Container Gardening Pots

CONTAINER GARDENING SELECTION 

1. terra-cotta
2. glazed terra-cotta
3. metal
4. cement
5. plastic
6. fiberglass
7. wood

POTS SMALL TO LARGE - PLAIN TO FANCY 

1. classic pot
2. urns
3. tall vessel-like
4. squares
5. rounds
6. rectangles
7. very plain or enriched with detailed designs.

SO MANY CHOICES - WHERE TO BEGIN 

• Terra-cotta looks very natural and classic while it lends itself to almost any type or style landscape. Terra-Cotta is earth based and porous allowing air and water to pass through the sides of the pot, aiding with good drainage. Terra-Cotta being a natural material can break if it freezes or is dropped. Terra-Cotta pots are heavier than most other materials when filled and you will need to water your plants more often.
• Glazed Terra-Cotta comes in a wide variety of colors as well as styles. These pots can fit almost any setting. Because of the glazing these pots would appear to hold up better do to weather changes, while being stronger. Glazed Terra-Cotta pots are still very prone to breakage and they are heavy when filled.
• Metal Gardening Pots are great where you have very cold weather. The pots can be made from sheet metals or cast iron and depending on their size are lighter in weight making them easier to move around. The styles of most metal gardening pots blend themselves well with traditional or contemporary settings. Cast Iron is heavy and also prone to rusting unless you treat it each year with a weather resistant sealer. Another negative of metal containers is the fact they can get very hot and burn your plants. Metal containers also should not be used where children could burn themselves if they touched the hot metal.
• Cement Gardening Pots are very weather resistant and durable. Cement pots have a very classic look, they are also very heavy. Moving a cement gardening pot even when empty is a workout. You are also very limited in color choices, usually only earth tones.
• Plastic Gardening pots especially in the newer high grade plastics are almost impossible to tell from terra-cotta pots, while being a lot lighter in weight. These new Plastic Gardening Pots can be left outside even in cold weather. The plastic pots also retain water better than most other choices. They are almost indestructible while being easy to move from one place to another. The problem with this light weight, they are prone to blow over in heavy winds. You also need to get past the old stigma that plastic pots are cheap.
• Synthetic Gardening Containers are made from Foam, Resin or fiberglass. Like their plastic counterparts, synthetic pots look like terra-cotta, stone or metal. Also light weight with a large variety of sizes, style, colors and decorative details. When filled with soil, these pots are still easy to move around. They hold up very well to weather extremes. The bad news is that they have a tenancy toward flaking and chipping.
• Wood gardening containers are Rustic and natural looking. Somewhat porous, but will not dry out as quickly as terra-cotta. Over time wood will break down due to exposure and watering.
• There are also self-watering pots. Made of lightweight polypropylene, these pots come in a variety of colors and styles. Each pot has a hidden reservoir holding from one gallon up to two-and-one-half gallons with a water-level indicator and an easy-fill funnel. They also contain an evaporation grill which moistens and aerates the soil. A whiskey barrel made of recycled plastic with an eight gallon reservoir would be perfect for a larger floral display. These self-watering pots would be perfect on a balcony or anywhere where watering by a hose is difficult. Water soluble fertilizers can be added to the reservoir for added convenience.