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As a person who enjoys learning about cacti and how best to take care of them, a question often comes to mind: what size pot should they be planted in?
Many experienced gardeners recommend that the pot should be around 10% wider than the width of the cactus. If it is too large, the extra soil can hold moisture for too long which can cause root rot. If it is too small, your cactus may not get all the nutrients it needs, becoming unhealthy.
Choosing the correct size pot for your cactus really isn’t that difficult once you understand how cactus’ roots grow. Pots that are too large or too small can negatively affect your plant’s health.
Cactus Root Systems and Corresponding Pot Size Requirements
Cactus roots can grow in a few different ways depending on the type of cactus. The two most common would be 1. cacti with more shallow roots that spread out more, and 2. cacti with deep tap roots that have smaller hair roots branching from them.
Cacti with roots that spread out to the sides require a pot that is wider, but not as deep, whereas the other common type, the ones with deep tap roots, require a pot that is deeper to accommodate its roots.
To choose a pot size that will comfortably fit your cactus, If the roots are shallow and spread out, you should choose a pot that is just slightly larger than the roots(about ¼ inch).
Otherwise, if the roots are deeper, choose a pot that will fit the roots with about 1/4 inch extra space between the root ball both below and above.
When you follow the rule of thumb that a new pot should be about 10% larger than the width of the cactus, then the following table will help you find the correct size pot for your cactus:
| If the width of the Cactus is: | The pot Width should be: |
| 3.5” | 4” |
| 4” | 4.5” |
| 5” | 5.5” |
| 6” | 6.5” |
| 8” | 9” |
How Can You Know When Your Cactus’ Pot is Too Small?
There are a few ways you can tell if your pot is too small. One way you will know when the pot is too small is if you see roots growing out of drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Another way is if you see that the root ball is too densely packed — so much so that water can’t penetrate or drain as it should. (This can cause health problems like root rot). Another indicator the pot is too small is that your cactus’ growth will be stunted.
With this in mind, we need to choose a pot that will allow the cactus to maintain a healthy growth.
What Kind of Pot Should Cacti be Planted in?
Besides just the size of the pot, there are other factors to consider about your cactus’ pot, such as the material it is made with. Which one tends to be the best choice?
Most gardeners would agree that ceramic or terracotta is the ideal pot type for cacti to grow in. Ceramic and terra cotta containers are breathable and so they can help prevent excess moisture from building up. Glazed ceramic may not have this property and could trap excess moisture.
However, glazed ceramic can be used if you take the proper precautions to prevent excess moisture.
Similarly, growing a cactus in a plastic pot can work well, and plastic is lighter in weight which is easier to carry. There are a few other things to consider about growing a cactus in a plastic pot, but the main thing to consider is that since plastic pots hold water very well you must be careful to have drainage holes and not overwater the cactus.
If you are interested in learning more about growing cacti or succulents in plastic containers, feel free to check out our other post here which covers the topic in more detail.
Metal pots for a cactus are not good because they tend to rust or corrode over time and this can hurt your cactus. It also doesn’t insulate against temperature, which can harm the cactus as they aren’t good at dealing with fast temperature changes.
Glass pots for your cactus are not recommended. They tend to trap water extremely well and may cause higher humidity levels which in most cases will hurt your cactus. They can also become too hot and bake your cactus.
Where to Find the Pot You Need for Your Cactus
There are many different places where you can find pots for your cactus plants, you can even make your own pots out of recycled containers if you wish. Those who want to skip all that and buy the perfect pot without any extra hassle could find a pot at a garden center or retailer.
You can find the perfect pot for your cactus at any of the following garden centers or retailers:
- Home Depot
- Ikea
- Lowe’s
- Joann Fabric
- Walmart
- TJ Max
- Hobby Lobby
- Michael’s
- Tractor Supply
- Target
Or any other local garden center that might’ve not been included in this list.
You may also find a great many different kinds of pots, such as these, at Amazon and have them shipped directly to you.
This post was written for cactus-central.com and is not permitted to be used on other sites.