Terra-Cotta Clay Projects to Beautify Your Home and Garden (2024)

FAQs

What are the pros and cons of terracotta clay? ›

Pros & Cons of Terra Cotta Tile

Terra cotta is often used, glazed or unglazed, to create a rustic, weathered look. While high-quality terra cotta will last forever, it's difficult to assess the quality, even for pros. Buy only from a seller whose reputation you trust, though even then you may encounter problems.

Terracotta clay is easy to sculpt into various products such as vases, kitchen utensils, tile, planters, sculptures, bricks, etc.

Terracotta pots are made from natural, porous clay. This porous nature means that moisture is released from the plant pot more quickly, preventing overwatering and soggy soil. For the most part, this is quite advantageous because overwatering is the most common cause of unhealthy or dying plants.

One of the most natural-looking patinas can be achieved by simply slathering plain yogurt on a new pot. Yogurt applied to dry pots yields more dramatic results. For a subtler look, first, soak pots in water for 15 minutes. All you need to age your terra-cotta pots this way is plain yogurt and a two-inch foam brush.

When you don't pre-soak terra cotta pots, the plant will dry out faster.

However, several issues can make terra cotta clay tiles an unsuitable choice for your home or building. High maintenance terra cotta tiles can crack if stepped on or are hit by debris. They also lack moisture- and cold-temperature resistance and will require an underlayment replacement after 20 years.

They are not the same, although they are closely linked: Clay is the raw ingredient. Terracotta is clay that has been molded and kiln-fired.

Saturated shades of terracotta can create bold statements. They mix well with other warm tones, like orange, red or sepia, and with neutral shades like cream, white, or green.

Water Retention and Drainage

Proper water management is vital to plant health. Red clay pots excel at holding onto moisture, making them the ideal choice for plants that require continuous hydration. Terra cotta pots' porous walls allow extra water to escape quickly, helping prevent overwatering and root rot.

Most plants are quite content in terracotta pots. However, you may want to avoid plants that prefer consistently moist soil, such as ferns, because you'll really have to stay on top of watering. Luckily, many of the most popular and common houseplants like their soil to dry out a bit before watering.

Can you plant straight into terracotta? ›

Before putting soil in your pot, place a large pottery shard over the hole in the bottom of the pot to prevent clogging once the pot is filled with soil. If you are using a large planter, we recommend creating a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.

Terracotta containers are great for Cacti, Succulents, and other plants that prefer drier soil. Terracotta is great for colder climates. The walls of the pots draw the water out of the soil to help the soil dry quicker.

You are probably familiar with the common white salts that accumulate on the exterior surface of used terracotta pots, but there are feeds with ingredients that could make a darker or greasy, stain. Finally, you may have a mildew, mold or fungus problem but that would probably have an alarming texture as well.

Because they're porous, they absorb moisture like a sponge. Changes in the temperature, or freezing rain and snow can cause them to crack as the clay expands and contracts.

Terracotta plays well with muted shades of white, cream, pink, red, mustard, green and cerulean blue. Pair terracotta-toned textiles with timber furniture or woven homewares, such as woven rugs, baskets, bowls and timber side tables. Green, leafy indoor foliage plants look a million bucks in a terracotta pot.

Cracking and chipping: Terracotta tiles can be prone to cracking and chipping, especially if not installed correctly or if heavy objects are dropped on them.

The primary downside of terracotta floors is that the material is naturally porous. During the process of making terracotta, manufacturers must bake it at extremely high temperatures, which causes the clay to become porous.

Made from natural clay, terracotta is also a highly environmentally friendly material – formed from the earth and fired to withstand the test of time, terracotta reduces resource and energy consumption, ideal for the eco-conscious builders and designers.