How To Protect Ceramic Pots In Winter

There are two options for winter patio pots.

How to protect ceramic pots in winter.

For extra protection encircle the pots with a loose cage of chicken wire making it high enough to cover the tallest plant. It s also a good idea to wrap these pots to help prevent chips and breaking while they are being stored. Frost resistant which is tough but may crack or flake in frost and frost proof which should survive it. You can add fertilizer and nutrients to the soil and reuse it the following season.

When using lightweight plastic foam or resin pots top heavy plants can topple over when hit with strong wind so be careful to avoid causing winter injury to plants. Putting a bit of extra effort into moving ceramic planters is always advised. Clean the insides thoroughly by scrubing them with a solution of 1 part bleach preferrable non chlorine to 10 parts water. Lightweight planters such as fiberglass or polyethylene can be left out in the winter elements but just like anything left out in the weather it is suggested that you take as many precautions as possible to bring them off of the ground and lessen the potential for water to collect inside of them.

Stuff the cage with leaves or straw working it in and around the plants and use stakes or anchor the cage to the ground. Remove plants and soil from the pot as the soil will absorb water freeze expand and can cause cracking. Bringing them indoors or into a heated garage for the winter takes quite an effort. At a minimum elevate planters during winter using decorative terra cotta planter feet or bricks but don t block drainage holes.

Pots you can leave outdoors without problem. During a freeze and thaw cycle moisture can crack terra cotta and the pots will chip and flake. Be wary of using thin walled pots and hanging baskets. Protect terra cotta pots protect your terra cotta pots by storing them in a dry sheltered area.

This will allow air to circulate beneath the pot. As with the terracotta and clay containers the moisture in these cracks can freeze and expend which will make larger cracks. The most logical option is to leave them outdoors but to empty them of at least half their soil for the winter. While the coating on ceramic pots keeps the moisture out for the most part small chips or cracks will still allow some in.

Generally glazed ceramic pots survive the cold much better than unglazed terracotta. But no pot will survive if the compost is waterlogged. The first step in winterizing your pots and planters is to give them a good cleaning unless of course they remain planted. Start by removing any remaining plant material and tossing the old soil into your compost pile.

Lift the pot from the ground by placing it on pot feet wooden blocks or pieces of stone. The insulation in these containers may not be enough to protect the root zone. Remove plants soil remove dead plants and flowers and dump the soil from your flower pots to prepare them for winter storage. If you try to move the pot later it will crack or start to fall off in sheets.

The problem is that concrete pots are heavy and difficult to move.