Pots & Vases

Plant pots and vases are a simple but effective way to give your home or office a personal flourish. They come in all shapes, sizes, colours and materials, with a price point to suit every budget. You can either use them to brighten up your own home or give them as gifts to your friends and loved ones.

What are plant pots used for?

Plant pots are used for displaying plants and flowers, nurturing seeds, cultivating herbs and vegetables or propagating new plants from existing cuttings. Plant pots are suitable for both indoors and outdoor use, adding a great extra feature to your home. They allow you to display your personal tastes through colour choice, texture or decorative patterns.

What can you grow in a plant pot?

What you grow in a plant pot usually depends on whether your pots are indoors or outdoors. Once you have decided that, the possibilities are limitless. Depending on the size of your plant pot, you could grow herbs, like basil, parsley or rosemary, all of which are rewarding and require little care. Succulents or cacti are another low-maintenance option for indoor pots, as they are hardy and don’t need much water or sunlight. Larger pots could accommodate vegetables such as tomato plants, radishes, lettuces or carrots. These help supplement your cooking ingredients, year-round. For those who can remember to water their plants, flowers and houseplants are another great choice. Their perfume and foliage will brighten up either an indoor or outdoor space.

What are vases used for?

Traditionally, vases were used to hold decorative or cut flowers. More recently, people have started using them for dried or artificial flowers too. Aside from flowers, they’re a great storage option for holding functional items like pens or utensils. Some types of vases, particularly Chinese vases or painted ceramics, can be hugely valuable and have become collectors’ items due to their historical significance. Vases in general are popular decorative items, adding beauty and personality to homes and offices.

Types of plant pots

Plant pots are available in a variety of different types, with options out there to suit every style or purpose. Whether you are planning to ‘style’ your pot as an individual feature, fill it with flowers or use it for storage, there is one out there for you. You should also think about what kind of materials you like and what aesthetic appeals to you. This lets you know how well the pot will fit in with the rest of your garden features or inside furniture. 

Textured or patterned

Pots that offer a different texture to their contents are gaining in popularity. More people are opting for unique or bespoke ways of decorating their home. Pots with eye-catching patterns or different layers and materials to them – such as rattan, woven or built-up ceramics – can bring a quirky or individual style to any home. They work well as a feature piece, while still complementing a more minimalist overall style.

Painted or glazed

Some pots can be glazed or painted to fit in with a room or motif.  This offers more opportunities to showcase personal style than something like a plain terracotta pot. Depending on size and style, they can be a heavier, and more expensive choice.

Hanging pots

Hanging pots are a lovely way to make a statement, either indoors or outdoors. They can be mounted on a higher part of the house, making them a great way to save space. Hanging pots are suitable for growing all types of flowers, herbs and vegetables. But you can also make them a feature by choosing trailing plants like ivies for an injection of green or an arresting visual display. If you are going to invest in a hanging pot, make sure you choose the right size and weight, with appropriate drainage and water the contents regularly. This is because hanging pots can dry plants out more quickly than standard garden or indoor pots.

Types of vases

Decorative vases come in all types of shapes and sizes, and which style you choose will depend on the feel of your home and the look you are trying to achieve. It is worth taking photographs or measurements of the room you are looking to decorate or measuring the size of the table or surface the vase or pot will sit on.

Trumpet vase 

Trumpet vases, which are wider at the top than the base, are one of the most useful types of vases. They are perfect for displaying flower arrangements or large bouquets. The trumpet shape is most usually seen in glass vases, but trumpet vases can also be made out of ceramic, crystal or even wood.

Cylinder vase

Cylinder vases, with a body and base the same width are another popular choice, because, depending on size, they are suitable for large bouquets, smaller clusters or even a single stem. This cylinder shape comes in any number of different materials, from glass and crystal through to painted ceramics.

Cube vase

Cube vases are a much more modern design, perfect for displaying shorter stems or clusters, and allowing a contemporary or quirky take on the traditional. They are becoming increasingly popular as wedding settings as they are able to display dazzling floral arrangements, without disrupting the view of dinner guests.

