Overwhelmed by the hundreds of options of pots? Looking for a suitable pot? Terracotta Clay Pot is the perfect choice for you!
What is Terracotta?
Terracotta is an ancient material that has been used in the humblest of plant pots but also features in historical art like the Qin Dynasty Terracotta Army. The word “Terracotta” means “cooked earth” in Italian.
About Terracotta Pots
Terracotta material is fairly simple, just a clay-based ceramic, but growing in terracotta has some benefits over plastic and other types of pots.The red/orange coloring comes from the iron in the clay that reacts with oxygen which provides a perfect environment for many types of flowers and foliage.
Terracotta Pros
Terracotta pots have a lot of pros. They’re great for plants because they’re porous and allow air and water to flow through them. This helps prevent root rot or soil disease which could kill your plants.
Gardeners who are heavy handed with watering benefit from growing in terracotta, as the porosity of the clay allows all that excess moisture to wick away from plant roots. On the downside, that very evaporative property is bad for plants that like moist soil.
The containers are plentiful, affordable, durable, and come in many different sizes and shapes. They are suitable for numerous varieties of plants.
Terracotta Cons
There are a few issues that come with using terracotta pots, but not many.
Terracotta material is heavy, cracks easily, and gets a white crusty film over time.
The very evaporative property is bad for seedlings or plants that need consistently moist soil. They can require more frequent watering than in other non-porous pots. As you can see, neither material is a perfect solution. Which you choose is a matter of preference and experience.
Reference:
Bonnie L. Grant. (2021). Using Terracotta Plant Pots: Information About Terracotta Pots. Available at: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/containers/using-terracotta-plant-pots.htm (Access date: Fri, Aug 26, 2022).
Jen Biswas. (2022). 3 Things You Must Do When Using Terracotta Pots. Available at: https://paisleyandsparrow.com/3-key-tips-for-using-terracotta-pots/ (Access date: Fri, Aug 26, 2022).