Types of Pots for Container Gardening – Red Clay

Red Clay Pots:  Red clay pots are the best containers you can buy to grow your plants in.  Why?  Because clay pots are fairly inexpensive, most nurseries or garden centers carry them in all different shapes and sizes, and their reddish-brown color usually blends in well with most home decors.

It’s also important that clay pots are porous, which as far as your plants are concerned, means that moisture is absorbed easily and that air circulation is very good.

Because of their excellent absorption of moisture, plants kept in red clay pots will generally require more frequent waterings than plants kept in other types of containers.  However, if you soak your newly bought clay pot in water for several hours before planting anything inside of it, you will lessen this condition somewhat.  Regardless, make sure that you check plants kept in this type of container often for signs of dryness.

Another advantage of clay pots is that they will actually warn you if you are giving your plant too much fertilizer, or if the water you are giving your plant is too hard.  If a white film builds up on the outside of the pot, then there is a problem with either the fertilization or the water.

Finally, if you wish to reuse a clay pot, make sure that you scrub it thoroughly in wrm water.  Better yet, sanitize it by placinbg the pot in an oven at 180 degrees for thirty minutes, or soak the pot in a solution made up of one part household bleach and ten parts water.