40 cm flower pots

What plants can go in a 40 cm planter?

A diameter of 40 to 49 cm corresponds to containers of 35 to 50 L. This is the size for fully mature specimens: olive tree with a formed trunk, mature citrus tree, Trachycarpus palm, non-invasive bamboo, mature Japanese maple.

At this volume, the plant is no longer repotted every two years. Allow five to eight years before the next change, which requires a quality growing medium from the outset and annual topdressing. This is also the size that can support a standalone evergreen shrub in front of an entrance or on either side of a gate.

The SOCRATE 40x49 cm holds 37 L, the LONDON 42x39 cm holds 43 L, and the MONACO 44x67 cm reaches 48 L. Beyond this, the range continues with our50 cm plantersand XXL sizes.

Volume, weight and positioning

Capacity ranges from 36 to 48 L depending on height and shape. A tapered planter holds around one fifth less than a cylinder of the same dimensions, which explains why a 46x56 cm and a 42x39 cm differ by only a few litres.

At this size, weight becomes an advantage before it becomes a constraint. A planted 40 L planter will not move in a gust of wind, which matters for a tall specimen with dense foliage, on an exposed terrace or by the sea. This is precisely what a lightweight container cannot do.

The trade-off is managed during installation. Decide on the final location before filling it, arrange for two people or a hand trolley to move it, and check access, including stairs and lifts. On an upper-floor terrace, find out the permitted load: a planted and watered 48 L planter weighs considerably more than its empty weight.

Drainage is integrated into the base. Outdoors, raise the planter slightly on supports so that water can drain away even after a storm. Oursaucersare ordered separately and are mainly for indoor use.

Bring it indoors or leave it outside: the range decides

At this size, the planter can usually stay outside over winter. The rule depends not on size but on the range. The LONDON, MILANO, MONACO, PARIS and VERSAILLES ranges are not frost-resistant: they must be brought indoors before winter, which means planning how to move a planted 40 L planter.

The other ceramic ranges are frost-resistant down to −25 °C and remain outside all year round. If your specimen is intended to stay in place, choose a frost-resistant range from the outset rather than moving it every autumn.

Two precautions apply to all ranges. Water freezing at the bottom of the planter causes more damage than the cold itself: keep drainage clear and raise the planter. In winter, a waterlogged growing medium freezes more quickly than one that has drained, so reduce watering from autumn onwards.

Frequently asked questions

What diameter planter for an olive tree?

Allow at least 40 cm for an olive tree with a formed trunk, and 50 cm for a specimen with a broad crown. The planter must remain heavier than the wind resistance of its foliage. A young olive tree will manage with 30 cm for three to four years.

How many litres of compost does a 40 cm planter hold?

From 36 to 48 L depending on height and shape. A 40x49 cm holds 37 L, a 42x39 cm holds 43 L, and a 44x67 cm reaches 48 L. Allow one 50 L bag of growing medium for a single planter.

Can a 40 cm planter stay outside in winter?

It depends on the range, not the size. The LONDON, MILANO, MONACO, PARIS and VERSAILLES ranges must be brought indoors before frost because they are made from white clay. The other models, made from purple clay, are frost-resistant.