Let’s face it, if you’re on a balcony you’re going to need a container to throw your compost mix into that will grow the wonders of the world. You know plants and stuff. So it’s obviously very important to understand the basics of the pot choices out on the market today.

The most accessible and commonly used is the clay pot or terra-cotta pot. I’m sure we’ve all had experience with these but let’s go over some of the need to know.

• Cost: Cost effective
• Looks: Great natural beauty
• Weight: Heavy! Of course this is only an issue for the large pots, and doubly so if you are looking to change its location in the foreseeable future
• Moisture Containing: Clay is very porous and therefore sucks up water from the soil. More watering will be necessary!
• Cold Weather: Because of clay’s water absorbency, cold weather can potentially freeze that water inside of the pot and crack it. In cold climates you will need to bring these pots indoors.
• Age: With good care these pots can last the ages.

Classic plastic. The original cheap and light alternative to the clay pots. I will spare the details for the new and improved versions but there are a few things you should know. The original plastic containers don’t have much in the form of visual appeal. Some other major issues with them are that they are very thin and thus can’t insulate very well, and after a few summers of sun damage they chip and fall apart. The benefits are their light weight, cheapness, and water repellency (where you don’t water your plant as much).

The newer plastics are either made of polyurethane (PU) or polyethylene (PE). Both a much more durable damage resistant faux terra-cotta pot. Let’s have a closer look:

• Cost: Greatly depending on the design, but you can find deals. PE is most likely cheaper and more common.
• Looks: Just like terra-cotta when done well! Can look as natural or new-age as you can imagine.
• Weight: Light!
• Moisture Containing: Repels moisture so you have to water less! Make sure there are water drainage holes on the bottom, if not it’s safe to drill your own.
• Cold Weather: Durable in all weather conditions! Great for winter outdoor use.
• Age: With good care these pots can last the ages.
• PE/PU Differences: You’ll notice PU is thicker and is thus a better insulator of your plants. Its touch is likened to a hardened styrofoam

Posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at 10:27 am under Gardening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.