RE: terracotta versus plastic pots

Hello there Brian,
I garden also in the Algarve and I know just how hot and dry our summers can be. I don't have many pots exactly for that same reason, I find that most plants won't do very well in pots because even the bigger ones tend todry too fast. Like you I prefer the look of terracota pots but they do tend to dry even faster so what I've been doing (and I think i helps a bit) is either put a plastic pot inside the terracota one or a big plastic bag (the size of the pot). I also mulch all my pots with wood chips or (in most cases) gravel, I find that this way the soil doesn't dry as fast. The sealent sounds like a good idea to.

Alexandre
Algarve - Portugal

From: ottways@eircom.net
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Subject: terracotta versus plastic pots
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:03:43 +0100

Greetings once again from the Algarve, Portugal (30'C, 86'F).
 
Mainly because of problems with my soil, I tend to use pots quite a lot. I start seeds and cuttings in plastic pots and may grow them on in larger plastic pots, but by choice I will usually use an unglazed  terracotta pot for their 'final' home. I prefer the look (and feel) of terracotta pots.
 
However, I have a feeling that my plants do not do as well in the terracotta pots.
 
I have read that terracotta pots are preferable in a Mediterranean garden as water will evaporate through the pot wall and cool the soil. I am sure that this happens, but I wonder if the loss of water from the soil driven by this process does not outweigh the benefit of cooling? If this is the case, then plastic pots might be better.
 
As a compromise, I am wondering whether it might be worthwhile to use a sealent inside the terracotta pots to eliminate this water loss.
 
Your thoughts, experiences and expertise would be welcome.
 
Ciao
BrianO

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