Question 1

What can you plant in a shallow bowl planter?

Accepted Answer

Shallow bowls with 3 to 4 inches of soil suit succulents, cacti, sedum and small alpine plants. Bowls with 6 to 8 inches of soil also suit herbs such as thyme, oregano and chives, and trailing annuals such as alyssum and lobelia. Avoid tomatoes, peppers, root vegetables and shrubs, which need deeper soil. Group plants with the same light and water needs in one bowl.

Question 2

How deep should a succulent bowl be?

Accepted Answer

A bowl with 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) of inside depth gives succulents the 3 to 4 inches of soil they need, plus room below the rim for watering. Deeper is fine, but more soil stays wet longer, so a gritty mix and a drainage hole matter more. Most succulent bowls are 8 to 14 inches wide, which fits five to seven small plants.

Question 3

Do bowl planters need drainage holes?

Accepted Answer

For almost all plants, yes. A shallow bowl holds so little soil that extra water has nowhere to go, and roots rot quickly. Look for at least one hole about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) across, and two or three in bowls 16 inches and wider. A bowl with no hole can still work as a cover pot, with the plant kept in a nursery pot inside.

Question 4

How do you plant a succulent bowl?

Accepted Answer

Cover the drainage hole with mesh, then fill the bowl to about 1 inch below the rim with cactus mix or potting mix blended with perlite or pumice. Set the plants close together, tallest in the middle, and firm the mix around them. Wait a few days to a week before the first watering so damaged roots can heal, then water only when the mix is dry.

Question 5

Can bowl planters stay outside in winter?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the material and your climate. Resin, plastic, fiberglass and frost-resistant stoneware usually handle freezing temperatures if they drain well. Unglazed terracotta and low-fired ceramic can crack when wet soil freezes and expands. In areas with hard freezes, empty those bowls and store them dry, or move them under cover. Raising bowls on pot feet also stops them sitting in icy water.

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