Regarding the decision of whether to use clay or plastic pots for their plants, many gardeners have their own preferences. This post will outline the benefits and drawbacks of both types if you do not yet have a strong view.
The production of terra-cotta (unglazed clay) pots involves using a certain soil and firing them in kilns. Every flower and leaf color blends well with clay’s rusty brown hue.
For most plants, clay pots offer a healthy environment. Because clay is porous, air and moisture can enter the pot’s sides. The little roots towards the border of the soil ball make use of this moisture and air. Clay containers also function as a wick to draw moisture from the potting soil. Depending on how you water, this can be viewed as both a benefit and a drawback.
Overwatering is a common problem for gardeners, and clay will likely help their plants. Other gardeners are better off using plastic and waiting for the withering indication from their plants. Cacti, which require a dry, well-drained soil, favor clay containers as well.
Clay can be used outside and has benefits. The thick walls of clay pots shield plant roots from damagingly quick temperature changes. Additionally, they are rather heavy and do not topple over as readily as some plastic pots. Clay has the drawback of drying up rapidly. For plants that require a lot of moisture, like ferns, or when trying to sprout seeds, this can be an issue.
Clay also has a propensity to leave a white, crusty film on the pot’s exterior. This results from the movement of mineral salts dissolved in water out of the potting media and through the pot wall. While most gardeners find this layer unattractive, some find it appealing. If the salt deposits’ look is offensive, they can be washed off. Clay is easily shattered, which is a last drawback.
Pots made of plastic are robust, lightweight, and flexible. They match both interior and outside decor because they come in every color of the rainbow. Plastic is a great option for plants that love wetness or for gardeners who water seldom because it lacks the wicking effect of clay.
Plastic pots are considered safe for growing plants because they are constructed of inert materials. When the pot is no longer used, disposal is environmentally benign because many are constructed of recyclable plastic (unglazed clay pots are fully recyclable as well). Roots receive little to no protection from temperature changes from the thinner walls of plastic pots compared to their clay equivalents. In fact, black plastic can serve as a sun collector, heating the potting soil to levels that are harmful to plants.
If plants in dark-colored plastic containers wilt rapidly, make sure they are well-watered before relocating them to a cooler area where heat buildup shouldn’t be an issue. Plastic can become brittle and fade after exposure to sunlight. Many plastic pots made for outdoor use have ultraviolet light inhibitors applied to them to prevent fading and keep flexibility, lengthening the pot’s lifespan.
Make sure the pot you choose includes drainage holes in the bottom to avoid overwatering, whether it be made of clay or plastic.
This article was modified in March 2008 and published in the Sunday edition of the Lincoln Journal Star. Read the Terms of Use statement for details on reproducing this content and using any images or visuals.
Your online source for gardening and yard-related information in Lancaster County is University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension. Residents of southeast Nebraska can use the information on this website. In your location, it might or might not apply. Visit your neighborhood Extension office if you reside elsewhere than in southeast Nebraska.
Can you leave plants in plastic containers outside?
Nurseries must maintain the health of the plants while safeguarding them from threats such as sudden frost and nosy visitors. Peat moss, pressed paper, and composted cow manure are just a few plant pot materials that are promoted for their biodegradability and minimal environmental impact. Their concern for the environment goes beyond organic fertilizers and native plants to encompass advances in containers. However, because these pots might break down in the soil, especially after watering, handling expenses and unintentional plant harm may rise. Large perennial plants and trees are especially well-protected in more robust containers, which are typically made of plastic, until you purchase them.
Do plants thrive more in ceramic or plastic containers?
Everyone who loves plants wants their plant babies to be content and healthy, whether they are brand-new plant parents or seasoned pros. Are ceramic pots superior for promoting plant growth, you might be thinking.
There are so many different kinds of pots and planters available. from cement to plastic to steel to stone. But which kind of pot is ideal for producing the sturdiest and most attractive houseplants?
Let’s get straight to it and give you the gist of the situation before we go into all the finer points.
In general, plants grow better in ceramic glazed pots than they do in plastic, metal, or terracotta pots.
