Plants that suit clay pots
Q We have recently moved into a house with an established but overgrown garden. While clearing behind the shed, we’ve come across piles of old clay pots. What could we use these for, and are they better for plants than plastic ones? Sonia Bravington, Orpington, London
A You have uncovered buried treasure, as old-style clay pots carrying a patina of age are now prized objects and will set off your plants to perfection. If there are more than you can use, look after them well, as there will be gardeners out there happy to receive them as gifts or pay good money for them.
It was only during the 1960s that plastic flower pots took over from clay or terracotta ones, and even their descriptions changed. Clay pots were made and sold by the cast – in other words, how many could be made from a given quantity of clay. A ‘one’ measured 20in (50cm) across the top, 18in (45cm) deep, and would take up the entire cast of clay. By contrast, ‘sixties’ measured 3in (8cm) across the top and you could make 60 from a cast. There were also ‘thumbs’ only 2.5in (6cm) across, of which 80 could be made. I still refer to pot sizes by the diameter of the top but these days, the capacity in litres is often used.
Whether plants grow better in clay pots than plastic depends on their type. Clay is porous, enabling roots to breathe better, but it also dry out faster. In general, plants of a succulent nature, including many bulbs, thrive in clay pots, whereas plants whose fine roots like to be continuously moist, such as ferns and rhododendrons, suit plastic. Clay pots have a rustic beauty and are often used decoratively by flower arrangers.
I would sort your trove into usable types. Hopefully, you’ll have some wide, somewhat shallow pans that are perfect for sowing tree seeds, growing alpines and showing off indoor succulents such as lithops and outdoor sedums and sempervivums (houseleeks). There might also be some oddities such as crocus pots and open-ended tubes for starting cucumbers and melons.