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Terra cotta, plastic, glazed ceramic…does it matter when it comes to choosing a home for your houseplants? Well, the choice is not typically critical to houseplant success, but there are some pros and cons of all three that you’ll want to understand. In this post, we’ll review the three most common types of houseplant pot material (terra cotta, plastic, and glazed ceramic) and the pros and cons of each.
Terra Cotta Pots
Terra cotta, or unglazed clay, is made from a clay that becomes porous after it’s fired. Its natural, orange-brown color is a beautiful contrast to bright green leaves and colorful flowers. The neutral color works well in all settings.
Check out these beautiful terra cotta pot options that add some fun flair to the standard orange-brown color:
- Vintage Weathered Terra Cotta Pots from LynnMichelleDesign
- Striped Terracotta Pots and Macrame Holders from TheArtisanVariety
- Chevron Footed Planter Terra Cotta Planter from TheArtizanWay
Now, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of terra cotta pots.
The pros of terra cotta pots include:
- Their porous material promotes air movement which is good for roots and can help avoid problems like root rot.
- Their porous material also helps moisture drain quicker which can help with overwatering. This could be a con if you’re an underwaterer, we’ll get to that in a second.
- They are heavy, which means they will provide a stable home for large plants or floor plants.
The cons of terra cotta pots include:
- Although they are stable for large plants, they are also fragile and have a high risk of cracking if dropped.
- They tend to age over time from water and mineral deposits. Many people (including myself) like this look, but even though an aged pot many look nice, it has a shorter lifespan.
- Because moisture drains quicker from terra cotta pots they’re more prone to drying out. This is why it becomes a con if you’re a chronic underwaterer.
- If you bring your plants outside at all, terra cotta is more vulnerable to colder temperatures. Since moisture can easily get inside, the pots can freeze and crack.
Plastic Pots
Although I use plenty of plastic pots, there’s something about them that doesn’t feel right to me. I guess because plastic is not natural and it feels wrong to have my plants living in it. That’s just my own weird feeling about it, but there are definitely pros to plastic pots and reasons why you’d want to use them instead!
Check out these excellent options for plastic pots:
- 6-Inch Plastic Planters with Drainage Hole and Tray – I use these for smaller plants, cuttings, and propagated plant babies.
- Modern Plastic Planters with Drainage Hole and Tray
- Multicolored Plastic Flower Plant Pots with Drainage Hole and Tray
Now, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of plastic pots.
The pros of plastic pots include:
- Plastic pots are not porous, so they hold more water. They work well for plants that like to remain moist and for chronic underwaterers or people who travel frequently.
- They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There’s been plenty of times where I couldn’t find what I needed in a terra cotta pot and went for plastic instead.
- They are MUCH more durable with kids and pets in the house. They’ll also ship easily if you need to order a pot online.
- They are easier to clean when you need to reuse them or sterilize them due to pests and disease.
- If you bring your plants outside at all, there’s less risk of them freezing in colder weather since moisture can’t pass through.
The cons of plastic pots include:
- Because they hold more water they are not great for overwaterers.
- Since they’re not porous, they don’t allow for airflow to the roots.
- Although they are extremely durable, they are lighter weight and may not be a good option for larger plants or floor plants.
- They are less eco-friendly. However, I don’t think I’ve ever thrown away a plastic pot. As long as it’s clean and safe to plant in, reuse, reuse, reuse!
Glazed Ceramic Pots
Glazed ceramic pots have elements of terra cotta and plastic pots. They are made of clay but have a glaze that makes them nonporous. Glazed pots come in many beautiful designs and colors. It’s easy to see why people love them!
Check out these beautiful glazed ceramic pots:
- Ceramic Indoor Glazed Planter with Legs from CrazyPlantLadyBox
- Personalized Ceramic Cat Planter from BarruntandoCeramics
- Wave Textured Aqua Ceramic Planters with Saucers from MyGiftUS
Now, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of glazed ceramic pots.
The pros of glazed pots include:
- They hold moisture longer, just like plastic pots, and may be better for underwaterers.
- Just like terra cotta pots, they are heavier and therefore good for large plants and floor plants.
- Due to the higher temperature at which they’re baked, they are more durable in colder weather than terra cotta pots.
The cons of glazed pots include:
- Although they are made of clay, they don’t allow for airflow to the roots because of the outer glaze.
- Because they hold more moisture, they are not great for overwaterers.
- They may be stable for large plants, but they are also fragile and have a high risk of cracking if dropped.
- Many glazed pots have dishes that are attached to the base of the pot. If you aren’t diligent about tipping the pot to remove runoff water from the dish, your plant can end up sitting in water and may be at risk of root rot. I’ve seen this in pots of other materials, too, but for whatever reason, I see it a lot in glazed pots.
As you can see, some of these pros can also be considered cons and vice versa. It really depends on your circumstances. I would say, though, that if you go for a pot solely based on aesthetics rather than material, the one thing you need to make sure to have is adequate drainage.
It’s best if your pot has a large center hole or a couple of small holes, but some pots have one teeny tiny hole on the bottom edge. This is common on pots with attached dishes. If your pot has one microscopic drainage hole or none at all, it’s imperative that you create more drainage.
Add a layer of pebbles into the bottom of the pot before you add the soil and pot your plant. This will prevent the roots from sitting in the water at the bottom of the pot and potentially rotting. I highly recommend you try to avoid choosing a pot with no drainage, but it can be worked around—it just requires a little extra effort and discretion to make sure you’re not overwatering your plant.
CM says
This was a great article. I’m trying to pot some mini roses I received as a gift and this article helped me so much. I think im going to go with ceramic. Thanks again. ❤