Why pot size matters

Our nursery grows over 180,000 plants each year and we sell more than 2,000 different varieties, mostly herbaceous perennials, including some unusual plants not easily found elsewhere.

Our aim is to produce strong, healthy plants with a well developed root system; plants which will be resilient and flourish once they’re planted out in your garden. All our plants are grown on site in peat free compost.

We pride ourselves on offering a great selection of garden worthy plants that have proven reliable and consistently perform well, provided they’re given suitable growing conditions – ‘right plant, right place’.

How we grow our plants

We are great believers in only selling plants that have been hardened by outdoor conditions, where they have had time to develop a strong, robust root system, ensuring the plants become more robust and resilient for planting out. Our plants are ‘Garden Ready’

Plants can of course be mass produced at a lower cost in artificially heated greenhouses, without being hardened off before they’re sold.

These plants often look fine on the day of purchase, but may struggle once they’re exposed to direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations and strong wind.

Although these plants may recover, the sudden shock of being exposed to the elements will cause a set-back, delaying or preventing good plant establishment.

Why pot size matters

Pot size is important as it dictates the space available for root growth and also the amount of compost the container can hold, which in turn affects moisture retention and nutrient supply.

The ideal pot size very much depends on the specific plant’s needs.

All nurseries have their own preferences depending on the types of plants they grow, which kind of growing media they use, how long the plants are kept in pots before being sold, type of irrigation system used etc.

Right plant, right pot

You’ll find that most of the plants here at Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens are grown in 1-litre (12cm) pots.

We have found in our 65 year experience that this pot size suits the vast majority of the plants we grow, providing sufficient space for a strong, healthy root system to develop.

Alpine plants, which tend to have smaller root systems when they’re young and can be prone to overwatering at this stage, are sold in 9cm pots, while large growing perennials, ornamental grasses and shrubs are given a 2 or 3 litre pot to accommodate their much larger root system.

What happens when the container is too small?

A pot that’s too small will restrict root growth and will not allow a strong, healthy root system to develop.

Preventing the roots from developing naturally can lead to a plant with slow or stunted growth.

A small container also holds less growing media making the compost dry out much quicker.

Not only will more frequent watering be required, but also the potential risk of the plant suffering from water stress. 

What happens when the pots are too big?

If the container is too large, in proportion to the plant’s root system, there’s a risk of overwatering as the excess compost can retain too much moisture, especially if the drainage isn’t adequate.

This can lead to lack of oxygen, root rot or unhealthy plants.

Why do some other nurseries sell their plants in 9cm pots?

• The cost is much less
• take up less space
• less growing media
• less time as the plants are significantly younger

Drawbacks of buying these plants

They are generally raised in heated environments so are tender are young without a strong root system.  In our opinion they are not ‘Garden Ready’.