Planting and Care

Your terracotta pot from Vaso Toscano has been made by hand in the traditional way by craftsmen working in the family run pottery dating dating back to the 1600s. These beautiful pots are made to last a lifetime and over the years the beautiful terracotta will take on its own naturally weathered patina.

The chemical composition of the fine Tuscan soil which is used to make the terracotta clay (Galestro) and the extremely high temperature used in the firing process means our pots can withstand tough winters and baking summers, providing we take some simple measures. Below are three helpful guides to help you get the most out of your pots:

  1. How to Care for Your Terracotta Pot

  2. Planting in Your Terracotta Pot

  3. Taking Care of Your Potted Plant

1 - Looking after your Terracotta Pot

We recommend that you place your pot onto the ‘risers’ or ‘pot feet’, this allows for drainage and air circulation, we would do this for both planted pots and empty pots, this is especially important during the winter months. Drainage is very important as it will allow excess water to drain away, always keep the drainage holes clear.

NB. Never attempt to defrost a frozen pot with boiling water! Leave to defrost naturally.

You may find that after a British winter, and if your pot is placed in a more shady area, there will be some algae and general dirtying of the terracotta. Once the sun is higher in the sky and the long awaited arrival of Spring is here, simply give the terracotta pots a good wash and scrub with a brush and some soapy water.

A large terracotta pot filled with pink and red tulips on a patio, surrounded by green plants and another small pot with purple flowers.

2 - Planting in your Terracotta Pot

A garden display featuring multiple terracotta pots with various flowering plants and shrubs, including purple lupins and other colorful blooms, set against a wooden fence and gravel ground.

Carefully select the best setting for your pot. This will be where you need to pot up.

1.

Place your pot on to its risers or pot feet we have supplied you.

2.

If you wish, you can fill the bottom with ‘crocs’ or gravel to aid drainage, this is optional but some folks like to do it. It is more useful when planting top heavy trees in tall pots, as it can act as ballast to keep the pot from blowing over. We always advise to choose the appropriate sized pot for the plant.

3.

Line the pot with the geotextile membrane that we have supplied. This helps protect the plant’s roots from baking when the weather is hot but most crucially will help prevent the soil from washing through the hole. It can aid in retention of soil nutrient and preventing insects such as ants from entering through the drainage hole.

4.

Add the appropriate amount of compost in the bottom of the pot on top of the membrane.

5.

Place the plant in the pot and stand back to check that the plant/tree is vertical and that the neck of the root-ball sits just below the rim (3-4cm)of the pot, for the allowance of watering. Once at the right height, backfill with more compost and firm down well around the root-ball. Water in well and then check the level of the compost after the water has drained, top up with compost if necessary

6.

Trim off excess membrane or tuck below the soil, a gravel or pea shingle top dressing can look very effective, especially for trees, this will help prevent moisture evaporation and inhibit weed growth.

7.

Terracotta planter with ornamental grass and colorful flowers, including purple and peach blooms, in a garden setting.
Lemon tree in a large terracotta pot with decorative floral designs on a gravel surface.
Large terracotta planters with blooming hydrangeas on a brick patio.
Decorative terracotta plant pots with ornate designs, filled with lush green foliage and red flowers.

3 - Taking care of your potted plant

Feeding Plants in your Terracotta Pots

In Spring liberally apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser around the base of the plant (on top of the soil) and during the growing season apply a liquid feed every few weeks according to the manufacturer’s instructions. MiracleGro or Tomorite work well for us.

TIP: Container grown plants rely on you for all their watering and feeding requirements. Their roots cannot ‘search’ for water and nutrient as they do when planted into the ground.

Potted hosta plants with decorative terracotta stands on a stone patio surrounded by lush greenery.

Watering Plants in your Terracotta Pots

Terracotta is a porous and permeable product, which is why it is so effective for aeration and therefore, good development of healthy plant roots.

In warm and dry weather during the growing season, it is important to water the potted plant well and regularly. Once a week, a gentle and continuous watering around the roots of the plant to ensure the compost is thoroughly moistened all the way down the pot is much better than a ‘sprinkle’ every day, which will just evaporate from the surface of the compost and deprive the plant of water.

Pink tulips in a terracotta planter

Planting Compost

We recommend John Innes Number 3 for potting trees and shrubs, this contains a good level of fertiliser for long term planting. Add in a good handful of slow release fertiliser such as Growmore, VitaxQ4, MiracleGro to the compost. A good quality compost is essential for optimum growth.

A good quality multi-purpose compost is fine for seasonal planting such as summer bedding or spring bulbs but it is not suitable for a more permanent planting scheme, as the nutrient in the compost is only designed to last for a few months.

TIP: We cannot emphasise the importance of ‘good quality’ compost, it holds nutrient and moisture more effectively and is essential for aeration and drainage.

Decorative terracotta planters with various plants and flowers, including red and purple blooms and a succulent, on a wooden deck with a background of trees and a wooden fence.