Easy Terracotta Pot Tips and Tricks | Gardening Hacks | Gardening Australia, by Gardening Australia on YouTube. 2 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes, plus drying time
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Tip out the old soil and tease away any roots stuck to the inside walls. Knock the pot gently on a hard surface to loosen compacted soil at the base.
Scrub the pot inside and out with a stiff brush and plain water. Skip dishwashing liquid, because porous clay soaks it up and it can linger.
Mix one part white vinegar with three parts water in a bucket. Soak pots with white salt crust for 15 to 20 minutes, then scrub the crust away.
Sand any stubborn mineral rings with coarse sandpaper or steel wool, working in small circles until the surface feels rough and clean again.
Rinse each pot with clean water and push a twig or skewer through the drainage hole to clear it. Good drainage matters more in clay pots because they dry fast.
Stand clean pots in a bucket of clean water for about 30 minutes before planting. Dry clay pulls moisture straight out of fresh potting mix.
Dry the pots completely, upside down and propped so air moves underneath, in sun or a dry shed for a day or two.
Store dry pots upside down or on their side, with a small gap between them. Never stack damp pots or seal them in plastic, as trapped moisture grows mould.
Check stored pots before reuse and set aside any with hairline cracks. Broken pieces still work as drainage crocks in the bottom of other pots.
Tips and common mistakes
Never store terracotta pots stacked while wet, because the trapped damp brings back white salt bloom and mould.
Empty and shelter clay pots before frost, since water freezing inside the porous walls makes them crack.
Terracotta suits plants that like to dry out, such as succulents, so pair it with a free-draining mix.
Lift large planted pots with your legs, not your back, and get help above chest height.
Questions
Why does my terracotta pot have a white powder on it?
That is salt and mineral crust left behind as water evaporates through the porous clay. Soak the pot in diluted white vinegar and scrub it off before reusing.
Do I have to soak terracotta pots before planting?
Yes, it is worth it. A dry clay pot wicks water out of new potting mix, so a 30 minute soak gives your plant a fair start.
Can terracotta pots stay outside over winter?
In mild climates, yes. Where temperatures drop below freezing, empty the pots and store them dry under cover, because ice inside the clay walls cracks them.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
