Planter Materials
What are your options when it comes to choosing between different planter materials? What’s the difference between each? Below are the main types of materials plant pots / planters are made from and why they might be right for your garden or landscaping project.
Ceramic Planters
Ceramic planters are made from clay shaped, glazed, then fired in a kiln. With a light-colored clay, ceramic planters can be produced with bright bold colored glazes, each one unique. Different colored glazes can be blended together to create beautiful flowing patterns.
The glazing and firing process makes ceramic planters stronger, but they are still susceptible to breakage if not properly cared for. It is important to bring ceramic planters indoors in winter because moisture in the clay can expand and create cracks if it freezes.
At The Pottery Patch, we import ceramic planters from several places around the world, each with its own unique qualities. For example, China has very light-colored clay which allows for more vibrant colored glazes. In Vietnam, there is black clay, which gives planters a rich and rustic look.
Terracotta Pots
Terracotta is the most common clay in the world and can be found on all continents. It is known for its bright reddish-brown color and is commonly used for flower pots. Because of their abundance, terracotta pots can be the most affordable option when produced in bulk in large factories.
Handcrafted terracotta pots have a higher price but are high quality made with thick clay for durability. The Pottery Patch also carries a line of Antique Terracotta that has a faded and aged look you see in ancient pottery in museums, as opposed to regular, more vibrant terracotta.
Fiberglass Planters
Planters made from natural materials like clay and stone are beautiful, but they are also heavy. Adding fiberglass to these materials allows for a lightweight planter that is still sturdy and authentic looking. This method allows for the planter to keep a natural look, whereas a planter from a lighter-weight material like plastic will not.
Our Fiberstone and Fiberclay collections are made from a mixture of fiberglass and stone or clay. If you’re going for that contemporary sleek look, planters can also be made primarily from fiberglass with very lightweight qualities.
Resin Planters
Resin is another material that can be combined with clay, stone, concrete, sand, and more to make these materials more lightweight. Our planters made with resin include our Featherstone collection, and lightweight concrete and stone resin planters.
Cement and Concrete Planters
Cement and Concrete planters have a modern and industrial look. Planters can be made of just concrete, or they can be combined with other materials like our Slate collection. Concrete is very heavy, which can be a benefit depending on how and where you will be using the planter. The Pottery Patch also has a line of fiberglass-reinforced concrete planters which gives you a lighter planter with the same look.
Plastic Pots
Plastic is the cheapest and usually the most lightweight material you can find for planters. Planters made with plastic do not have the same look as planters that are made with more natural materials. These planters are also less environmentally friendly than clay or stone planters. Some plastic planters are not as durable as you would think and may need to be replaced earlier than planters made with other materials.
What type of planter materials are your favorite to work with? Tell us in the comments!
