Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

samtobuk · Post by **samtobuk** » Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:49 pm

Bought a nice ceramic pot on the cheap from Homebase last week, and it has a 'shelf' or lip built into it about halfway down on the inside. What is it for? Am a little concerned that if I put a nice palm in there and the root ball works it's way down and fills the lower section of the pot, that it'll never come out!

Pot flares out towards the top if that helps. Sure the lip has a function .... but beats me!

Blairs · Post by **Blairs** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 2:22 pm

Have seen such pots, I do not have a 'right answer', but assume is that it is designed for you to fill the bottom part with light weight material and the top with soil and plants. Having a shelf would help you to remove annuals and plants easily.

fieldfest · Post by **fieldfest** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 2:57 pm

like this?

its for stacking

Deedee · Post by **Deedee** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:14 pm

stupid question but is there drainage holes? If not maybe its for a small water garden..

Blairs · Post by **Blairs** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:35 pm

Stacking sounds very plausible. Ones that I have seen the internal shelf was about 5cm thick all the way round, so left a large space for planting in the middle.

Birmingham Chris · Post by **Birmingham Chris** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:10 pm

I had always assumed it was for strength or so that you could put another potted plant inside it for aesthetics......It would add strength though, especially to that shaped pot.

samtobuk · Post by **samtobuk** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:34 pm

Yes, it has drainage and yes the shelf is about 5cm deep. Bit strange to put a pot within a pot if that is the case?!

Birmingham Chris · Post by **Birmingham Chris** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:42 pm

sorry - meant that you could put a smaller, crappy plastic pot in it to look better or a houseplant out for the summer.

Not sure about stacking - manufacturers need to make the most of the space and therefore cost of transporting goods - there is a lot of wasted space and, it follows, money, if you are transporting like this.

fieldfest · Post by **fieldfest** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:47 pm

you can read the patent here, all explained

http://www.google.com/patents/US1971075

Birmingham Chris · Post by **Birmingham Chris** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:51 pm

blimey! sorry FF - didn't mean to just dismiss it, just seemed an odd idea (still does a bit!)

I have a superb idea for an absolutely slug-proof pot if anyone wants to contact me with money and some business know-how!......I'm serious: it's foolproof, as all simple ideas are! when I win the lottery I'll do it myself and you'll regret it!

Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'

Re: Ceramic pots with a 'shelf'