View source for Flowerpot

{{short description|Container in pottery or plastic in which flowers and plants are held}}
{{About|the ceramic container|the geological formation|Stack (geology)|other uses|Flowerpot (disambiguation)}}
[[File:"Meillandine" Rose in clay pot.jpg|thumb|''[[Meilland International SA|Meillandine]]'' [[rose]] in a [[terracotta]] flowerpot]]
[[File:Shelves of flower pots in Darwin's laboratory, Down House - geograph.org.uk - 1200541.jpg|thumb|Traditional flowerpots in unglazed [[terracotta]] in [[Charles Darwin]]'s laboratory at [[Down House]]]]
[[Image:Palazzo socci, terrazza, vaso in terracotta con festoni.jpg|thumb|right|[[Terracotta]] flowerpot in Italy, decorated with [[festoon|festoons]]]]

A '''flowerpot''', '''planter''', '''planterette''' or '''plant pot''' is a container in which [[flower]]s and other [[plant]]s are cultivated and displayed. Historically, and still to a significant extent today, they are made from plain [[terracotta]] with no [[ceramic glaze]], with a round shape, tapering inwards. Flowerpots are now often also made from [[plastic]], [[metal]], [[wood]], [[Rock (geology)|stone]], or sometimes [[biodegradable]] material. An example of biodegradable pots are ones made of heavy [[kraft paper|brown paper]], [[cardboard]], or [[sphagnum|peat moss]] in which young plants for [[transplanting]] are grown.

For [[seedling]] starting in commercial [[greenhouse]]s or [[polytunnel]]s, pots usually take the form of trays with cells, each cell acting as one small pot. These trays are often called '''flats'''. 

There are usually holes in the bottom of pots, to allow excess [[water]] to flow out,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1v5pAmhYXEC&q=pots+often+have+holes+at+bottom+to+remove+excess+water&pg=PA433|title=Growing Media for Ornamental Plants and Turf|last1=Handreck|first1=Kevin A.|last2=Black|first2=Neil D.|date=2002|publisher=UNSW Press|isbn=9780868407968|language=en}}</ref> sometimes to a [[saucer]] that is placed under the flowerpot.

==Purpose==

Flowerpots have a number of uses such as transporting plants to new locations, starting seeds, patio and indoor cultivation of plants, and the growing of tender plants in colder regions indoors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/weblog/000511.php |title=Etaerio - A Plant News Weblog: The History of the Flowerpot |publisher=Ubcbotanicalgarden.org |date=2004-09-07 |access-date=2010-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524043536/http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/weblog/000511.php |archive-date=2010-05-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Through the centuries, the use of flowerpots has influenced the horticultural use of plants, and the [[Egyptians]] were among the first to use pots to move plants from one location to another.  The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] brought potted plants inside during cold weather. In the 18th century, pots were used to ship [[breadfruit]] seedlings from [[Tahiti]] to the [[West Indies]].  Also [[Orchid]]s, [[African violet]]s and ''[[Pelargonium]]'' geraniums were shipped in pots from other parts of the world, including [[Africa]], to [[North America]] and [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0818/p14s02-liga.html |title=In praise of the flowerpot / The Christian Science Monitor |publisher=CSMonitor.com |date=2004-08-18 |access-date=2010-04-22}}</ref>

In the 18th century, [[Josiah Wedgwood]]'s flowerpots or ''[[cachepot]]s'', were very popular; they were often highly decorative and used as table centrepieces.<ref name="Life of Josiah Wedgwood">{{Cite book  | last =  Meteyard | first = Eliza | author-link = Eliza Meteyard | title = The Life of Josiah Wedgwood: From His Private Correspondence and Family Papers. | url = https://archive.org/details/lifejosiahwedgw00unkngoog | year = 1866 | publisher = Hurst and Blackett | page = [https://archive.org/details/lifejosiahwedgw00unkngoog/page/n183 154] }}</ref>

In [[Athens]], [[earthenware]] flowerpots were thrown into the sea during the festival of the Gardens of [[Adonis]]. [[Theophrastus]],  c. 371 – c. 287 BC, mentions that a plant called southern-wood was raised and propagated in pots because it was difficult to grow.<ref name="Ancient Pottery">{{Cite book  | last1 =  Birch | first1 = Samuel | title = History of Ancient Pottery | url = https://archive.org/details/historyancientp11bircgoog | year = 1858 | publisher = J. Murray | page = [https://archive.org/details/historyancientp11bircgoog/page/n231 202] }}</ref>

The top of the flowerpot underneath the rim is commonly known as the shoulder or collar and can aid handling.

