What Kind of Plant Saucers Do You Use Under Your Plants?

Euphorbia with a green glass saucer.

Plant saucers. This may seem unusual to write about, but I deal with them often, as I have hundreds of houseplants.

Plant saucers are important

I missed the damage in the picture below for quite some time and I was so upset when I discovered it. Since I was using a glazed container, I assumed that my doily (yes, I like doilies) and what it was sitting on, were safe. So, when I moved my plant, I found a ruined doily. The container and saucer are glazed, but the ring on the bottom of the saucer wasn’t glazed. Always check the saucer that comes with the pot.

I have pansy doilies under a lot of plants and lamps, as they used to be inexpensive. I have even made some of them, but now they are quite costly at antique stores. So I was disappointed that I had ruined one. Imagine if this doily had been on an expensive piece of furniture instead of this old antique crate I had it on. It added to the patina of the crate.

A doily ruined by an unglazed plant saucer

Protect your surfaces from plant saucers

This container below is the one that ruined the doily, but I put a big glass ash tray under it to protect the doily it is on now.

Plant saucer choices

There are many choices for saucers other than the normal unattractive, plastic ones. I use small plates, ashtrays from thrift shops, or anything that catches my eye that will work. Great places to find plant saucers include second hand stores and garage sales.

If you already have plant saucers that you want to continue using, invest in cork mats to use under them to protect your furniture.

Clear plastic, clay-colored plastic, and clay saucers are the most common plant saucers available at your local garden centers. There is nothing wrong with these. I use a lot of them.

Plastic saucerGlazed clay saucer

Find something different

But, if I can find more attractive ones, I will definitely use them. I love to look through the knick-knacks at the local second hand store and garage sales to find “saucers” for my plants.

The pictures below are ashtrays, furniture leg holders, candle holders, and other small bowls and plates. What I like about glass is that water is not getting through it. No ruined furniture or doilies.

Here are some pictures of them in use.

What are you using for saucers? Do you have damaged furniture from your plants? Do you use the common saucers or do you look for the unusual? Let me know in the comments.

Have a great week, plant friends!

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