Terracotta pots

Discussion in 'Tools And Equipment' started by CarolineL, Jan 31, 2021.

  1. CarolineL

    CarolineL Total Gardener

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    I have noticed that in the recent frosts (which down here in Wales, only got to -3) my terracotta pots have been spalling ie sections flaking off. I try to buy the ones they say are 'frostproof' but they obviously aren't. The only ones that survive are the glazed pots that come as sets from Morrisons, which I think are fired to a higher temperature. Oh and one very old handthrown small terracotta that, by its colour, seems to have been higher temperature fired. It's annoying because I have lots of alpines, cyclamen in particular, in them. Anybody got any suggestions please? (And don't say 'switch to plastic':rolleyespink:)
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I've never been able to afford the frost proof ones.:yikes:

    I just buy the cheaper Italian ones that look like they have just been dried out in the sun and likely to revert to mud in the next rain shower.

    Wonder what would happen if they was treated with a dilute waterproof PVA solution before using.:scratch:
     
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    • noisette47

      noisette47 Total Gardener

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      That's what I was thinking....it's the combination of damp and frost that does the damage. The only solution would be to either keep them under cover, so dry, or treat them with a waterproofing product. Over here there are tubs of clear liquid that you paint on to slabs, render, anything where you want impermeability. It dries transparent. Just had a quick look for equivalent in UK, but perhaps pete has it right with PVA?
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Thinking back, it must be 30 yrs ago I sealed some concrete slabs with a water based sealer, cant remember exactly what it was, but those slabs have been relegated to the allotment for the last 10yrs or so, and the sealant is still in tact.
         
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        • noisette47

          noisette47 Total Gardener

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          I've used 3 different products here on a terrace. Enormous differences in price and quality. The best and most long-lasting cost nearly €100 for 5l., just as a guide. But then, you perhaps wouldn't need anything very heavy-duty for pots. They won't be getting walked on :)
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            The problem now seems to be that Pots of all kinds seem to be shooting up in price. I've got a mixture of pots, (Terracotta, Glazed, concrete, Fibreglass, etc, of all sizes that were bought over the years. Some of my Terracotta pots seem to last years and years while other are cracking an splitting within 5 years despite their claims of being frost proof. For long lasting pots I guess I've found the Glazed pots to last the longest. I have had to repair some of the large Terracotta pots, the ones I reckoned were worth keeping, but that's fairly easy to do if you use the right sort of glue. But I tend to buy on price, like most gardeners, and hope for the best. The safest pots to buy if you're buying 60 litre, or more, for a specific plant seems to be the glazed pots if you want them to last. I'm a lazy gardener in that I like to pot and forget, apart from feeding and watering, when it comes to those pots with Shrubs or small Trees in.:dunno:


            upload_2021-1-31_17-29-7.png

            I use a mixture of pots bought as cheaply as possible where ever I can find them


            A 100 litre glazed pot for the Wisteria, the pot being bought mid last year.


            I bought this Rhubarb Forcing Pot, not for Rhubarb but for raising the Succulent Terracotta bowls to a reason viewing height
            upload_2021-1-31_17-58-58.png

            And this large conventional shaped pot for the same purpose
            upload_2021-1-31_18-1-10.png

            This kind of pot seems to last for years
            upload_2021-1-31_18-10-6.png

            As does this one
            upload_2021-1-31_18-11-16.png

            This one is a heavy "concrete" pot which is around 15 years old
            upload_2021-1-31_18-14-31.png

            The only two pots that I bought because I like the style and colour are the large Red Chinese square glazed pot containing a Flowering Ribes and is at least 15 years old
            upload_2021-1-31_18-25-33.png


            upload_2021-1-31_19-16-29.png
            And this Green Ribbed glazed pot which has a Intermediate Peony (Bartzella) in it. (Pots are around 70 litres in size
            upload_2021-1-31_18-36-15.png
             
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            • noisette47

              noisette47 Total Gardener

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              So we're all agreed that the glazed pots don't suffer frost damage :) That's because the glaze makes them impermeable :)
               
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              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                I would agree with that, but I have had to repair one or two glazed pots that over the years, I suspect, fractured due to abrupt temperature changes.
                 
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                • CarolineL

                  CarolineL Total Gardener

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                  You all confirm my suspicions! I think I'll have to use the glazed pots even though they are not always the right proportions for the alpines. Ah well...
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    The only reason I use clay pots is because I want a porous pot.

                    The glazed ones don't really give you that extra drainage you get with terracotta.
                     
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                    • NigelJ

                      NigelJ Total Gardener

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                      @CarolineL about 2005 I bought two large long tom "Yorkshire FlowerPots" they were expensive, special offer made it bearable though. They have stood outside ever since, summer and autumn at the front door and spent winter empty at the side of the greenhouse. They are still pristine, the main problem is when planted up they are rather heavy and not getting lighter as the years go by. Other terracotta pots have fared less well with some damage to rims
                      I have never been a fan of glazed pots, but that's my personal taste.
                       
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                      • zilly

                        zilly Gardener

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                        Has anyone ever managed to repair terracotta pots?

                        I have got a huge very old rhubarb forcer that was originally my grandparents. It has a chunk out of one side and I'd love to have it repaired.
                         
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                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                          Do you have all the pieces, zilly? I've found the best glue to be Epoxy Glue and I've used it for all my cracked or broken pots.
                           
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                          • Scrungee

                            Scrungee Well known for it

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                            We have 5 Yorkshire Flower Pots, bought when on special offer or closing down sale, and never had any problems with frost or ice. Used to have 6, but one of a pair of the tall trumpet shaped ones fell over and smashed whilst we were out, suspect and animal.
                             
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                            • CarolineL

                              CarolineL Total Gardener

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                              @pete - true, I do want the drainage and porosity particularly for alpines, but if I couldn't get good pots, I'd prefer understated glazed ones than random plastic. @NigelJ thanks for the heads up about those pots, but I suspect carriage is prohibitive... and we are in lockdown so the garden centres stocking them are closed!
                              @Scrungee I once had a lovely clay made in Italy - a bit fancy with lions' heads holding terracotta rings! It stood everything the frosts could do to it without a problem- but fell over in strong winds when I had something too unstable in it. And I haven't seen a terracotta like it since.
                               
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                                Last edited: Feb 1, 2021
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