A pottery shop opened up at the end of my street. So I pass by stacks and stacks of beautiful pots and containers every day. Colorful ceramic containers are my current obsession. Their juicy colors and exotic shapes are wearing me down.

On my wish list is a flower-patterned aquamarine pot that would look smashing planted with a bright fuchsia ti plant. And I've been eyeing these cool shell-shape pots at left.

I can’t stop stopping in and seeing what’s new.

I’m sure you’ve been there.

Bright-color pots are ideal foils for lush and leafy foliage plants. And neutral-color pots make elegant stagers for bright blooms. Here are tips for planting in ceramic pots:

Look for a hole in the bottom
Make sure your pot has a drainage hole. Pots need an exit hole for water to escape after a big rain or a thorough watering. Without a hole, water will pool in the bottom of the pot and drown your plant roots -- the fast track to plant death.  (If you want more tips about watering, see our story here.)

Go with glazed (to spend less time watering) 
Glazed pots dry out more slowly than porous pots, such as terra-cotta, because water doesn't evaporate through their sides. So when you use ceramic pots, you’ll have to water less often.

Bigger is better (oh, and easier)
Big equals drama! A large container makes a lovely garden focal point. They can also set the mood for a deck or patio. But large containers are also easier to care for; because they are filled with more soil, they don’t dry out as fast as smaller vessels. The extra space also allows plants to grow bigger root systems. Larger roots mean bigger plants, more flowers.

Read more about container gardening. 

Written by Karen Weir-Jimerson