Tips on how to take care of antique pots and planters
Antique pots as planters and decoration
We can imagine you would be a little hesitant in turning an antique pot into a flower vase or planter. Fertilisers, salts in the soil, algae and water can leave behind many deposits and marks which can affect the look of the pot. Lucky for us, there are some good tricks for preparing old pottery as planters.
Some pottery is only half-glazed; the inside or bottom might be unglazed. This poses no problems when you place the pot outside, but inside the house the pot might leave watery markings behind. This happens when the unglazed pottery starts to ‘sweat’; the baked clay evaporates water especially when the air is warm and functions as some kind of natural air conditioning. The best solution to keep the pot and your furniture in the best condition possible is using a second container inside the beautiful looking pot itself.
If the pot is too small for an extra container, use some plastic or place a little plate underneath the pot so you will not get any markings on the table or floor.
Wooden baskets and antique buckets as planters
The weathered look of old buckets is beautiful in many shabby chic and rustic interior styles. Know that potting soil and water do affect the wood and will make your wooden container more weathered over time. To protect naked wood or old lacquer and paint, you best place some plastic within the wooden container.
When the plants need water, take them out of the container and let them soak up some water in the sink. Because plastic is non-poreus, the soil stays moist longer in plastic than in clay pots.
How do you protect your outdoor planters during winter? Read our blog posts here for the tips on taking care of antique pots during the freezing winter months!