Succulent flower pot selection strategy ③: Size rule - say goodbye to the "big pot ruins everything" pot selection formula

Choose the right pot shape and material, but fail because of the size? Succulent plants pay attention to "living in a small room and growing fine products". Too large a flower pot will make them "grow too long and become ugly". This article will show you how to choose a pot with "golden blank space"!

Diameter rule: Leave "breathing space" for succulents
Core formula
Flower pot diameter = plant crown + 0.5-1 inch (1-2cm)
Example:
✓ Correct demonstration: For ice berries with a crown of 5 inches (12cm), choose a 6-inch (14cm) diameter pot
(leave two fingers wide space, and the pot will be full in 2 months)

✗ Incorrect demonstration: Use an 8-inch (20cm) pot to plant peach eggs with a crown of 3 inches (8cm)
(After 6 months, the leaves will become thinner and longer, and the roots will only grow to the center of the pot)
Adjustments at different growth stages
▶ Seedlings/leaf cuttings: The diameter can be 0.2 inches (0.5cm) larger than the plant
(For example, a 1.2-inch/3cm seedling uses a 1.6-inch/4cm pot to promote the rapid filling of the pot with roots)
▶ Old piles/groups: It can be appropriately widened to + 1.2 inches (3cm)
(For example, an 8-inch/ For a group of Jade Butterfly with a 20cm crown width, choose a 9-inch / 23cm pot to avoid crowding and rotting leaves)

Depth rule: "1.5 times the safety line" of the root length
Shallow root varieties (applicable to 90% of succulents)
✔ Root depth: 2-3 inches (5-8cm)
(such as Jade Butterfly, White Peony, Chihuahua)
✔ Pot depth selection: 4-6 inches (10-15cm)
(Reserve a 2-inch / 5cm drainage layer)
Deep root / hanging varieties
✔ Jade Dew / Old Stump: The root system can reach 6 inches (15cm), choose a 7-8 inch (18-20cm) deep pot
(Note! Non-hanging old stumps do not need to exceed 10 inches / 25cm)
✔ Buddha beads / Love vine: 6-8 inches (15-20cm) deep pot is best
(The hanging beauty is improved compared to the 10-inch / 25cm deep pot 40%, and the root system stretches more naturally)

Guide to avoiding pitfalls: 3 common size misunderstandings
❶ "Big pots look grand" misunderstanding
Experimental data: The same rainbow jade plant, planted in a 4-inch (10cm) pot (correct size) vs. an 8-inch (20cm) pot (too large)
After 3 months:
The small pot has a compact plant shape and full and rosy leaves
The large pot plant grows taller and longer, and the distance between leaves is widened
❷ "Deep pots are more advanced" misunderstanding
Fact: 80% of succulents have shallow roots, and deep pots are only suitable for 10% of special varieties (such as jade dew and old piles)
Blindly using deep pots will cause harm:
✓ The upper soil is completely dry, and the bottom layer is still wet
✓ The indoor environment is prone to root mealybug pests (caused by damp roots)
❸ "Use a large pot for small seedlings, get it right at once" misunderstanding
Harm:
① Root rot: Small seedlings have poor water absorption capacity, and the soil in large pots is always wet
② Dead seedlings: The roots have not filled the pot, and the plant has stopped growing (actual measurement: the growth rate of seedlings in large pots slows down by 50%)

Take action now: 3 steps to measure the "perfect pot size"
Measure the crown width: Use a soft ruler to circle the widest part of the succulent
Calculate the diameter: crown width (inch) + 0.5-1 inch, or crown width (cm) + 1-2cm
Check the depth: Choose 4-6 inches (10-15cm) for shallow roots and 6-8 inches (15-20cm) for deep roots

Measure the "height and body shape" of your succulent now and find a suitable new home! If you have any questions about choosing a pot for a specific variety, please leave a message in the comment area~