The soil in the ceramic pot is better able to absorb moisture and won’t dry out as quickly, which is the main explanation. Ceramic pots’ glaze lessens their porousness and any potential weather damage if the ceramic pot is left outside. If you have a tendency to overwater your houseplants, ceramic pots are also preferable.
In light of this, let’s begin by studying how ceramic pots are created and what sets them apart from the competition.
Can plants be kept in plastic containers?
Naturally, the solution to this question is straightforward. Plants grown in plastic containers have the advantages of being strong, lightweight, flexible, and durable. For plants that prefer wetness or for those of us who don’t water our plants as frequently as we should, plastic pots and containers are good options.
They are typically made of benign materials that are frequently recycled and come in every color of the rainbow. But this isn’t always the case. Many people are wondering whether it’s safe to combine plants and plastic in light of recent worries around plastics containing Bisphenol A (BPA).
The use of plastics in food production is controversial. The majority of commercial producers still use plastic, usually in some form, to cultivate their crops. The plastic pipes that water fields and greenhouses, the plastic mulches, the plastic used to cover crops, the plastic used in row cropping, and even the plastic used to cultivate organic food crops are all examples of plastic products.
Scientists concur that BPA is a relatively large molecule compared to the ions that plants absorb, therefore it is doubtful that it can pass through the cell walls of the roots into the plant itself, even if this is neither proven nor disproven.
Which containers work best for plants outside?
That’s a challenging topic, and the answer relies on how much time and money you want to devote to your plants as well as if the pot will be used simply for agriculture or for decoration. Your outdoor planter can serve both purposes with the appropriate preparation!
For cultivating plants
I advise picking a pot made of organic materials like stone or terra cotta. These materials provide for good drainage through evaporation since they are water-permeable. A plant that has good drainage has a lower risk of developing root rot and is more likely to flourish to its fullest potential after being moved outside.
Select a square pot for container gardening for tidiness so it will fit neatly in your planting area.
For aesthetic purposes
Your container garden can be spiced up and your outside space can be improved with decorative planters. Finding the ideal fiberglass planter for your yard is simple because to fiberglass’s wonderful variety of colors, sizes, and designs.
Because fiberglass isn’t porous, choose a bottom with drainage holes to ensure optimal plant health.
Place the growing pot within a bigger, more attractive “cachepot” to have the best of both worlds if you’re looking for a solution that’s both attractive and healthy for your plant!
What is a cachepot?
It is merely an ornamental planter with a more practical planter inside that is used to grow the plant. The “cachepot” is utilized to display the plant neatly and expertly while concealing the growing pot.
For planting in hardscapes
Fiberglass and plastic planters are a great choice for planting containers on your patio, balcony, or rooftop terrace because they are incredibly strong and weather resistant in both cold and hot regions. This means that even in places with considerable activity, your fiberglass planter will continue to look wonderful all year long.
How long can plants be kept in plastic containers?
All of us have witnessed it happen: a plant that was so lush and beautiful at the store rolls up and perishes when it is brought inside.
You might be apprehensive because of this concern or because you’ve killed enough houseplants that you don’t want to do it again, much less buy one for your mother on Mother’s Day. But the truth is that caring for houseplants need not be difficult.
According to Annette Goliti Gutierrez, co-owner of Potted, a houseplant-only shop in Atwater Village, and Jessica Lawrence, a horticulturist and indoor plant care instructor at Fig Earth Supply in Mount Washington, the majority of issues can be classified as either benign neglect or death by kindness.
According to Gutierrez, the major issue with benign neglecters is that they frequently forget—or perhaps they simply were unaware—that houseplants need regular watering, bright light, and a little bit of love to survive.
For instance, air plants are attractive and well-liked since they can survive in a dish without soil, “But if I had a dime for every time someone asked, “So we don’t need to water these,” I would have plenty of money.
said Gutierrez. “And I’m forced to respond, “Well, no, like all living things, even air plants need watering.”
(Sounds like you?) Check out these simple suggestions in Sunset for maintaining air plants.)
Lawrence and Gutierrez claim that houseplants typically pass away as a result of being too appreciated. The worst offenders? incorrect lighting, overwatering, and improper planting.
