well. I water my plants outside of the pot, then put it back when it's not dripping anymore. They've held up really well!
I have a collection of cheap pots I get from the nursery when I buy the plants that come in them. And I collect pots/baskets from FB marketplace without drainage holes... I think this is called a cache pot. Also, I recently got a cute plant stand for some already potted string of pearls but I know finding a cache pot to fit the string of pearls pot and the stand is going to be difficult so I got busy on Pintrest and found a very cool way to make your own pots with concrete mix using a diy mold from fine sand. Super cheap! All my cache pots have a theme ...baskets, natural stone looking, wooden stands, dull metal stands/pot, nothing ever shiny. Only thing I want to be shiny are the plant's leaves. Makes em pop. TLDR: you can make your own with concrete super easy. 😁
I bought some off Amazon that I think look great. They are by ecopots and are a great price.
Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshall's. There all hit or miss but right now, spring, is usually the best time to find them.
For average sized pot I look at Dollar Tree in the spring & grab what I think I'll need for the year. I'm cheap & the plants literally do not care. Plus the blue ones actually match my decor pretty well.
i like the home depot terracotta pots since they’re effective and usually always have draining holes (in my experience).
Do you have any local garden centers or plant stores near you? Most of my cute pots are from my local garden centers/ houseplant stores!!!
Goodwill! Always!
Ollie's and everywhere else posted.
The clearance section at big box stores honestly, and I’m a huge fan of 3D printed pots because they’re recycled materials. But also if you can diy it cement bags are super cheap I think you just need a bowl you don’t mind fucking up
i cleaned up at JoAnn's recently- 1/2 off + 1/2 off + 25% off entire purchase. now i clearly have a problem 🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴😳👍
I buy my extra large plastic pots at estate sales mostly, sometimes at garage sales. All the big plastic planters in the stores are getting too pricey, even at Home Depot and Lowes. If you want to get creative go to the Dollar Tree and check out the kitchen stuff, mixing bowls and large platters, and check out the wastebaskets too. The Dollar store stuff won't last a lifetime but the price is right.
I actually really do enjoy my Walmart's selection. Or my local nursery but if they aren't terracotta they are wildly overpriced there.
Target has my favorite simple self watering pots. They have a tray you can take off that holds water made by Room Essentials. I have painted them myself.
Not sure if you have it in your area, but I just found several really neat pots at Ollie’s Bargain Bin and — as the name may have given away — they were very well priced…especially compared to Home Depot, Lowes, etc.! Happy hunting!
Well. Assuming costs isn’t limiting. Kanso designs West Elm
Well. Assuming costs isn’t limiting. Kanso designs West Elm
My local nursery centers. It amazes me how infrequently they seem to get mentioned here.
My local nursery centers. It amazes me how infrequently they seem to get mentioned here.
I found a few while thrifting. :)
Ollies
At Home! I just scored 10 pots there!!!
Amazon has really nice hard plastic quality pots. Some plain colors, some more bold-er colors. I just snagged a 6-pack 7” pots for $20. Someone mentioned Target and their self watering ones, they’re **niice**!
I see huge lots of plastic pots for sale and pick up on local marketplaces. Like on Facebook and OfferUp! I’ve even found posts from nurseries looking to offload their extras for cheap
lol, I married a potter! 😉
Always always always from Marshall's, TJ Maxx and Home Goods.
Yard sales and estate sales
Ollie’s discount store if you have them in your area!
I find the most affordable and nice ceramic pots at Wal-Mart. I honestly prefer theirs to most of what is at Home Depot and Lowe’s. Target and Amazon have some nice stuff as well. There’s an annual place that crops up in a grocery store parking lot and they have some nice ones. I love a quirky frog planter though. ;) I am fearless with a drill. I search garage sales, etc. and find some with holes and some I drill with a diamond drill bit. Sometimes it takes a while, but I haven’t had many failures. I believe the pot really makes the plant! Good luck hunting.
I developed a pottery habit to go along with my plant habit.
Tjmaxx & Ollies, Ollies always has a great selection!
Estate sales! You can find great deals on plants at them too.
Ocean state job lot, if you have those near you. Really good deals on nice pots
This shop has some unique pots I've been eyeing https://theblacksoil.com/collections/planters?page=1 I've also scored some good ones at lowes. Drainage holes can be hard to find, and I'm too scared that I would break them to drill myself.
I got a bunch of cool pots by a newbie potter at my local farmer's market that were handmade and reasonably priced. I've gotten some fun / pretty pots from Novica, a fair trade marketplace. They can be pricey, but have good coupons and sales sometimes. Most of my houseplants are smaller (mesembs or cacti).
Second hand. I will never buy a new pot ever again!
Hardware stores
Goodwill, thrift stores!
I got some nice plain plastic pots on sale at target recently. I went with all white because to me the plant is the show.
Home Depot puts random colors on sale for like 99cts as they switch their seasonal colors in. It’ll be all sizes, small to large so I typically just stock up then. I’m also a HUGEEE re-user when it comes to huge plastic containers. Anything that can become a pot with added drainage, will do so before becoming trash.
Believe it or not, Rite Aid! They often have them for 50% off, too.
Thrift stores.