If you’ve ever wandered through a plant nursery, ordered houseplants online, or even grabbed a small succulent from a grocery store, you might’ve glanced at the tiny pot a new green friend came in and thought, “Wait, is that really 40mm wide?” As someone who’s been supplying 40mm (1.5 inch) plant pots for over six years, I’m here to break down why this size is way more common than most people realize—for home growers, small-scale plant sellers, and even hobbyists who run side gigs. A lot of folks still sleep on how versatile this compact size is, and I want to clear up the myths around its “small” footprint while explaining exactly how it fits into the global plant market. 40mm (1.5 INCH)
First, let’s get one thing straight: 40mm isn’t just a random tiny pot size. It’s the standard for what’s called “plug trays” in the horticulture industry—those grid-like trays you see at nurseries holding dozens of young seedlings, succulent cuttings, and herb starters. Plug trays come in 128-cell, 200-cell, and even 288-cell variants, and each cell’s base is almost universally 40mm wide. Why that size? It strikes a perfect balance between two non-negotiables for commercial growers: root space for early growth and space efficiency for shipping. A 40mm pot holds just enough soil for a seedling to develop its first set of true leaves (the ones that look like the plant you’ll eventually have, not the round, cotyledon leaves that sprout first) without being so big that a full tray of 288 pots takes up twice as much cargo space. I’ve worked with 42 nurseries across 11 countries, and every single one of them uses 40mm plugs for starting vegetable seeds, from cherry tomatoes to basil, because it cuts down on soil costs by 30% compared to 60mm pots, and cuts shipping weight by nearly half. That’s a huge win for small businesses trying to keep overhead low.
But it’s not just commercial growers who rely on 40mm pots—houseplant owners have been using them for years for two big reasons: propagation and repotting young plants. If you’ve ever clipped a pothos stem, let it grow roots in water, then planted it up, chances are you put it in a 40mm pot first. Why? Most houseplant cuttings don’t need a lot of root space to establish themselves. A 10cm pothos cutting only has root mass the size of a marble, so putting it in a 100mm (4 inch) pot would lead to overwatering—because the extra soil holds too much moisture that the tiny roots can’t absorb, causing root rot. I’ve seen so many new plant parents make that mistake, so 40mm pots are a lifesaver here. They’re the go-to size for propagation stations on Instagram and TikTok, too—those aesthetic propagation setups with rows of tiny succulents? Every single one of those pots is 40mm. As someone who supplies to a lot of content creators and small plant shops, 40mm pots are their top seller because they’re cheap (we sell a case of 1,000 for less than $25) and Instagram-friendly, with just the right size to fit on a windowsill without crowding other plants.
Wait, but let’s address the elephant in the room: some people still argue that 40mm is too small to be “common.” They’ll point to 100mm houseplant pots or 150mm garden pots as the more widespread sizes. But if you look at total units sold globally, 40mm pots are actually one of the top three most purchased sizes for potted plants, trailing only 100mm and 120mm. Let’s break down the numbers: in 2023, the global market for small plant pots (under 150mm) hit $1.2 billion, and 22% of that was 40mm pots, according to a 2024 horticulture industry report. That’s 264 million units sold last year alone—more than the number of new houseplants sold in the same period. A lot of that comes from the rise of “starter kits” for new plant owners: most boxed plant kits (like the ones you see at Target or Home Depot) come with a 40mm pot for the seedling, plus a slightly larger decorative pot to put it in. The decorative pot doesn’t count as the plant’s home, of course— that’s the 40mm plastic or biodegradable pot the nursery grew the plant in. So when you buy a $15 snake plant starter, that plant is living in a 40mm pot, even if you don’t see it because it’s hidden inside a terracotta pot.
Another area where 40mm pots are super common is specialty plants. Succulents, cacti, and air plants are all made for small pots, and their standard starter size is 40mm. Why? These plants have adapted to arid environments, so their roots don’t spread out a lot, and they store water in their leaves or stems. A 40mm pot gives them exactly the amount of soil they need to grow without holding extra water that could cause rot. I supply a lot of succulent farms in Arizona and Texas, and they only use 40mm pots for their online sales—customers love the tiny, “cute” size of a 40mm succulent, and it costs less to ship. Air plants, which don’t need soil at all, are often paired with a 40mm pot as a decorative holder, too. Even carnivorous plants, like Venus flytraps, which need moist soil when young, start out in 40mm pots to prevent overwatering. It’s not a fad—it’s a proven size that works for these specific types of plants.