They claim that if you adhere to the straightforward guidelines listed below, keeping them alive is not difficult:
Don’t be too quick to move them
Most houseplants were grown in greenhouses before being uprooted from their ideal surroundings and placed in shops until you came along, according to Lawrence “As a result, they are anxious when you bring them home, acting like a newborn who has just been plucked out of the womb.
Putting them in your new beautiful pot will just make them more stressed and make it more difficult to provide them with the care they require. The solution: For at least the first year, keep your houseplants in their plastic nursery pots.
Lawrence and Gutierrez tell you that you can still utilize your lovely pot. Simply place the new plant in the decorative pot, plastic pot and all, and fill up any gaps with Spanish moss or rocks.
The nursery pots, in contrast to many aesthetic pots, offer good drainage. And you don’t need drainage saucers because you can bring the plant easily to the sink or bathtub to water it, give it a nice soaking, and then let it drain before placing it back (which look pretty tacky under your decorative pots anyway).
According to Lawrence, most houseplants grow slowly and prefer to occupy little spaces in their pots, but when the dirt in the pot is more roots than roots, it’s time to transplant. Just increase the pot size by one, or at most two, sizes at that time. “The plant does not develop more quickly because of the size of the container, and the extra dirt makes it more difficult for the roots to receive the water and nutrients they require.
Last but not least, while transplanting, fill the bottom of the pot with potting soil (not garden soil) to help the plant grow to the desired height. Never place the plant in the pot’s bottom and then cover it with soil because doing so risked suffocating it.
Water, don’t drown
According to Lawrence and Gutierrez, improper watering is the primary reason plants die, frequently as a result of well-intentioned individuals drowning their plants.
When Lawrence ran a company that provided indoor office plant care, she couldn’t figure out why so many of the plants kept dying until she learned that workers routinely dumped leftover coffee or bottled water into the soil.
She claimed that although they believed they were assisting, the plants were actually suffering from either root rot or suffocation in standing water.
For those who water on a weekly routine without ever checking to see if their plants are moist or dry, this is a severe issue.
Because not all plants require watering at the same time, Lawrence advised putting your plants on a checking schedule rather than a watering one.
Before deciding to add water, stick your finger a good inch or two into the soil to see if it is dry. Buy a cheap moisture tester (like the $12 moisture-pH-light meter from Amazon) if you don’t trust your finger.
Sometimes gardeners are simply stingy, moistening the soil’s surface but neglecting to hydrate the roots. According to Gutierrez, the plant is essentially dry, and the salt and minerals in our water have a tendency to build up unhealthily in the soil.
When it’s time to water, take the plant to the sink or bathtub (ideally in the nursery pot it came in) and give it a good soak so the water can wash out any pollutants and completely moisten the root ball.
According to Lawrence, if the soil is extremely dry, it can actually reject water, acting like a fresh sponge that won’t soak up liquid until it is submerged. For 20 or 30 minutes, submerging the plant in a few inches of water will assist it absorb moisture at the roots, where it is most required.
Let there be light
News flash: For indoor plants to thrive, they require light, but “You shouldn’t place a plant next to a window that receives direct sunlight unless you’re growing a cactus indoors, according to Lawrence.
Keep plants away from the harsh, hot rays from the south and west, which are merely amplified as they come through the glass, and look for indirect light from north-facing or east-facing windows.
However, stay away from placing your plants in nooks or under stairwells where they receive little to no natural light. For photosynthesis to occur and for plants to obtain the energy they require for growth, there must be a reliable source of light.
“Some dark-leaf plants can endure low light, but Gutierrez, whose houseplant care advice is available online, claimed that they will never flower or grow large. Install a small grow lamp or even an LED light above the plant if you must place it in a dark area, she advised. It should be on continuously for at least eight hours each day.
Although a timer is useful, Gutierrez recalls being astounded by a trailing pothos plant that was blooming in a doctor’s office without any windows.
“I then saw that the lights were always on, so the plant was receiving enough light to perform photosynthesis, she added, from the moment people entered the facility until they left at night. “Not all plants will respond in the same way, but for it to be effective, you must keep the light on continuously so it simulates sunshine.