What can I grow in these tiny little metal container pots?

[HystericalDinosaur]

I got these lovely 9cm container pots for Xmas and I have a nice sunny fence for them.

But I've since realised they are very small and I'm a novice and I don't know what to plant in them.

I had originally thought lavender, strawberries, mint and other herbs but now I'm not sure.

Any suggestions? Thank you!

To be quite honest, I really don’t think they are suitable for plants. A: because they are quite small and would need watering several times a day in hot weather, and B: being metal, they will get very hot in hot weather and fry the roots.

Sorry, that’s just my opinion, you are welcome to ignore!

They aren't big enough for anything that needs much water. How about succulents like house leeks!

I've grown plants such as bacopa and lobelia in similar pots. It's true that they dry out quickly in very hot weather, but I had no issues otherwise. I think you could probably use most things that you would use in hanging baskets: petunias, calibrachoa, surfina and geraniums are other ideas. You can get trailing varieties of some of these, which would look nice.

Various types of thyme?

I'd put solar powered tea lights in them and hang them on the fence etc

Would alpines work? Or would they not like the heat?

I have these, I sprayed them bronze , I have put lobelia and bacopa and that looked good when I am out watering anyway in summer, but by far the best thing I put in there is some trailing succulents, they are really happy and have lived all winter

I have Petunias in mine, they get watered twice a day if it's hot. They don't get much sun where they are but still flower nicely.

We used to buy and try to use these types of pots, they look pretty until they go rusty and faded and you have to be really careful about what you put in them as they're jsut too small to put enough soil in and keep it moist enough to keep a plant going

Remember that when you hang them they tilt and then if you water too vigorously the soil floods out, so just do it gently



I'm trying to attach pic, not working, I got the type with hole in bottom, if you haven't I'd drill one

I have these. I plant cyclamen in the winter and pansies or lobelia on n the summer. They look really pretty ☺️

We have 3 of these hanging planters and I do think previous posters are being unduly pessimistic! We've had them a few years now and last year we planted geraniums in them and had no problems. We water regularly but certainly not twice a day. Photo attached.

I have had these before, I sprinkled wildflowers seeds in some as I figured they would be pretty hardy and nasturtium and lobelia in others. You have to keep them watered, but they were all fine. The pits themselves did fade and rust though so I wouldn't use them again.

Actually, looking at my photo only 2 of the planters contain geraniums. Unfortunately, I can't remember what was in the 3rd planter but all the plants flourished. The planter colours do fade so these have been resprayed with paint from Ebay.

Erigeron or Chives

Low maintenance. Needs sun. Drill a hole and don't let them dry out. Might need watering twice a day if it's hot because small pots dry out quickly.

Tbh I would go all the same plant in each

I've also put (white) bacopa in mine. They look very sweet with the white flowers spilling over.

I mixed potting compost with topsoil so they hold water better. Mine have holes in the bottom; some don't. PP's tip about how they tilt on the fence so you have to water gently is important!

Yours look a bit bigger than 9cm, though

Trailing lobelia would be lovely 🌹

Thank you so so much everyone. You've all been so helpful! Lots of lovely ideas and tips. Thank you!

If you can get hold of some water retaining granules they will help with the drying out.

@MereDintofPandiculation, you're right our's have a 15 cm diameter so about 2 inches wider.

About twice the volume of soil.