Virtually, anything that holds soil can be used as a plant container but when you’ve run through your supply of old shoes, paint cans, and mop buckets, it could be time for a trip to the garden center to stock up with something more conventional.
Clay pots, plain or fancy, are the most desirable to all containers. They’re weighty and stable and their natural warm color complements all plants, particularly as the clay mellows with age. The downside is that they ARK heavy, and awkward to move around when you want to rearrange your display. They are often expensive, especially the antique ones and those made and decorated by hand.
Not only are the breakable, but they must be brought indoors in cold winter climates to avoid the cracking and chipping induced by the very cold temperatures. Terracotta is porous, allowing oxygen rich air to supply the plant’s roots, while allowing excess soil moisture to escape. Some gardeners feel that this protects them from watering errors, but means that the pots require more frequent watering during the hot days of summer. In spite of the disadvantages, their ability to blend into the garden far outweighs them.
Other materials
Containers made of fiberglass are gaining in popularity, especially in large sizes, in spite of their relatively high cost. They are lightweight and durable, and can be left out of doors through the worst weather. They are made plain or fancy with a finish to simulate lead, bronze, cast iron, slate or other elegant, traditional materials. Because of their light weight, they are especially useful for terrace or balcony plantings where weight is an important consideration.
Plastic containers are inexpensive and long lasting. Available in many colors to suit most situations, they withstand frost and are easy to clean. They too are light in weight. Unfortunately, the less expensive ones may become brittle in the strong sun, and need to be replaced after only one or two seasons. Synthetic materials are also used to make imitation clay pots, and some are pretty convincing.
Wooden tubs, planter boxes and half-barrels are good value but should be treated with a non-toxic wood preservation such as Cuprinol to prevent rotting. Although higher priced than others, those constructed from cedar or black locust is more durable and require no wood preservatives.
As an additional precaution against decay, it helps if you line the inside with plastic; be sure to make plenty of drainage holes in the bottom so that water can drain away readily. Ready made wooden boxes usually come with a rigid liner insert. It is wise to support tubs and barrels on bricks or specially designed “pot feet”, so that the bottom of the barrel can drain freely and avoid rotting.
Glazed pots are becoming increasingly popular, partly because they tend to be cheaper than plain clay.
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