Cache Pot

For houseplants we recommend using a cachepot system instead of direct planting into your decorative pot. Historically cache pot was used in the Victorian era as a way of cycling indoor plants throughout the year. This allowed them to be grown in their weathered terracotta pots, but displayed elegantly indoors. To cachepot leave your plant in its original plastic nursery can (or it can be up-potted into a larger can) and set it within a plastic saucer inside your decorative pottery. If the decorative pottery is for indoors (without a hole) a plastic saucer may be unnecessary, though adding it will make cleaning the interior of larger pots easier, as it can be quickly removed and washed in the sink.

This system has many advantages:

Eliminates the work of planting into the decorative pot.
Allows the items to be moved separately, greatly reducing the weight. This helps whether you're moving it across the room or across town.
There is more flexibility if you'd like the change the plant and pot combination in the future.
Watering is more forgiving because you can have a deeper plastic saucer inside the decorative pot.
Someday, if your plant needs replacing, it's a quick swap not a big mess.
It's easier to monitor the nursery can to see if your plants roots are clogging the holes.
Nursery cans often have many holes, not just one. This provides better drainage, especially over time.
Visually cleaner by not seeing a saucer under the decorative pot.
It's easier to rotate the nursery can, for plants that like to be rotated to keep lighting consistent.

Tips and tricks:

Always try to provide an inch or two between the lip of the two pots, to monitor water in your saucer. If the fit is tight or flush you will not be able to see water accumulating in the plastic saucer within.
The top of the plastic nursery can is best situated just below the rim of the decorative pot.
If your plastic nursery can is a little too tall for your decorative pot you can lower its profile. Remove the plant and knock off the necessary amount of soil from the bottom. Cut down the lip of the plastic nursery can to an appropriate height and replant the plant in it. The setup will now fit into your cache pot.
If your plastic nursery can is too short adding spacers under the plastic saucer can get it to the right elevation. This can be terracotta saucers for smaller adjustments or inverted terracotta pots for larger ones. You can also use gravel topdressing to create height.
A top-dressing such as moss, gravel or palm fiber can be added to hide the nursery can. Remember the top dressing will lock in water, and you'll need to adjust the watering frequency accordingly.
Another technique for adding top dressing when you use a cachepot is to use a "top saucer". Cut a line from the edge of a plastic saucer to the center and then cut a hole in the center (for the plants to come up through.) This allows you to twist the saucer and slide the trunk of the plant down the cut and into the hole. The saucer sits on the nursery can, giving it a nice sturdy rest for topdressings. The "top saucer" is easily lifted / removed to check the soil and completely hides the nursery can.

How to cache pot in five easy steps!

1. Gather your materials

2. If needed, flip over a terracotta pot to elevate your plant to the desired height. You can add multiple pots or saucers to achieve just the right elevation.

3. Place your saucer in the decorative pot (on top of the terracotta risers if you used them.)

4. Place your plant in the saucer. It's best that the saucer sticks out an inch or so all the way around the base of your plant to collect any overwatering.

5. Step back and enjoy!