==Classification==
Flower pots were traditionally{{when|date=April 2021}} made from [[terracotta]]. They were made and sold by the cast, which is the number of pots produced from a given quantity of clay.

The traditional sizes<ref>{{Cite book  | last1 =  Thomas | first1 = H. H. | last2 = Forsyth | first2 = Gordon | title = The Popular Encyclopedia of Gardening: Volume 1 | publisher = The Waverley Book Company Limited | page = 320 }}</ref> were as follows, although others existed:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name !! No. to cast !! Top diameter <br />(inches) !! Depth <br />(inches) 
|-
| Ones || 1 || 20 || 18 
|-
| Twos|| 2 || 18 || 14 
|-
| Fours || 4 || 15 || 13
|-
| Sixes || 6 || 13 || 12
|-
| Eights || 8 || 12 || 11
|-
| Twelves || 12 || 11.5 || 10
|-
| Sixteens || 16 || 9.5 || 9
|-
| Twenty-fours || 24 || 8.5 || 8
|-
| Thirty-twos || 32 || 6 || 6
|-
| Forty-eights || 48 || 4.5 || 5
|-
| Sixties || 60 || 3 || 3.5
|-
| Seventy-twos or thimbles || 72 || 2.5 ||
|-
| Thumbs || 80 || 2.5 || 2.5
|-
| Nineties or thumbs || 90 || 1 || 
|}

Other sources give different values, and sometimes names, for the smaller pots, for example ''The Gardener's Everyday Log Book'' while agreeing on "twos" to "thirty-twos" has two different types of "sixties" and disagrees on "thumbs" and "thimbles":<ref>{{Cite book|page=329|title=The Gardener's Everyday Log Book|author= A. J. Macself|date=1938|publisher=[[Amateur Gardening]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name !! Top diameter <br />(inches) !! Depth <br />(inches) 
|-
| Large sixties || 4 || 3.5
|-
| Small sixties || 3 || 3
|-
| Thumbs || 2.5 || 2.5
|-
| Thimbles || 2 || 2
|}

A taller and thinner shape of pot, suitable for deep-rooting plants, was known as a '''long tom''', a term still used. The traditional size for a long tom used for [[Primula auricula|auriculas]] was 3&nbsp;in diameter by 3.75 to 4&nbsp;in depth.<ref>{{Cite book  | last1 =  Dorey | first1 = Paul | title = Auriculas: an essential guide | year = 2011 | publisher = The Crowood Press | page = 70 }}</ref>

==Nursery==
[[Image:JiffyPots.JPG|thumb|right|Peat pots that are biodegradable and may be planted directly into the soil]]
In the [[nursery (horticulture)|nursery]] business, plants are generally grown in round or square [[plastic]] pots. Some organisations (such as the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]) encourage the reuse of (plastic) plant pots and trays across their retail centres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RHS policy on plastics |url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/policies/plastic-policy |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> In some garden centres (i.e. Edibleculture), this is done by not letting the plastic growing pots leave the garden centre, and simply place the plant inside a [[cardboard]] (or [[newspaper]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-03 |title=How to make paper plant pots |url=https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-make-paper-pots/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=BBC Gardeners World Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>) sleeve for transportation.<!-- Isn't another option to recover the plastic pots after the sale (i.e. at [[civic amenity site]]s)?--> Peat pots and paper pots are also being used,<ref>[https://www.floraldaily.com/article/9089243/new-friendlies-concept-means-plastic-pots-can-be-gone-for-good/ "New 'Friendlies' concept means plastic pots can be gone, for good"]</ref><ref>[https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/gardening-with-less-plastic/ Gardening with less plastic]</ref> and have the advantage of facilitating [[Transplanting#Transplant_production_systems|transplanting]]<ref>[https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2014/07/paper-pot/ Investigating the Profitability of the Paper Pot Transplanter on a Small Scale Vegetable Farm]</ref> as they do not need to be pulled out of a container for planting purposes (rather, the whole of container and plant is directly planted). Also, for sale purposes, there is no need to recover the container as it is biodegradable and can not and does not need to be reused or recycled. Some types exist focusing on vegetables,<ref>[https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2014/07/paper-pot/ Investigating the Profitability of the Paper Pot Transplanter on a Small Scale Vegetable Farm]</ref> whereas other paper pot systems exist that focus on larger plants (i.e. trees, sugar cane, etc.)

