AusBonsai

Hi people,

I have been using terracotta pots for growing on seedlings as they are heavier and I find they don't blow over so easily. I was reading in another thread about terracotta pots slowing down the growing because they absorb water which cools the pot and soil.

Will sealing the terracotta pots solve this problem? When I bought the pots I was sold some sealer for them, and haven't really bothered with it until now. It dries clear and smells suspiciously like wood glue, but thin enough to be in a spray bottle.

Glenda

Seal only on the out side. Living where you do unless you get very cold nights it should not slow the growth that much. Plastic especially black warms up quicker and holds the heat. Which can as well as being beneficial, be detrimental.
It has to be as with all things pertaining to Bonsai training monitored to see what effect it is having.
For instance if you temperatures are consistently up in the high 30's the soil will be too hot for growth. When growth temperature is spoken of it is usually soil temps, so if for instance it says when the temp is 15 it is soil temp, with the exceptions, such as ficus and tropicals, that is air temps.

Cheers Pup

Glenda wrote:Hi people,

I have been using terracotta pots for growing on seedlings as they are heavier and I find they don't blow over so easily. I was reading in another thread about terracotta pots slowing down the growing because they absorb water which cools the pot and soil.

Will sealing the terracotta pots solve this problem? When I bought the pots I was sold some sealer for them, and haven't really bothered with it until now. It dries clear and smells suspiciously like wood glue, but thin enough to be in a spray bottle.

Glenda

In your climate I would not think it a significant issue as it is warm a lot of the year. If you are wet as well as hot I would think it unsealed would help it drain and breathe.

Do a couple of each and see. Same mix and plants of course to make it valid.

Grant

Thanks guys. I was also reading that terracotta is not recommended in areas where winter temps get below freezing as it makes the pots burst. I won't have that problem!

The pots I have used that aren't sealed get all green and slimey. Is this a problem? doesn't seem to affect plant growth at all.

Glenda