Decorative Pot Without a Hole? How to Use an Inner Pot

A decorative pot usually has no drainage hole, so the best way to use one is with a separate inner pot that catches excess water and prevents root rot.

What is the difference between a decorative pot and an inner pot?

A decorative pot is the one people see, chosen for its shape, colour or mosaic. An inner pot is the functional pot underneath or inside it, usually plastic, with a drainage hole and no decorative finish. The plant sits in the inner pot, and the decorative pot slides over or around it. With handmade mosaic pots that distinction is especially useful: the mosaic is made of hand cut tesserae, laid and grouted by hand, and drilling a hole afterwards can damage that grout. An inner pot with its own drainage means you never have to make that trade off.

Why choose an inner pot instead of planting directly?

There are a few practical reasons to use this combination instead of potting the plant straight into the decorative pot.

• Excess water collects in the inner pot, or on a layer of pebbles underneath it, instead of against the wall of the decorative pot.
• You can lift the plant out easily to repot it, check for root rot, or move it elsewhere for a while.
• You can swap plants or seasonal planting without emptying and cleaning the decorative pot itself.
• The mosaic and grout stay drier, which helps over time against limescale and loose tesserae.

How do you pick the right inner pot size for your decorative pot?

Start by measuring the inside of the decorative pot: diameter at the top, diameter at the base, and height. Choose an inner pot that leaves about one to two centimetres of clearance all around, so air can circulate and you can lift it out easily. If the decorative pot tapers inward, the narrowest point sets the maximum inner pot size: one that fits too tightly is hard to lift, and one that's too loose will tilt and look unsteady. If you want to work out the right pot and plant size together in one go, our guide to choosing the right pot size walks through the main rules of thumb. For extra drainage, add a layer of expanded clay pebbles or old pot shards to the base of the decorative pot, so the inner pot never sits in standing water.

Can a mosaic pot also be used without an inner pot, with its own drainage hole?

Some mosaic pots and vases are made with a drainage hole, others deliberately without one, depending on the model and how it's used. If you're unsure which option suits your pot, our checklist for buying a plant pot also covers the trade off between a pot with or without a hole. For outdoor use, keep in mind that not every terracotta pot is frost resistant: for year round use in the garden, choose a frost resistant pot with drainage, and use an inner pot indoors as a permanent solution instead. Terracotta and pottery are naturally porous, they breathe and let moisture evaporate faster than plastic, which already limits root rot somewhat. According to Wageningen University & Research's plant care guidance, an inner pot with its own drainage still remains the most reliable way to prevent structural overwatering.

Does an inner pot also work for large pots, for example by a driveway or on a terrace?

Yes, an inner pot also works well for large pots by a driveway or on a terrace, although you'll usually choose a sturdy plastic planter liner rather than a thin nursery pot. From around forty centimetres and up, pay extra attention to weight and stability, especially in wind. There's a side benefit too: reusing an inner pot for the next planting cuts down on plastic waste per repotting, a point Milieu Centraal also makes about keeping things in use for longer than a single season. If you'd rather browse the mosaic pots and vases collection to see which sizes are available, you can do that in our collection.