Terra Cotta pots...discoloration problem....
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
August 19, 2011 10:39am CST
Can't find a category so I ask in this category. Does anyone do any gardening? I need info about POTS. Yes, those lovely terra cotta pots. I just got 2 large ones. I have heard terra cotta is very porous (sp?) and lets water soak out quickly. So that is why the manufactures paint a black paint of some kind inside the pot to hold the water in better.
So I bought the "good" dirt (I am in the desert so just have sand in the yard!)and the flowers and all it going well...2 weeks now. But I went to look today and the bottom of the pot is turning white on only one of the pots.
Question: Why is the pot turning white? and why on one not the other or will it soon start on the other? Same dirt, flowers and watering on both pots, nothing done on one that isn't done on the other. It sure messes up the appearance of the pot. I was trying for a nice patio alignment...but if they turn white..it isn't pretty and looks trashy.
Any ideas on how to stop this or is is possible to stop it?
4 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
19 Aug 11
As 3honor said, all terra cotta pots are different in some small way. You might try to brush it with a weak solution of vinegar and water, maybe a quarter cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. I wouldn't use more vinegar than that because it might damage the roots of your flowers if it seeped in. Or maybe just scrub it with clear water to see if it will come off.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
19 Aug 11
I'll see what I can do. It has a beautify etched design all around it and I am worried if I scrub...that will come off. Long time ago I used terra cotta pots and made an inside fountain....I painted the inside with water proof clear coat but then the pots had this beautiful etching on so I got gold paint and painted the etchings. It was beautiful. I wish I had done that this time, but forgot and just was overly anxious to get some beautiful pots and flowers going before the season is over! Hadn't thought of the vinegar, will give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
20 Aug 11
I love to garden and love using terra cotta pots on my deck. I have to bring the pots into my home in the winter so I want them to remain fresh looking! My husband teaches horticulture and he says the white deposits are calcium that has been left behind when the pores of the clay pots 'breathe'. The calcium is from the pots themselves, the soil in the pot and from fertilizer. He always uses a mild vinegar wash to clean our pots and they look brand new! He mixes a few cups of vinegar into a gallon jug of water. If that doesn't' work he increases the amount of vinegar. Hope this helps!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Aug 11
You might regret telling me your husbands line of work! This is my first ever home and a wonderful patio setting and I love colorful flowers and want to make one of those amazing patios with tons of flowers...year round, although I might get snow in the winter...at least low temps. But when I can... I wants lots ...and thing is... I know so little and although I read stuff...it just never turns out like it says or like it does for others. Has he ever thought of starting a help with plants for dummies blog?!?!?!?!? I'm his first customer!!!
I thought it might be the calcium or salt in the water or hard water that made the whiteness. NEver imagened it came from the soil itself!!!Thanks for the suggestion... I will give that one a try!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Aug 11
Oh yes Terra Cotta pots are always beautiful when new and once they begin to loose their look and get a bit stained they seem to look a bit old. I found a link that says using baking soda, warm water and a soft brush helps to restore their look. Take a look at this helpful link and hope you can get them back to their nice look:
This is not a referral link:
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Aug 11
Thanks so much. I'll check it out. I wish I had painted the etched design first. That would have helped and looked, oooohhhh so good! I did it once before~
@bnpraveen (172)
• India
20 Aug 11
hai friend
i heard about terracotta pots, but i never came with such experience, i will collect some details regarding to this , as my friend is using terracota pot, i will be back with solution
have a great day friend
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Aug 11
Can't wait to hear. I love them, they come in all shapes and sizes and never a problem of "will they match?" They are just the perfect planter. I had something similar happen before, but I thought it was the hard water or calcium from the water. IT wasn't the big a deal. But these big pots...can't afford to replace them.
