Flower pots come in all shapes and sizes at garden centers. The size is usually specified as an edge length (for rectangular or square pots) or diameter (for round pots). It's more difficult with old pots that you still have in stock at home. Measurements can be carried out using a simple mathematical application.
How to measure the diameter of a flower pot?
To measure the diameter of a flower pot, place the pot on a piece of paper, trace the circle of the opening, and draw a line through the circle. Find the intersection points and measure the length of this line - this is the diameter.
The square pots
A distinction must be made here between rectangular and square pots. Determining the size of both is not a problem. You simply take a large ruler or a folding rule and measure the length, width and height. A suitable planter should always be slightly larger in dimensions so that there is a little distance between the inner pot and the outer pot. This means excess irrigation water can evaporate effortlessly.
The round pots
With these pots, only the height can be measured with a ruler. The exact diameter of the pot is the centerline of the top circle. This can be determined precisely with a little bit of mathematics.
Calculate the diameter of a circle
To do this you need a piece of paper, a ruler, a pencil and a compass (€13.00 on Amazon).
- First place the opening of the flower pot on the paper.
- Draw the circle of the opening on the paper with the pencil and put the pot aside.
- Draw a horizontal line through the circle at any point using a pencil and ruler.
- Where the line intersects the circle, mark two points, A and B.
- Now take the compass and draw a circle with the center A and the center B. The circles must be large enough that they intersect at two points.
- Now connect these two intersection points with a vertical line.
- Take the ruler and measure this line. It is the measurement for the diameter of the flower pot.
