Clay, plastic or glazed?

The material of a pot changes how fast the mix dries, so it is part of your watering plan.

Unglazed terracotta is porous. Water evaporates through its walls as well as from the surface, so the mix dries faster. That suits cacti, succulents and other plants that like to dry out between waterings. Moisture-loving plants will need water more often.

Plastic is light, cheap and non-porous. Water only leaves through the holes and the surface, so the mix stays moist longer. That suits ferns, calatheas and other plants that dislike drying out, and people who tend to forget watering.

Glazed ceramic is also non-porous and behaves much like plastic. Many glazed pots have no holes and are really outer covers.

There are also special pots. Orchid pots have large holes or slits so the chunky mix dries quickly and roots get air. Self-watering pots have a reservoir that wicks water up; they keep mix evenly moist, which is handy for travellers but not suited to plants that like to dry out.

Height matters a little too: Virginia Cooperative Extension notes that a taller pot drains more water and its top few inches dry sooner than in a shorter pot of the same mix, while pot width makes no difference to drainage.