Combination pots work better for me for two reasons.
-I never over water. It seems with two plants there are more roots so the pots never get water logged.

-Saves space. I can have double, triple the plants.

But I am a strange person. I do not have problems planting in planters without drainage holes. I know how much to water and many of my plants have been with me for 20+ years.
I think drainge holes are good for newbies and people that tend to over water.

Far too many florists and garden centers do them without regard to the care requirements of the plants. They only concern themselves with how it looks.

This has likely given dish gardens a bad name with those who are knowledgeable about houseplants.

Keeping them in the pots and mossing over them is called a European Garden and is often a better idea for long term survival. Often, blooming plants are rotated in and out and they stop blooming.

If one pays attention to the requirements of the plants, there is no reason you cannot have healthy thriving combination planters.

I do now because of lack of space. I worry sometimes that a really agressive grower might choke out one that is not a strong grower.

Susan

I really like the look of combo/dish gardens. I put them together to give as gifts, or if I have small rooted cuttings of a few plant types that I need to pot up.

My favorite containers to use are the baskets with the plastic liners from florists, the ones that originally housed combos as gifts to begin with. I find them at second hand stores for very little money. I also like to use odd containers, such as old kitchenware. Almost anything that can be lined with a cut off garbage bag to hold soil will work. I prefer containers that have drainage, but holes can always be drilled, or care taken when watering if drainage is not an option. I once planted a small square aquarium with an assortment of common houseplant babies; they loved the terrarium-like conditions.

Just like my outdoor combo planters, I like to choose tall, medium height and trailing plants to combine. Different leaf shapes, textures and shades of green or leaf varigation are taken into consideration, as well. A common plant combo that works well for medium to low light areas is dracenea marginata, a small palm and ivy or philodendron. For sunny locations, a combo of cacti and/or succulents works well.

I'm careful to choose plants that like the same conditions. This keeps the dish garden looking healthy. As the plants grow, I either trim them to keep the shape and size I like, or if they become too large for the container, I separate them into their own pots and replant my dish with new baby plants or rooted cuttings.

I also insert plant stakes, pretty rocks or small statuary for a little something extra. I make my own plant stakes using shish-ka-bob skewers topped with polymer clay in the shape of small signs or stamped with designs.

I'm not sure exactly what it is about dish gardens that's so appealing to me. I've been creating my own miniature indoor gardens for years now. It's nice to know that others appreciate the look, as well!

Jodik -- thanks for the ideas! Your planters and dish gardens sound lovely! Do you have any pics? I'm really excited about putting some together now!

I also use the florist plastic containers for combination planters. But, I use two of them together in the following manner. In the first one I put a 1" layer of turface. Then drainage holes are poked in the second one and set on top of the first. Plants grow well.

I keep a few combo cotainers: Calathea/stromathe/ctananthe, Succulents, Peperomias, and Crotons..Each are combined with their own family..I too use some non-drainage pots for succulents, mostly ceramic, and like Marquest know when it's time to water.
It's also a great space saver..Toni