Terracotta pots are a staple of both indoor and outdoor gardening. Everyone knows their signature orange-red look. Being simple earthenware creations terracotta pots can be found everywhere, but with modern materials and new form factors for plant containers abounding, why does everyone still use these classic pots? Let’s look at the pros and cons of terracotta pots and why they still get used, but first a bit about what terracotta is and its history.
What is Terracotta?
Terracotta is simply a natural earthenware clay that is dried and then fired. Its signature color comes from the presence of trace amounts of iron in the clay and it can actually vary quite a bit batch to batch and region to region. Terracotta pots are typically either hand crafted or pressed with a mold. After being crafted and dried modern pots are fired at around 1000C, but in historical settings the pots may have been fired at much lower temperatures closer to 600C.
A Brief History on Terracotta Pots
Terracotta didn’t get its start as a garden pot, but instead as a multipurpose tool for just about everything from statues, to roof tiles, to storage containers. Terracotta’s earliest confirmed widespread appearance in history is around 10,000 BCE in ancient China, but there are hints that it may have been used even earlier between 26,000-24,000 BCE. Terracotta, though widely used in China, was discovered and used around the world independently. Almost every ancient culture discovered and used terracotta pottery where it was available to do so.
Despite being a Chinese staple the word we use for it around the world today is Italian in origin and based off the Latin two word phrase terra cocta. Though the word terracotta is definitely Italian, many languages have absorbed it as a loan word and use it naturally due to the ubiquitous nature of the terracotta in the world.
Terracotta Pots and Gardening
The terracotta pot is the de facto standard flower pot. It got its start because they were the best way to make containers before the arrival of plastics in the early 1900s. On top of being the only game in town, terracotta was durable for indoor and outdoor use. It didn’t need a lot of special care and did its job especially well. But why didn’t it get replaced when new materials came along?
The Pros of Terracotta Pots for Gardening
- Terracotta pots are porous and help in the exchange of air and water for plants
- Terracotta pots are inexpensive compared to other materials
- Terracotta pots are chemically inert and don’t leach into soil
- Terracotta pots are generally well suited for most outdoor conditions
With all that terracotta pots have going for them, it’s easy to see why they might be a good choice. They’re not the only type of pot on the market, but they are rather perfect for the job and there hasn’t been any real game changing advances in flower pot technology that’s been able to displace them. In addition to their good fit, they are also cheap and don’t have the downsides that some cheaper plastics have where the plastic affects the water, soil, or plant. Don’t get me wrong, the right plastic pot is great from time to time, but it’s a gamble if you don’t know what type of plastic you are using.
The Cons of Terracotta Pots for Gardening
- Terracotta pots break and is not really repairable
- Terracotta pots are heavy and not always appropriate for thin ledges or weak shelves
- Terracotta can naturally crack if extreme weather conditions
The cons to terracotta pots are simple. If they break they don’t repair well. If you want to put them somewhere you need to know that area can support the weight. Finally with poor weather conditions or rapidly fluctuating temperatures terracotta pots can crack and become brittle. While these certainly are cons, they’re not anything that cannot be planned around. Terracotta pots aren’t right for every job, but they work for quite a few of them which is how they earned their iconic place in gardening today.
Beyond Basic Clay Pots
Terracotta pots have another surprise feature. While other materials like plastic have hit the scene, terracotta also got some upgrades. Now terracotta pots come in all sorts of form factors, shapes, and sizes. You can also find ones that are different colors, have glazed outsides, or even ones that are textured to give plants a surface to grow on. While the classic terracotta pot is especially classic, it’s not the only option when you want to grow your plants.
You can find a ton of terracotta pot options at amazon quite cheaply, but I think I like this dopey face pot the best.
A Pot For All Occasions
Terracotta pots are simply a gardeners friend. They’re great exchangers for air and water, inexpensive, durable, and come in all sorts of designs. With all this to be said about them it’s no wonder they’ve remained the top iconic flower pot throughout all these years.