Metal containers are becoming increasingly popular, especially among gardeners who want a modern, contemporary look from copper, galvanized zinc, or cast iron.
Pros: Reusing salvaged items as containers is a great way to save money. Metal containers are virtually indestructible, too.
Cons: Metallic surfaces absorb heat, which causes roots to overheat in direct sun. Fertilizer salts damage the finish on some types of metal.
Polystyrene Foam
Lightweight, sturdy, and often surprisingly realistic, new polystyrene foam containers come in a wide array of sizes and finishes.
Pros: Polystyrene foam containers are more durable than traditional plastic pots. They hold up well to weather and can be left outdoors year-round. They're much lighter than wood, stone, or terra-cotta, as well.
Cons: High-quality polystyrene pots may be just as expensive, if not more so, than the wood, terra-cotta, or metal containers they've been fashioned to look like. Because they are lighter, they may blow over in windy locations.
Glazed Ceramic
Typically more expensive than their unglazed terra-cotta counterparts, glazed ceramic containers offer innumerable choices in color and pattern.
Pros: Glazed ceramic containers are some of the most beautiful around and can be perfect accents to the deck, patio, or landscape. They're not porous, so they don't lose moisture as fast as terra-cotta.
Cons: Glazed ceramic containers break as easily as terra-cotta and are just as heavy. If they're unglazed on the inside, you will need to move them to a sheltered spot indoors if you live in an area that sees freezing temperatures.
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