I'm a potter, and I have lots of succulents. Although I have made plenty of pots & put succulents in them, some of them are happy and some not so much!

I'd really like to know what makes a really great pot for succulents, and would like to get ideas from all of you.

Here's what I have so far:
No glaze on the inside (gives roots more grabbing spots)
Extra-large drainage hole
Shorter sides seem better than taller sides

Earthenware (low-fire) pots are always more likely to break in freezing temps because they will absorb and hold moisture. Stoneware, (which is most of what I make), is less subject to climate extremes.
Insert technical jargon here....or better yet, ask your son if he's been told what "vitrify" means yet! It's one of the FAQs I'm in the process of developing.

I would love to see pix of people's succulents in pots in a forum! I always try to get great ideas at the shows we have here, but it's often the same plants in the same pots displayed at each event.

How do I distiguish one from the other when I am out shopping for pots? I know I see some that are not glazed inside, some of them seem really porous, while others seem very smooth.

Flick them with your fingernail or smack them with your knuckle.
If they "RING", they're high-fired. If they go "TUNK", they're low-fired.

YEAH, I now know how to tell one pretty pot from another in quality. Thank you so much Janet.
Have you checked out Katg site? She does a lot of containers. http://cubits.org/Containers1/
Here is someone else that plants a lot of containers. I don't know if he has any posted in his Cubit, but he is very helpful and will show is container pictures. I need to make a Container Database. But I need to do a Plant Source Database first. : ( I feel like I will never get caught up.

I've seen KatG's concrete heads....they're just awesome!!!
I need to spend some time on cubits, now that I'm almost done with getting my database released....I also need to spend some time in my garden and my studio...LOL!

She has alot more than just heads. When you have time take a look.

I've been thinking about the pots Janet. I guess I don't really have just one criteria for a succulent pot.
The main requirement would be durability, as you explained above. From there I use many shapes and sizes. If it is going to be planted as a mini landscape I like a shallow bowl (most succulents are shallow rooted). I like tiny one specimen display pots, again doesn't need much depth for the low growing succulents. If I am growing one of the tall varieties of say Sedum, then of course I would us a large pot that had enough width so it wouldn't topple over from the weight of the plants top growth. Here is a large strawberry pot that has done very well for me. Sedum & Semps are such hardy and forgiving plants to grow.
Drainage of course is always important.

Nice planting, Lynn! I can't get Cape Blanco to grow here to save my life. Lots of others, but I not that one---and it's one of my favorites. I think maybe the wee stems just fry when we start hitting 107 in the summer.

Just put it where it will get some afternoon shade. We had an extended period of 100 to 105° weather last summer. It will take it if you give it some shade. Let me know if you would like to try some again.

It's time to start looking for those pots to plant your sedum and semps in, maybe redo the ones you already have. If you plant them now they will be going full speed ahead come summer. : )

Valleylynn, That is a beautiful pot of sedums. What are the colored sedums growing on the side of the pot.

Hi Holly. The one to the front is Sedum spathulifolium pruinosum purpureum, and the one on the left is Sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco'. Both are pretty hardy. Here is a picture of Cape Blanco growing on a rock. Notice the difference in the color? Different times of the year it will look more green and other times it has a real powdery grey color. I really love it.

Thanks Lynn, Are they fast growers and spreaders? They look like they would be.

They are pretty fast growers. It took two years for a tiny plant to cover that rock, but I have been off and on pulling pieces off of it to give to people. It really does well with our wet winter/spring time. Then if just florishes in our hot dry summers. Such a great plant. Do you have sedum or semps Holly?

Yes I have several different types a few pots here and there and a stonewall with them growing through the cracks and I have them scattered though some of the beds. I have a living wreath that needs working on this summer. I can't seem to keep them going well though the winter months and my sedum filled work boots will also need replanting this spring. Here is a pic from last year of a few of my containers.

Generally I wouldn't pick a glazed pot to plant my sedums in but I like this blue pot as I think it complements the colors of the sedums.

I agree, the blue pot is gorgeous. What a wonderful shape also. I have never seen one like that. Can't wait to see pictures of your stone wall. I adore seeing walls with plants growing out of them. One of my vary favorite things.

I will post some pics of my wall on one of the other threads when I have some time. I did an online search for your spathulifoliums but didn't come up with a vendor. I'll be checking the local nurseries in the next few days.

Love the blue "cluster pot"! I'm actually working on one right now. I threw 7 little pots and joined them together; it's planned as a June birthday gift for my friend. If it survives the first firing, I'm planning on glazing it with a royal blue glaze. She's got a collection of succulents, and they're perfect in these pots!