Many new gardeners often wonder what the difference is between a cachepot, planter and pot. While these items may look similar, they do have distinct differences in their construction, purpose, and use. Let’s break down what each item is.

Cachepot

The word “cachepot” comes from French and literally translates to “hidden pot.” Therefore, a cachepot serves as a decorative cover for a regular plastic or clay pot with a plant. A cachepot doesn’t have a traditional drainage hole like a pot or planter, so it’s primarily used for decorative purposes in gardening.

If you want, you can plant a plant directly in the cachepot, filling it one-third of the way with drainage material like expanded clay, small gravel, or special sand for soil. However, subsequent watering of a plant planted in a cachepot should be very careful, otherwise, it will be difficult to avoid root rot.

If the cachepot is made of plastic, it’s easy to drill a few holes in the bottom for water drainage, effectively turning the cachepot into a planter.

Based on appearance, size, and material, cachepots can be divided into two types:

• For indoor use. In this case, the cachepot additionally serves as an original interior design element, emphasizing the style of the room. An interior cachepot can be made of metal, plastic, glass, artificial stone, wood, or ceramics.
• For outdoor use. An outdoor cachepot is designed for plants in a winter garden, on an open terrace, or balcony. Such a cachepot can be made of any material that can successfully withstand various weather conditions – plastic, ceramics, earthenware, etc.

Planter

The word “planter” also has French origins, derived from the meaning of “vase” or “decorative vessel.” Therefore, a planter primarily serves a decorative function, while simultaneously combining all the properties of a regular flower pot. As a rule, a planter has a decorative appearance, as well as a drainage hole at the bottom and a saucer in the kit – for draining and collecting excess water that flows out of the drainage hole.

Planters, depending on their construction, placement, and use, can be:

• Indoor decorative planters. With their beauty and original design, indoor planters can easily compete with an interior cachepot. And many modern planters are additionally equipped with a built-in drainage system.
• Garden or outdoor decorative planters. They are installed outdoors – on streets, squares, or in park areas. The material for making an outdoor planter is usually stone, metal, plastic, or gypsum. Garden planters can be used as a single decoration or as part of multi-level decorative compositions.

Pot

A pot is a synonym for a flower pot. Essentially, it’s the same thing as a planter. A pot is a stable, upward-expanding container for planting plants, always with a drainage hole for removing excess water during watering. The number and size of the holes at the bottom of the pot are limited only by the manufacturer’s imagination. Often, a saucer is also included with the pot. In this case, it’s possible to use the so-called bottom watering of plants, when water is poured into the pot saucer and capillarily moisturizes the soil.

Flower pots serve the main functional purpose – growing plants. The decorativeness of a flower pot is also an important factor when choosing. Pots can be of absolutely different colors, sizes, and shapes, made of different materials – ceramics, plastic, wood, glass, or metal. Many modern flower pots are equipped with a self-watering system that regulates the frequency of watering and saves the gardener’s time.

Now you know what the difference is between a cachepot, planter and pot, and their functional purpose.