We asked our favorite plant store, Sprout Home, to try a little experiment with us. We wanted to see what the same plant looks like in different containers. They helped us pick a plant that thrives in medium light so it works well in nearly every apartment &mdash it's a lemon button fern. Now, there's just the matter of that container....
White and Green Planters on Foot (no drain hole) $33.50 each
gives a modern, yet vintage look with the faded green color and the classic shape
4" Terra cotta Pot, $4.50
Classic
Cort 5.12" Planter (no drain hole), $12
Clean, with a handmade texture
small gloss white or black ceramic squares (no drain hole), $16.40
(The white is also available with a drain hole and saucer $26.25)
Modern look
9" resin tree pot (no drain hole), $44.50
faux wood rustic
4" Ceramic Planters, $15.75
Handmade ceramic planter with saucer attached
Lemon Button Fern: This is a great fern for people who want the delicate look of a fern without the constant watering. This fern prefers to dry out slightly between waterings. Regular misting is also recommended.
$4.75 ea.
Light: filtered shade.
Temperature: 60 degrees F to high 80's.
Water: allow to dry slightly between waterings
Note on containers without drain holes: For containers without drain holes, we recommend leaving the plant in the plastic container and just setting it inside the container. That way, if water builds up after watering it can be dumped out easily. Although not recommended, some people like the look of potted plants better and will put a layer of rocks on the bottom to serve as a “false drainage.” If potted, make sure the plant is never over-watered or sitting in water otherwise root rot can occur.
All photographs by Ramsay De Give
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
What a fun post! I love house plants but I've never had a lemon button fern. Perhaps I will get one now that I've seen this great post AND I'll be able to pick the perfect pot to go with my decor now that I know what so many different types look like.
view Monica's profile
This reminds me of a question I had - is it ok to plant plants in containers without a drain hole? Or are they merely decorative (and you need another pot inside)?
view janet 201's profile
i have that same plant from sprout. i got it last year and it's thriving. i love it. i also have another plant that's in a pot without a drain hole. i put rocks on the bottom and water it very slowly and it seems to be working fine.
view fardaesm's profile
They also grow really well in the ground. I think of those types of ferns as growing underneath people's porches. There's some growing in my backyard, and under my steps.
view jakelegs's profile
*I should add that I'm in south Louisiana, which is a completely different climate.
view jakelegs's profile
This reminds me of a question I had - is it ok to plant plants in containers without a drain hole?
Yes, absolutely. Especially if they're relatively moisture-loving, as most ferns are. Just take care not to overwater plants in containers without drainage.
One trick is to give the plant what you think should be the right amount of water and let it sit overnight, then tip it over a sink the next day and see how much (if any) water drains out. If a ton of water drains off, you know you're giving it too much water - the plant probably shouldn't be swimming in water unless its native environment is a swamp! Adjust the amount of water you're giving it accordingly.
A downside to planting in containers without any drainage is that any salts - from the water, or from fertilizers you apply to the plant - will build up in the soil. You'll see these as a crust which forms on the surface of the soil. You may want to remove some of the uppermost layer of soil from time to time and replace it, depending on the plant (succulents don't like to have their roots disturbed, for example, and are generally more salt-tolerant anyhow).
Another way to keep salts from building up is to flood the plant up to the rim of the pot with water, let it sit for an hour or so, and then drain the water off. Repeat once or twice. This will help to flush salts from the soil. You can then fertilize the plant with an appropriate fertilizer and be good to go for six months to a year (longer if you water with distilled water).
A big advantage to pots without drainage is that you don't have to worry about saucers overflowing. You do have to worry about condensation though, so it's best to keep the pots slightly elevated above the surface they'll be resting on, by means of a coaster or other device (I use the little sticky rubber feet on the bottoms of my drainless pots).
You can also leave the plant in a pot with drainage, and just use the pot without drainage as a decorative container, as you mentioned. Think of it as a giant saucer.
view sunspot42's profile
you can always drill holes in the pots. i know there is a trick to doing it so that the pot doesn't crack-- not sure what it is though... If you buy pots without holes at Sloat Garden Center, they'll drill the holes for you.
view bibliogrrl's profile
this is a lovely post, thank you!
and i love the plant, too :-)
view maike's profile