These are the 4 Most Common Mistakes Business Owners Make with Outdoor Planters
If you’ve ever cared for an outdoor plant, whether at work or in your home garden, you understand how tricky it can be to ensure the plant has the correct amount of sunlight, water, and ideal soil conditions to thrive. This task is made even more difficult if the plant is in an outdoor planter, especially if it’s inside a standard, big-box store commercial planter that’s not designed to help plants flourish.
There are 4 common mistakes business owners make with outdoor planters, more than just purchasing from big-box stores. Continue reading to learn about the most common mistakes and how to help your plants thrive with proper care.
Common Mistakes with Outdoor Planters
As a business owner, you already wear plenty of hats, from your daily to-dos to taking on extra work when an employee is on leave or out sick, let alone taking care of your outdoor plants. However, if you do get tasked with caring for your outdoor commercial planters, be sure to avoid the following common mistakes:
Overwatering
Most plants require multiple waterings a week or daily waterings, and it can be difficult to know if you’re overwatering, especially if the plant is exposed to direct sunlight or during the warmer months. Luckily, there are some easy signs to look out for to determine if you’re overwatering: droopy leaves, yellowing leaves, squishy stems, and moldy soil, to name a few. You can avoid overwatering by keeping an eye on the soil; if it looks or feels moist to the touch, skip watering. Likewise, be sure your commercial planter has well-draining soil and proper drainage, or your plant is at risk of disease or dying.
Underwatering
Like overwatering, underwatering is an easy mistake to make, especially if you live in a humid climate or the plant receives direct sunlight. To determine if you’re underwatering your plant, pay attention to the following warning signs: leaves that sag, brown or curled leaves, brittle leaves or foliage, reduced growth or smaller leaves, or dry soil. To avoid underwatering your plants, try the following: place your plant in a shaded area, especially if it’s a flowering shade plant or a fern, and feel the soil before you decide to skip watering. Also, choose a commercial planter made from a high-quality material. Concrete commercial planters and other traditional planters without insulation can cause plants to wilt or die faster.
Wrong Placement
Before you decide whether your plant needs to be watered, should be avoided, or should be repotted, consider whether it’s in the right placement for the plant type. Placing plants around your commercial building, restaurant, hotel, or other building requires careful planning to determine the best location for the plant type. For example, you wouldn’t want to place a commercial planter with a plant like begonias, which prefer shade, in direct sunlight for most of the day. Likewise, you should avoid placing succulents that thrive in drier conditions in full shade. If you’re unsure where your plant should be, research the plant type before placing it or moving it.
Choosing the Wrong Planter Material
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make with outdoor planters is choosing the wrong planter material. While grabbing any old metal, wood, concrete, or fiberglass planter from a big-box store is convenient, you’ll likely regret your purchase and will need to replace it sooner rather than later. Avoid the following planter materials: metal, wood, concrete, and fiberglass.
While metal planters may create a high-end aesthetic, they have several disadvantages, and commercial property owners often find themselves replacing them regularly. Wood planters used in commercial settings and exposed to full sun tend to weather and weaken rapidly, as ultraviolet rays degrade the wood fibers, causing discoloration and cracking. They also struggle in harsh conditions, particularly in regions with dramatic temperature swings, where expansion and contraction can accelerate damage. Concrete planters are extremely heavy, weighing over 1,500 lbs. While the heavy construction concrete planters offer durability, they’re too heavy to move easily, if at all. Finally, fiberglass planters tip and break easily, cracking under pressure.
Wondering what the easiest plants are? These are the top 5 easiest-to-care-for outdoor plants to add to your commercial planters.
Luckily, you can avoid these common mistakes by building a custom commercial planter from PolyMade.
How to Help Outdoor Plants Thrive
PolyMade’s custom commercial planters outperform metal, wood, concrete, and fiberglass planters, helping plants thrive. In contrast to traditional metal, wood, concrete, and fiberglass options, PolyMade’s custom commercial planters are crafted from lightweight, flexible materials that provide unique benefits. Each planter features a three-layer design, including a high-density polystyrene core for reduced weight and a durable polyurea coating for added strength and protection.
Here are just a few of the advantages of choosing a custom commercial planter from PolyMade:
Fully customizable with a variety of shapes, sizes, and color options
Insulated design to safeguard plants from temperature changes
Superior moisture retention for healthier growth
Root protection to ensure plant longevity
Modular construction for simple assembly and mobility
Precision manufacturing supported by CAD technology
Handmade with care in the USA
Certified food-safe materials
Designed for easy shipping and hassle-free installation
Let’s Build Your Commercial Planter Today
Our custom commercial planters are unique to each client, offering custom shapes and sizes, vast color options, and are built to ship and easily install. Adding commercial planters throughout your property can boost employee productivity and improve your building’s aesthetic.
Engineered for long-term durability, our planters withstand extreme weather, temperature swings, and year-round outdoor use without sacrificing style. Every planter is crafted to enhance your space, adding a refined, professional look that elevates your property and supports your design vision.
From the first conversation to final installation, our knowledgeable team partners with you throughout the entire process. We help translate your ideas into a finished product that’s both visually striking and built to last. Whether you’re specifying planters for a large commercial site or a custom architectural feature, we fabricate lightweight solutions in virtually any design while ensuring easy handling and installation.
Connect with our team to learn how PolyMade’s custom commercial planter boxes can enhance your project, simplify installation, and create an environment where plants—and properties—thrive.