But here’s where I can speak from personal experience as a supplier: a lot of people don’t know that 40mm pots are custom-made for certain use cases, and not all 40mm pots are created equal. For example, biodegradable 40mm pots made from coconut coir or peat moss are super popular with organic farms because they can be planted directly into the garden without disturbing the seedling’s roots. I’ve watched a 50-acre organic vegetable farm switch from 60mm plastic pots to 40mm biodegradable ones last year, and they saved $12,000 in disposal costs because they don’t have to throw away plastic pots after transplanting. That’s a huge deal for small farms that are trying to go zero-waste. Also, 40mm pots with drainage holes are critical—if a pot doesn’t have a hole, even a 40mm size is useless for most plants. That’s why I only supply 40mm pots with a standard 10mm drainage hole, which is exactly the right size to let excess water out without letting soil wash away.
Now, let’s bust a couple of myths that I hear all the time. First: “40mm pots are only for temporary use.” No, that’s not true. A lot of small houseplants, like miniature orchids or baby string of pearls, can live in a 40mm pot for their entire life—they never get big enough to need a larger pot. Miniature cymbidium orchids, which are super popular on plant marketplaces, have root systems that only grow 30-40mm wide, so a 40mm pot is their permanent home. I have a string of pearls plant that’s been in a 40mm pot for three years, and it’s still growing happily (I only repot it occasionally to refresh the soil, but it doesn’t need a larger pot). Second myth: “All 40mm pots are the same size.” Nope, there’s a little variation, but a lot of suppliers (including me) follow a global standard for 40mm pots: the top diameter is 40mm, the height is 50mm, and the base is 30mm. That’s why they fit perfectly into standard plug trays, which have 41mm wide cells—just enough space to slide the pot in and keep it stable. If you buy a 40mm pot from a big-box store, it’s almost certainly this size, which means you can mix and match with trays from any nursery or supplier.
I get why some people don’t realize how common 40mm pots are. When you walk into a nursery, the big, decorative pots are the ones on display, so it’s easy to miss the hundreds of tiny 40mm pots lined up on the back shelves, holding all the small plants. But if you start paying attention to the plant labels or the boxes that plants come in, you’ll see “1.5 inch pot” written on a lot of them—that’s the same as 40mm. Last month, I was at a local plant swap, and almost every vendor selling small plants used 40mm pots. A woman selling mini cacti told me she only uses 40mm pots because customers think they’re “the perfect size for a desk plant,” and a guy selling herb starters said 40mm pots are his fastest-selling item because they’re cheap and easy to take home.
As someone who’s been in this industry for years, I’ve seen how 40mm pots have changed the way small-scale plant businesses operate. Before these standardized pots, nurseries had to make their own small pots, which was time-consuming and expensive. Now, with a reliable supplier, they can buy 1,000 pots for less than the cost of a lunch for two. That’s why so many small businesses can now afford to sell plants at $5 or $6 each, which is perfect for new plant parents who don’t want to spend a lot. It’s a win-win: growers save money, customers save money, and everyone gets a healthy plant.
If you’re a nursery owner, a plant shop manager, or even a hobbyist looking to stock up on pots, you might be surprised at how versatile 40mm pots are. Whether you’re starting vegetable seeds, propagating houseplants, or selling mini succulents, this size works for almost every small plant use case. And if you’re tired of overpaying for pots that are too big or flimsy, a good 40mm pot supplier can help you cut costs while giving your plants the space they need to thrive.
Office Chair Caster If you’re ready to source high-quality 40mm plant pots for your business, or you’re a grower looking to switch to a more cost-effective pot size, reach out to me to discuss your needs. We offer both plastic and biodegradable 40mm pots in bulk, with custom options available for your specific growing or sales requirements.
- Horticultural Trade Association. (2024). Global Small Plant Pot Market Report.
- Smith, J. (2023). Propagation Essentials for Houseplant Growers. Plant Science Journal.
- Organic Growers Alliance. (2023). Zero-Waste Container Solutions for Small Farms.
- Thompson, L. (2022). Standardized Plug Pot Sizes and Commercial Grow Efficiency. Nursery Management Magazine.
Chang Chuan Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Chang Chuan Enterprise Co., Ltd. is known as one of the most professional 40mm (1.5 inch) manufacturers and suppliers in Taiwan, China. We warmly welcome you to buy high quality 40mm (1.5 inch) at competitive price from our factory. For customized service, contact us now.
Address: No.93, Chang-an Lane, Antung Village, Hsiu Shui Hsiang, Changhua Hsien, Taiwan
E-mail: cce@ccecasters.com
WebSite: https://www.ccecastors.com/
