All red clay pots have a drainage hole at the bottom to let out excess water or to act as an inlet for moisture with those plants which are bottom-watered. The disadvantage with these containers is that many people find them so plain as to be ugly. Because they are so readily available, and because at first you will probably buy all your plants in adequate pots, there is no need to stock up on extra pots until it comes time for you to do some repotting (see Chapter 6) or until you are ready to try your hand at propagation (see Chapter 7). At that time you should be able to choose the pots you need without wasteful overbuying. There are no standards for the size and shape of decorative glazed pots.
You can buy them in the same size and shape as clay pots, but they also are made in oblong or upright shapes, or made to look like animals, tree trunks or what have you. They are usually more expensive, and often don’t have a drainage hole in the bottom, but otherwise are just as good for growing plants as the old-fashioned red clay type.
Copper, and other varieties of metal pots, are also on the market, but these are almost entirely decorative, and are used to house (and disguise) the pot in which the plant is actually grown.