What materials are pots made from?

The type of material a pot is made from is usually governed by whether it is intended to be an indoor pot or an outdoor pot. As some materials are more expensive than others, price point will also play a role. Generally, pots are made from hardy, durable materials that can withstand weather conditions and hold a decent volume of either water or soil.

Ceramic 

Ceramic is a popular choice of material for pots because of the decorative qualities it offers. As well as lending itself to being painted or glazed. Ceramic is used because its breathability creates great conditions for plant and root growth, with better air flow, moisture exchange and retention in the soil. It’s also long-lasting and not susceptible to poor weather conditions, meaning it can be used for indoor or outdoor plants or flowers. Ceramic pots tend to be easier to clean and maintain than ones made from terracotta or terrazzo.

Terracotta 

Terracotta is a typical choice of material for pots of all shapes and sizes because, as a material, it is cheap, durable and relatively light. Unlike plastic, terracotta is a sustainable choice, fuelling its rise in popularity in recent years. They offer good moisture retention and breathability, being hardy and durable enough to last for years. This makes them an affordable planter pot option for would-be gardeners. Suitable for all types of planting, terracotta is an effective choice for both an indoor or outdoor plant pot.

Stone 

Stone pots are particularly popular for outdoor planters, because they can handle harsh weather conditions, like extreme heat or cold. Due to their price point and durability, stone pots often come in larger sizes than other types of pots. Their natural look and colour makes them ideally suited to complement natural landscapes and architecture. This is one of the reasons they remain consistently sought after.

Terrazzo

Terrazzo pots are growing in prominence because their distinctive speckled form makes them perfect for featuring on social media. Made from a combination of marble, granite, quartz and glass chips, terrazzo pots are brightly coloured and durable, making them a good option to add personality to your home or garden.

What materials are vases made from?

Vases are made from a number of different materials, each offering their own characteristics. The materials that vases are made from tend to be more delicate than pots, as they are usually for inside use. When choosing a material, be sure to think about the textures and colours in the rest of your home, and how your new vase will blend in, or stand out, as you wish.

Glass

Glass vases are popular due to their versatility. They can come in any number of different shapes, colours and sizes, which can be customised to suit the style of your home. Glass vases are usually made using one of the two methods. The more traditional method is blow moulding, where a glass blower dips a blowpipe into the molten glass. They then roll the gathered glass onto a metal slab to form a cylindrical shape. This can then be reheated to further shape it. The other way of creating a glass vase is press moulding, where the glass is heated, then poured into a pre-existing mould.

Crystal 

Crystal vases are another popular choice, although they usually come at a slightly higher price point than glass vases. This is due to their superior clarity, which means they tend to sparkle more. Due to their more expensive price, crystal vases are often more decorative and ornate than glass vases. Your preference will depend not just on your budget, but also your personal taste.

China 

China vases are usually made out of a specific type of porcelain, which has its roots back in imperial China. This makes china vases some of the most ancient and important artefacts in history. Taste and style has evolved from the traditional glazed vases of blue and white porcelain specific to the Ming dynasty to a wide choice of glazes, shapes, colours and designs.

Where can you put plants and vases in your home?

Plants and vases can personalise or transform any room or corner of your home. Depending on the size and shape, vases may be suited to ground arrangements. Large pots and vases look great on either side of a fireplace or seated area. Smaller, more decorative vases can brighten up window ledges, tables or counters. If you’re placing pots outdoors, they can bring life to a patio or balcony. When deciding where to place pots and vases, it is worth considering the symmetry or your home, so that you don’t overcrowd one area and neglect another. Vases and pots can also be used to harness the feng shui principles of healing energy, which suggest keeping vases and pots away from doors to avoid blocking energy flow.

Where can you find plant pots and vases in Perth?

Prime Liquidations has a wide range of pots and vases to suit your home. We have many different styles and designs, made from a number of varied materials, at different price points. Whether you’re looking for something contemporary or more traditional, our selection probably has something that suits your home. Contact us now if you would like to know more.