Planter containers play an important role in providing the foundation for the display and contribute enormously to its appearance. Some pots are a work of art in their own right, yet care should be taken to select the most appropriate for any given function.

The most common materials are:

• Synthetic
• Metallic
• Terracotta
• Ceramic
• Natural

The strengths and weaknesses of each category are outlined in the above link to enable a more informed selection to be made. The pictures are for illustrative purposes to support the descriptions, they are not fully representative of all the kinds available within each category. They do indicate quite clearly however, the diversity within each group.

Taking into account the enormous range of planters available, an early process of elimination based on the visual characteristics of the planter its scale and function can significantly reduce the complexity of choice later on.

Once familiar with the descriptions of the characteristics in the linked pages, answers to the above fundamental questions will be quite straight forward, indicating what type of material or materials will be most appropriate for any given setting. Undoubtedly in some cases, more than one category could be suitable, in which case personal preference and aesthetic criteria will kick into the selection process. At the end of the day though, appearance and personal preference is likely to be the final overriding factor however complex the issue.

In general, if the planter fulfills the requirements dictated by the above criteria, an attractive result will be achieved which will also look ‘right’ and appropriate, enhancing the surroundings and adding considerably to the overall ambiance.