Maintaining Ceramic Flower Pots to Prevent Breakage During Winter
As a gardener, I'm constantly adding more terracotta pots to my garden collection. They're perfect for adding pops of color to areas where planting in the ground isn't an option. However, I learned the hard way during the winter that clay pots can suffer from cracks and fractures after a hard freeze. (Given my formal education in ceramics, I should have been more aware, but we all make mistakes.) If you live in an area prone to freezing temperatures, it's essential to take precautions to protect your outdoor pottery.
Why Clay Pots Crack in the Cold
Clay, the primary ingredient in pottery, is primarily composed of silica, minerals, and water. When clay is heated to the right temperature in a kiln, the silica converts to glass, and all the water evaporates, resulting in a very strong, waterproof piece. However, most garden pots are made from terra cotta clay and are intentionally under-fired, allowing water to pass through. This under-firing is why cheap red pots tend to crack easily, and even some expensive large glazed ceramic pots can still retain water if not fired at the correct temperature. In frigid weather, the water inside these pots expands and freezes, causing them to break.
Removing Pots from the Cold
In an ideal world, you would bring all your pots indoors during winter, storing them in a garage or shed. This includes ceramic pots, garden markers, sculptures, and even your ollas (terracotta watering pots). Unfortunately, this isn't always feasible due to lack of space or plants that can't survive indoors.
Elevating and Insulating Your Pots
You can prevent water from pooling around your pots by raising them off the ground on brick or wood bases, allowing water to drain more effectively. Wrapping your pots in materials like burlap or bubble wrap can also provide an extra layer of insulation to help them withstand freezing temperatures.
Planning for Water Displacement
It's not just the pot itself that retains water, but the soil inside as well. If the soil in your pot is wet and then freezes, it can cause the pot to crack. One way to mitigate this is by filling some of the empty space in the pot with an empty plastic water jug. When the water inside the jug freezes, it contracts, creating room for the frozen soil to expand without causing damage to the pot.
Sealing the Pottery
If you're determined to keep your pottery outside during the winter, sealing it with a waterproof spray, dip, or paint can help prevent water absorption, which can then prevent cracking. Make sure you cover every nook and cranny to ensure an effective seal.
To maintain the integrity of my terracotta pots during cold weather, I should consider elevating them off the ground to allow water to drain effectively and prevent pooling. Additionally, wrapping the pots in insulating materials like burlap or bubble wrap could provide an extra layer of protection against freezing temperatures.
