What is the primary disadvantage of terracotta?
One of the main disadvantages of this material is its porous nature. Since terracotta is porous, it absorbs a lot of dirt quite easily. To avoid porosity, you need to choose glazed terracotta. Terracotta pots may be made with many types of additives and impurities that can leach out of the pot over time and look unattractive. The plus of terracotta is its porosity but that can also be a drawback if you don’t get very high quality pots.The porous nature of terracotta can make the soil dry out faster, so a good potting mix is essential. Create a Moisture Barrier: To prevent the soil from drying out too quickly, line the inside of the pot with a plastic or clay saucer. This barrier will help retain moisture.When you don’t pre-soak terra cotta pots, the plant will dry out faster. This isn’t a huge deal—as long as you are attentive to your plant and water it when the soil is dry enough,” Waldman says. But it will help you conserve water and lower the maintenance level of your plant.While terracotta pots are great for well-drained plants, they are not suitable for moisture-loving, humidity-dependent, pH-sensitive, or tropical plants.
What plants should not be in terracotta pots?
Avoid terracotta pots for moisture-loving plants like ferns, Venus flytraps, and peace lilies since the porous clay dries out the soil quickly. Outdoor evergreens need frost-resistant pots—standard terracotta may crack in winter unless it’s a high-quality variety like Italian Impruneta. Terracotta pots are the least likely to survive a winter outside. They have an “Achilles heel”—they’re porous so they absorb water. This is a major problem because of the freeze/thaw cycle.Pre-soak before planting: Because terracotta absorbs moisture, soaking a new pot in water for an hour before planting helps prevent it from pulling moisture from the soil too quickly. Use a saucer indoors: Since terracotta allows water to seep through, placing a saucer under your pots indoors can protect your surfaces.However, gardening expert and writer Leigh Clapp has this clever trick: ‘When planting your containers, simply place a plastic pot inside the terracotta pot,’ she says. This avoids it cracking in winter because it retains all the moisture instead of it absorbing into the clay.Add insulation to pots ‘If leaving terracotta pots outside over winter, covering the outside of the pot with bubble wrap will provide some protection from frosts. Emma Hardy, author of The Winter Garden.
What are the two types of terracotta?
High-density tiles are thicker; meanwhile, the low-density types are thinner. High-density terracotta will be more resistant to cracking and is a better choice for heavy-use areas. Low-density terracotta is a bargain material that may not hold well under heavy use. Cheap terracotta will crack and break easily, especially if there are drastic shifts in temperature. However, high-quality terracotta can last for several decades, so it’s well worth the investment!
What are the disadvantages of terracotta pots?
The drawbacks of terracotta garden pots Terracotta garden pots are porous. Being made of a more porous material, plants will require more watering – this can be a downside if we are suffering from drought or you forget to water regularly. Terracotta garden pots can be subject to cracking and breaking. Soak the inside and outside of your pot before planting. Your terracotta pot’s colour should gradually change from light to dark. If the colour of your terracotta pot changes when wet, it means it can breathe.How often should I water plants in terracotta pots? Check soil moisture every 2-3 days in warm weather. Water when the top inch feels dry for most plants, or when completely dry for succulents. Clay’s porosity means more frequent watering than plastic containers require.Sealing terracotta garden pots If you are using these pots for plants that have high water requirements or don’t respond well to the wetting and drying cycle, sealing your terracotta pots is worthwhile. You can either seal the inside or the outside of the pot.Looking After Terracotta Pots Add some crock to the bottom of your pot. The bigger the pot, the more crock you should add. Line the inside of the pot (not the bottom) with some bubble wrap or a split plastic bin bag. You want to create a simple barrier between the soil and the clay.
Which is better, terracotta or clay pots?
Clay pots breathe; plastic traps heat and moisture. Terracotta keeps roots cooler and soil balanced, ideal for India’s tropical conditions. Terracotta Helps Prevent Overwatering Made from porous clay, these pots allow moisture to evaporate through the walls, keeping soil from becoming waterlogged. This natural breathability helps prevent root rot, one of the most common causes of houseplant decline.