Do you have terracotta pots on your terrace or in the garden? Then now is the time, before the first real frost arrives, to give them a little care. A frost-proof pot can live outdoors all winter — but only if the water has somewhere to go.
What makes a pot frost-proof
A frost-proof pot is fired at a high temperature, which makes the clay dense and less thirsty. Our Italian and Portuguese terracotta, and the pots from Bergs Potter, are made this way. Still, no pot likes to stand in frozen water. When water freezes it expands, and even the best clay can crack if it is sitting in a puddle of ice.
Lift the pot off the ground
The single most important thing you can do is to lift your pots off the ground. When a pot stands directly on stone or soil, meltwater gathers underneath and freezes around the base. On pot feet the pot stands a few centimetres above the ground, the water runs away freely, and air can circulate. Three feet under each pot is enough.
We have feet in many shapes, all in the same honest materials as the pots themselves. The classic triangle feet from Bergs Potter suit almost any pot, the lion paw feet add a small moment of joy under a larger planter, and the simple plain risers disappear quietly under the pot if you prefer not to see them at all.
A few more winter habits
- Empty the saucers. A saucer full of water is the most common reason a good pot breaks in winter. Remove them, or turn them over, until spring.
- Check the drainage hole. Make sure it is open so rain and melting snow can escape.
- Leave the soil in. There is no need to empty the pot — roots and soil tolerate frost well as long as they are not waterlogged.
- Small and glazed pots come inside. Glazed ceramics and very small pots are happiest wintering in the frost-free porch or cellar.
If you are unsure whether your pot is frost-proof, or which feet fit it best, come and ask us — we are happy to help you choose. You will find the pots and their feet in the shop in Espoo and at the pavilion in Hanko. Welcome!