A guide to different pot sizes
Written by: Plant Doctor Helen Derrin
Many of our plants are available in several different sizes, so it can sometimes be tricky deciding which ones are going to be just right for you and your garden. Ideally we'd like everyone to be confident in their choices, so if you're new to buying nursery-grown plants online, here’s a quick rundown of what’s what and how it works. We hope it helps.
Firstly, a couple of things to keep in mind
1. Nearly all of our plants are sold by the size of the pot they're growing in rather than their current height. The reason for this is that a plant's height can change drastically throughout the year. For example, think how quickly a summer-flowering clematis can put on top growth over a season, only to be cut back to near ground level again each year. On the rare occasions that we do mention the plant's current height, then please allow a leeway of + or - 10%.
2. The main benefit of choosing plants by their pot size (or more accurately, the size of the rootball that’s held within) is that it gives a clear indication of the plant's age. Keeping in mind that as the plant's roots are like a motor that provides energy to the top growth, the bigger the rootball, the more ‘get up and go’ the plant will have once it’s planted out.
3. As pots come in a variety of shapes, most of them are graded by the volume of compost (in litres) they contain. The exceptions to the rule are the bedding plants, which are grown in cell trays, and the 9cm pots, which may be round or square, but will all measure 9cm from rim to rim across their top.
4. Having been carefully tended by specialists on a nursery for several years, older, more established plants (i.e. those in larger pots), will cost more than younger plants. Larger plants however will give immediate results, so if you're starting a garden from scratch or have a whole new border to plant, it may be worth digging a little deeper for one or two key plants.
What to expect from the different pot sizes
Seedlings and rooted cuttings
Available in both ‘mini’ or ‘jumbo’ sizes, these are the smallest plants we sell. Consisting primarily of seasonal bedding and annuals, and available in cell trays containing up to 60 plants, they're terrific value for money. These young plants however are best-suited to more experienced gardeners, who can pot them up and grow them on in their own greenhouse before planting them out.
9cm pots
Predominantly used for our herbs and perennials, but occasionally also for young shrubs and hedging, the plants in these pots will typically be aroud 1 to 2 years old. For those on a budget, or anyone starting a garden from scratch, they're a cost effective alternative to the 2 litre pots - and are a smart buy if you're planting fast-growing perennials before the growing season gets into full swing.
2 & 3 litre pots
Providing a home to most of our shrubs, climbers and perennials, the plants in these pots are a year or two older than those in 9cm pots. Raring to go once planted out, they're still small enough to establish quickly, but big enough to add impact in their first year. There’s little wonder that these are often our biggest sellers.
4 & 5 litre pots
These pots are usually reserved for plants that have a preference for customised growing conditions. For example, our potted bare root roses relish the extra depth that a 4 litre pot provides, while the spreading rhizomes of a bamboo can really stretch out in a roomier 5 litre pot.
10 & 15 litre pots
Housing semi-mature shrubs and trees that are at least 3 to 5 years old (and sometimes even older), these ‘specimen’ plants are ideal for impatient gardeners who are looking for a quick fix. Perfect for quickly filling large gaps in the border, or giving new gardens a more ‘lived in’ look, choose these and they’ll shave years off the time it takes to create an established garden.
20 to 100+ litre pots
Once settled in, the fully established plants in these super-sized pots will look as though they've been in the garden forever. Mainly supplied to garden designers and often featured in our Chelsea Flower Show gardens, they're too hefty for normal delivery and therefore we don't sell them on the website. If however you’d like to make enquiries, please contact wholesale@crocus.co.uk.
Bare root plants
As the name suggests, these ‘au naturel’ plants are usually sent out without any pot at all - although some may have their roots wrapped or bagged to keep them hydrated. It’s a cost effective way to buy fruit, hedging and some of the herbaceous perennials, but they're only available when fully dormant (i.e. from late autumn to early spring).
