terra cotta pots

I have now seen a couple of posts here and some on other sites to the effect that terra cotta pots are used exclusively by folks for their indoor overwintered tropicals and house plants.

Educate me.

I have always thought the plastic is superior because they don't dry out as fast and they aren't as heavy to tote around and they are easier on the floors etc.

I feel that terra cotta pots allow the plant's root system to breathe better than a plastic pot would, and if that means the plant is heavier and dries out more, I can live with that. Also I think that terra cotta pots are more attractive than plastic. Once a plant gets really huge, however, I will switch to a good heavy guage plastic pot, if for no other reason than to be able to move it by myself. By then, the surface of the earth is large enough to allow more breathing space for the roots. I once had a hoya that was so incredibly large (20+ yrs old), the terra cotta pot I used for its final repotting cost me $50 and even the movers complained about moving it because of it s weight. I finally left it behind when I moved the last time - the new owners of the house bought it for a fraction of what I'd invested. Included was a very large and heavy trellis. But of course, I kept cuttings... It was that experience that convinced me to start using plastic for the larger plants.

This is my reasoning only - I'm sure others have their own reasons for and against.

Happy indoor gardening!!

Hmm. I just realized that I don't have any house plants so I don't know why they would say to use only terra cotta except that it looks way better than plastic.

Nice to have you back Liz; have you been hibernating?

I don't think so Lynn, although I did have a 3ft close encounter with a black bear on one of my decks a couple of weeks ago. I ran like the wind. LOL
My summer seems to have disappeared before my eyes. I can't believe that it's almost September. I seem to have missed a lot here.

Methinks poor Liz was kept busy watering....

I'm sure I heard a rumour that the coast was the only place here that had a summer.

Today it looks like November. Drizzly, foggy. Prime slug weather. When it's like this you can do slug patrol at 2pm. Actually when it's like this you can go out every half hour. LOL
And it was WAY TO HOT for me this summer. I'm a weather woose.

Hey, hey there Lilypon, The coast wasn't the only place in BC to have a great summer. The Southern Interior was Sunny and Hot for all but about 2 weeks out of the past three months. I loved it. Gimme blue skies and sunshine and I'll take the heat anytime. LOL

LOL! ;) Nice to meet you OldFlowerGirl!! Don't worry when I stick my tongue out I'll include all of BC from now on...ya'll stole what's usually our summer! Please next time SHARE!!! ;)

Whatcha got growing in your yard??? Any pictures??????????????

Nice to meet you too. You guys sound like you are a fun group. You can stick your tongue out at me anytime. I know how it feels, I spent most of my life in Edmonton, so I know where you're comin' from. Hubby and I just retired and moved here in the Spring of 2003. We love it. Just moved to a new home two months ago. I inherited a lovely rose garden with lots of tea and english roses. I brought with me Delphiniums, Lilies and Rudbeckias which transplanted well and are doing great. Unfortunately, my Rhodo's and Hydrangeas didn't fair as well. I have replaced the Rhodos, and pray over my PeeGee Hydrangea daily. I am hoping it will pick up and come back strong next year. I also inherited a pond, which has been my biggest challenge yet. 4 little golden critters in there too. Of course, I fed them until I found out that adds to yukky water. Yikes! Several water plants that I am just getting familiar with, but no flowers. It took me a while to realize there isn't a lot you can do about algea growth in 35 degree weather. I have to replace the filter as well. I askd my husband for one for Christmas! LOL Man, they are expensive. I have 6 lovely fruit trees in my front yard. Pears, plums and Macs to die for, honest! The Bing Cherry tree had lots of fruit, but the bugs got 'em before we could. Next year, we'll spray. Have a Delicious apple tree that didn't have fruit. ???? (What do I know, I'm a prairie girl) and another tree that has no fruit, nor a tag, so what ever it is, it'll be a surprise if it ever produces. So that's it in a nutshell. Unfortunately, we are one of the two or three people left in North America that doesn't own a digital camera, so no photos, sorry. (Maybe I should forget the pond filter for Christmas...) Hope I didn't bore you. Are ya sorry ya asked? LOL

We are always excited to hear what others are growing! :D

You *have* to get a camera.....mine's really cheap compared to many out there FinePix 2650 and the price keeps dropping on it. For the price and the not too bad pictures I'm really pleased with it. See if you get the camera we can identify your water plants and then drool over all the marvelous fruit trees etc. you have. ;) Your apple trees are prob. on a rest year.....every second they bear lots of fruit. To get around that we have an apple with 5 different grafts...that way some of the branches always have fruit.

You are right about the costs of pond keeping. I don't have any filters, etc. but rely on lots of water lilies and floaters to help keep the algae in check. Means my ponds aren't the clearest but I love them anyways....tho' this summer it was so cool I hardly had any of the yucky green stuff.

Glad to see another transplanted *Prairie* girl join our merry group!!! :D

Well, Im not sorry she asked. Nice to meet you and glad you jumped right in. So many new members join but never join in. Kind alike starting their car and sitting in the driveway. Hope you enjoy all our banter. It's a long winter ahead and keeping in touch on DG helps it go faster, as well as learning new things about gardening.

Thanks guys, I'll be hangin' around for sure.

Donna

Nice to meet you OldFlowerGirl. I'm a relative newbie to DG and (outdoor) gardening in general. I'm learning so much here, and trying to help where I can. See you around!!

Lizzie.........did this vegatarian want to devour some of your plants or ????????????????? No kidding, there have been over 1000 bear sightings on the North Shore alone, this year...my daughter and her friend encountered one on the running trail....they now adorn their shoe laces with bells!!!!!!!!