Terra Cotta Planters

Terra cotta planters have been gracing outdoor living spaces for centuries. Formerly thought of as a plain decorating statement, terra cotta outdoor planters are available in a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes for today's sophisticated decorators.

Terra cotta is Italian for "baked earth".  It is actually a ceramic.  The uses of terra cotta are broad:  from outdoor planters, to roofing tiles, from water pipes to outdoor accessories, from building construction to embelishments.   Because terra cotta has been made so popular by use in outdoor pots, it has also become synomymous with an orange/brown color. 

HISTORY OF TERRA COTTA:

The use of terra cotta is not limited to garden planters. Terra cotta has been used throughout history for sculpture, building materials, pottery, vegetable planters, and water pipes.  In ancient times, the terra cotta outdoor pots or building materials were baked dry in the sun.  Terra cotta planters and other materials are dried in a kiln today.  Kiln drying is the property that classifies terra cotta as a ceramic.  

USES OF TERRA COTTA - Not Just for Planters!:

Terra cotta has been used at least since 209 BC.  Some of the earliest and most widely recognized uses were for cooking pots or outdoor pots.  The outdoor pots were used to collect rainwater for drinking or cooking.   As man became more sophisticated and efficient, terra cotta was used to tell stories in reliefs, statues, or figurines.  Some of the most famous are the terra cotta warriors in China. 

ADVANTAGES OF TERRA COTTA PLANTERS:

Terra cotta planters are widely available today to use as vegetable planters, flower planters, or outdoor decorative planters. Terra cotta planters allow the roots of the plants to breathe, helping to prevent rot or water retention if accidentally over watered (a common problem in garden planters).  Terra cotta outdoor pots have withstood the test of time - both in material, construction, and style.  If you use terra cotta planters in decorating your outdoor living spaces, they will always be in style and always look right at home on your deck or patio.  Terra cotta planters are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles, making it possible to use them for flower planters, vegetable planters, or decorative planters.

DISADVANTAGES OF TERRA COTTA PLANTERS:

While using terra cotta as a material for your outdoor planters, there are several disadvantages that are worth noting.  Terra cotta planters can be prone to cracking in frost or extreme cold weather.  There are some options available that claim to be resistant to cracking due to cold, but these outdoor pots are more expensive that the traditional planters.   While gardening in terra cotta outdoor planters still provides portable gardening, the terra cotta planters are heavier than some other options in today's market.   This may create difficulty for some people to bring their vegetable planters or flower planters indoors for the winter, especially if they are large.