Planters can come in smaller sizes to planters that are big enough to hold trees and have to be carried by at least two people even when they're empty. They’re valued because they’re porous and have good drainage. They allow excess moisture to seep out through the sides of the pot and through the drainage hole and also allow air to reach the roots of the plants. Concrete planters can be quite beautiful and are cold resistant. However, they tend to be heavy. Fiberglass planters, glass fiber reinforced planters and metal planters might be more durable than concrete planters or terra-cotta planters, which can crack if left outdoors during a cold winter. Wooden planters can also be very esthetically pleasing and have a rustic look. Wood that’s good for plants and soil to be set directly inside the planter are rot resistant like teak, redwood and cedar. These are durable in cold weather and can be kept outside. One should buy planters with thicker lumber because this slows down evaporation and keeps the roots cooler.

The other advantage of some fiberglass planters, metal planters, glass fiber reinforced planters and plastic planters is that while they might have holes in the bottom for drainage, many of them are not porous, so water and air don't pass through their sides. This means that the plants don’t need to be watered as much. However, if your plant is in clay or plastic planters that are inside wooden planters, they should be watered accordingly. After a few weeks, you should know right when and how much to water your plants, depending on the container they’re in.

One has to be a little careful if they’re planting directly inside concrete planters, fiberglass planters, metal planters, glass fiber reinforced planters, plastic planters and wooden planters, especially if these containers don’t have drainage holes. They should lay a three inch deep layer of pot shards or gravel on the bottom of the container that excess water can drain into. More, the soil mixture put into concrete planters, fiberglass planters, metal planters, glass fiber reinforced planters and plastic planters should be gritty so it won’t pack down and will drain properly. A good percentage of sand in the soil can help this. A funnel can be inserted into the top of the soil and one should pour water into the funnel until no more water disappears. Then determine how much water was poured into the funnel, allowing one to pour exactly this amount into the planter every time the plant is watered.