=== United States ===
The sizes of plastic pots have been assigned an [[ANSI]] standard by the [[American Nursery and Landscape Association]].<ref name="Z60.1">http://americanhort.org/documents/nursery_stock_standards_AmericanHort_2004.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520042931/http://americanhort.org/documents/nursery_stock_standards_AmericanHort_2004.pdf |date=2014-05-20 }}, 2004</ref> Pots designated #1–#100 nominally have the volume of that many [[gallon]]s, but in fact a #1 pot has a capacity of 0.625 gallons (a "[[trade gallon]]"). There is also a Small Plant series: SP1, 6.5–8.0 [[cubic inch|in<sup>3</sup>]]; SP2, 13.0–15.0 in<sup>3</sup>; SP3, 20.0–30.0 in<sup>3</sup>; SP4, 51–63 in<sup>3</sup>; SP5, 93–136 in<sup>3</sup>. An SP4 pot is commonly called a "4-inch" or "quart" container.<ref>Z60.1, p. ii-iii</ref>

=== Europe ===
Plastic pots come in a number of standard sizes, with a code indicating the approximate dimensions of the diameter at the top.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Code !! Diameter <br />(cm) !! Height <br />(cm)!! Volume <br />(L)!!Approx. <br />(inches)
|-
| 6F || 6 || 6 || || 2.2
|-
| 8F || 8 || 7.5 || || 3
|-
| 9F || 9 || 9 || || 3.5
|-
| 10F || 10 || 9.5 || 0.5 || 4
|-
| 13F/14A || 13 || 12 || 0.9 || 5.5
|-
|15F ||15 ||14 ||| ||6
|}

==Size==
[[File:Pot Size Matters-Maize.jpg|thumb|The effect of pot size on the growth of maize.]]

The size of the pot will in part determine the size of the plants. Generally, plants planted in bigger pots will end up being larger; on average plants increase 40–45% in [[Biomass (ecology)|biomass]] for a doubling in pot volume.<ref>Poorter et al. (2012) [https://www.publish.csiro.au/FP/FP12049 Pot size matters: a meta-analysis of the effects of rooting volume on plant growth.] Funct. Plant Biol. 39:839-850. </ref> This will in part be due to a higher availability of nutrients and water in larger pots, but also because [[Root|roots]] will get less pot-bound. This does not mean that all plants will thrive better in bigger pots. Especially for [[succulents]] it is important that the soil does not stay wet for a long time, as this may cause their roots to rot. The smaller those plants are relative to the soil volume, the longer they take to use all pot water. [[Bonsai]] plants are also purposely planted in small pots, not only for aesthetics but also because the low supply of nutrients keeps the leaves smaller and the growth down. Because they are often not as drought resistant as succulents, this implies they have to be watered often.

==Shape==
Water in the soil of high pots is more easily pulled down by gravitational forces than in low pots, and hence the soil does not remain wet for a long time.<ref>Passioura (2006) [https://www.publish.csiro.au/FP/FP06223 The perils of pot experiments.] Funct. Plant Biol. 33: 1075-1079.</ref> This is relevant as plant roots of most species do not only need water, but also air (oxygen). If the potting soil is too wet plants may suffer from a lack of oxygen around the roots.

==Material==

The soil in black pots exposed to sunlight will warm up more quickly than soil in white pots. Clay pots are permeable for water and therefore water from inside the pot soil can evaporate through the walls out of the pot. Pots that are glazed or made from plastic lose less water through evaporation. If they have no holes at the bottom either, plants may suffer from remaining too wet.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Giant flower pot.jpg|Giant flowerpot
File:Torenia in a flowerpot.jpg|Torenia flowers in a flowerpot
File:Urn planter at Easton Lodge Gardens, Little Easton, Essex, England 4.jpg|An ornamental planter at [[Easton Lodge|Easton Lodge Gardens]], Little Easton, Essex, England
File:Dragon Planters.JPG|Victorian decorative flowerpots at [[Kindrogan House]], [[Enochdu]], [[Scotland]]
File:Flower pots.jpg|Flowerpots with the words "Trust" and "Love" on them
</gallery>
{{-}}

==See also==
* [[Dutch flower bucket]]
* [[Disposable food packaging]] (i.e. yogurt pots): can be used as plant pots
* [[Drip irrigation]]
* [[Growbag]]
* [[Urban agriculture]]
* [[Toilet paper|Cardboard toilet paper rolls]]: can be used as plant pots
* [[Vertical farming]]
* [[Flower box|Window box]]

==References==
{{wikt}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commonscat|Flowerpots}}
* [http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/gap_lev_1999/html/8flowerpot.html The archaeology of the flowerpot in England and Wales c. 1650-1950] C.K. Currie; ''Garden History'' 21.2, 227–46 (1993)

{{Horticulture and gardening}}
{{Garden tools}}
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[[Category:Garden vases]]
[[Category:Gardening aids]]
[[Category:Containers]]
[[Category:Pottery shapes]]