I have a number of Whichford pots some over twenty years old and they are as good as the day they were purchased. They are a lot more expensive though.
The best advice is to use pot feet to get your pots out of the wet during the winter and then use saucers in the summer to keep your plants moist.
It was greta to hear all your comments and ideas, and an especial thanks to Liz for her potters feedback and comments, funny I was talking to a potter that I know just the other day....the thing is what infuriates me is not just that they crack....BUT that we are basically misinformed by those selling them !!!
I have pots cracked by frost, my answer is to drill small holes either side of the crack and stitch across with plastic coated wire, certainly gives a few extra seasons of use,
I have pots cracked by frost, my answer is to drill small holes either side of the crack and stitch across with plastic coated wire, certainly gives a few extra seasons of use.
I also have lots of cracked pots this year, but all the ones my grandad gave me are fine, they are very old but seem to have coped with the frost better.
Just as a tip:- make sure your pots have good drainage ensuring the drainage hole does not block and to allow excess moisture to escape. I have lined the inside of my pots since 2 years ago clearly making sure i have plenty of holes for drainage, doing this using my thick plastic compost bags, it sounds tacky but protects your pots from direct moisture and the plastic has a better use than land-fill, the foliage from the plants cover the plastic, allways make a point in late august of raising your pots from dirrect contact with the ground, even on concrete they can crack. best of luck mike
Aaah well, the sun is shining now, though snow again a couple of days ago, so perhaps the season for cracking pots is finally at an end....and at least I know I'm far from alone on this one !!
I found this link when I googled weather proof pots. Having just returned from living in Kenya for the past 6 years I have bought back some lovely terracotta pots which I would love to keep for the long term. Does anyone have any ideas on products that I can paint them with to help them in the cold British weather?
to help a pot survive the frost, some suggest painting the inside with a 10:1 diluted water: PVA glue mixture, or even varnish. both of these would stop the pot absorbing water (this expands and causes the cracks).
The best way to protect your pots is to coat the inside and out side with a coat of limestone protector/impregnator a couple of times. I use it on natural stone tiled floors and have dropped a Lt. of paint on it and was able to just wipe it off. Fila is the make I'm using at the moment but there are other makes. Hope this helps.
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The best advice is to use pot feet to get your pots out of the wet during the winter and then use saucers in the summer to keep your plants moist.
best of luck
mike
Having just returned from living in Kenya for the past 6 years I have bought back some lovely terracotta pots which I would love to keep for the long term. Does anyone have any ideas on products that I can paint them with to help them in the cold British weather?