Best Pots for Growing Fruit Trees (Types Compared)

Choosing the right material pot for your fruit tree is just as important as selecting the right soil and size. The planter you pick directly impacts how easy your plant is to care for, its tolerance to the environment and how much fruit it will produce.

This guide compares the pros and cons of each pot type so you can confidently pick the correct pot for you. As Australian conditions are harsh, we’ll also consider how heat, exposure, wind and durability factor into your decision.

What does a pot need for growing fruit trees?

Before deciding on the specific material for your pot, there are a few essential requirements.

Drainage is needed. Any pot you decide to pick must have a drainage hole. Any pot without it will hold too much water, causing root rot.

Pot size matters. It is important to make sure you have the correct size pot for a fruit tree. A pot that is atleast 40cm – 50cm wide will be required for most established fruit trees.

Stability is important. The pot needs to be stable enough to withstand the high winds that can occur across Australia. Pots with a wider base will be more stable, as will pots made from heavier materials.

Heat tolerance should be considered. Temperatures and sun exposure can be very high in Australia. Darker colours will absorb more heat, while lighter coloured pots will reflect more heat away.

The durability of the pots is also important; you will want to pick a stronger material if it’s for long-term planting. A pot you want to keep for years to come needs to be UV-resistant. If it’s in an active area with kids, you also want it to be able to survive a couple of knocks from a scooter and the occasional football.

Types of Pots for Growing Fruit Trees

There are several different pot materials used to grow fruit trees. Each one comes with its own benefits and drawbacks with drainage, stability, cost, style and durability. Below is a breakdown of the most popular options and how they compare to other materials.

Plastic Pots

These are the most common, widely used and easily accessible pots out there. Every nursery will have plastic pots for sale in a variety of sizes for your needs. Offer excellent value for money.

Pros:

• Low-cost
• Lightweight, easy to move and transport
• Excellent drainage, and can easily add more if required

Cons:

• Not very decorative
• Less stable in strong winds due to the lightweight material
• Cheap plastics can weaken in high UV

Best For:

Gardeners on a budget, renters who may move house, and people who care more about function than design.

Terracotta Pots

Terracotta is a garden classic, offering a more traditional style of pot. They can be found at great prices if shopping correctly. Unlike plastic, the material is very porous and breathable, allowing moisture to evaporate through the sides requiring more frequent watering and a better understanding of a watering schedule. One of the heavier options available.

Pros:

• Weight offers good stability
• Porous material increases airflow to roots
• Style can match many home and garden designs

Cons:

• Dry out quickly due to the porous material
• May have limited drainage holes and be difficult to modify
• Heavy if needed to move or transport

Best For:

Gardeners who can regularly water, like a traditional style, won’t need to move pots regularly.

Glazed

Glazed pots are a terracotta pot which has had a glaze applied to the outside of the pot. The glaze on the pots means they’re sealed and not a porous material like terracotta. They come in a range of style and colours, offering more variety than terracotta. They also weigh a lot which is important when growing larger fruit varieties.

Pros:

• Weight makes them stable.
• Stylish, great to use as a feature piece
• Better moisture retention from the glaze seals the pots.
• Durable

Cons:

• Expensive compared to other options
• Heavy weight
• Like terracotta, it can be limited with drainage and is difficult to modify

Best for:

Gardeners who have a space where they want a durable feature pot for the long term, not likely to need to move their pots regularly, need a pot that will naturally hold more water.

Fibreglass Pots

Fibreglass is growing in popularity, offering many modern designs and styles. They have the benefit of being both a lightweight and durable material. They are more expensive than a plastic pot but offer a lot more in terms of shape and design with similar benefits.

Pros:

• Strong, durable material
• Reasonable price compared to other statement pots
• Lightweight
• Modern style

Cons:

• Colour fades over time.
• Can blow over in strong weather

Best for:

Gardeners who want more modern style pots and planters, who may need to move their pots, or balcony gardeners who won’t style without the weight of glazes and terracotta

Fabric grow bag:

These have been purpose-made for optimal growing conditions, coming in many different sizes for each plant’s needs. They are cheap to buy, like plastic. The bigger sizes come with handles for easy transport. If you need to change them, you can simply cut them up to minimise root disturbance.

Pros:

• Great drainage
• Affordable
• Easy to transplant out
• Foldable, so easy to store
• Available in large sizes

Cons:

• Not decorative
• Shorter lifespan
• Dry out faster

Best for:

Gardeners looking for a cheap growing option, who may want to transplant to soil in the future. Gardeners who are less worried about aesthetics and are just after a functional container

Lightweight cement:

Lightweight cement pots are made from a base of cement, sand and water that’s reinforced with fibreglass or a similar material, making a durable planter. They are still heavy compared to fibreglass, but not as heavy as a planter made from only concrete.

Pros:

Lighter than only concrete pots

Cheaper than glazed and fibreglass

Durable for long-term planting

Cons:

Still can be heavy and difficult to move.

Porous material, not as porous as terracotta, but still dries out.

Adding additional drainage can be difficult.

Best for:

Gardeners who want modern style and designs aren’t worried about pot weight and don’t want to pay as much for a fibreglass pot.

Which Pot is Best?

Each pot comes with its own pros and cons, and no pot is best for every fruit tree. You need to consider if the pros are what you want out of the pot and if you are prepared to manage the cons.

If you want a practical, budget-friendly option, plastic pots are the most reliable, offering a lightweight, easy-to-work-with option suitable for beginners all the way to professionals.

Wanting a pot that is sturdy, will stand the test of time and you have the budget? A glazed pot will be a timeless classic. However, if you want this to have a bit more modern design, lightweight cement is also a great alternative.

In the case you’re a renter, balcony gardener or person who will need to move pots regularly, but want the modern style with a high-quality, durable pot, fibreglass offers everything and more.

For more attentive gardeners who can deal with the drawback of needing to water more regularly, but want a sturdy, budget-friendly pot with some decorative value, terracotta will be the best choice.

For an option that is budget-friendly, offers optimal growing conditions and comes in very large sizes for bigger potted fruit trees, the fabric growbags will be the one for you. They won’t be stylish, but they will be practical.

Overall, the best pot for your fruit tree will:

• Have adequate drainage
• Be large enough for the fruit tree to grow.
• Fit within your budget
• Have trade-offs you’re willing to manage
• Suitable for your space and needs

It’s best to balance both your needs and the needs of your fruit tree to ensure you create the right environment for a healthy tree and an enjoyable gardening experience.

Once you’ve chosen the pot that best suits your needs it’s time to make sure you use the right size pot, the correct soil and implement a watering schedule to give your fruit tree the best start.