Terracotta VS plastic

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by greenboy, Jan 23, 2009.

  1. greenboy

    greenboy Active Member

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    I am planing to plant, 12 plants of pepper this spring in pots, and I dont know which one I should use Terracota or Plastic? what you guys think? share your opinion. Please CIAO GB
     
  2. togata57

    togata57 Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    Either has merits and drawbacks. In general, I'd go for the terracotta because of its permeability.
     
  3. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    with terra cotta, the soil will dry out more quickly - which will be a real issue during the heat of high summer or an extended heat wave.

    what kinds of peppers?? bell types generally like average moistness...i'm not sure about other types (like the hot varieties) because i've never grown them.

    i've always put any vegy's right in the ground, too, and basically let nature takes it's course - except for watering enough for the plants to get established after transplant and during very dry spells.
     
  4. greenboy

    greenboy Active Member

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    Bell peppers, lucky you it seems you have enough space for gardening, I use my small garden for my tomatoes, and this year for my pumpkins, and then I use any piece of space with sun shine for other things, this year I am planning to plant peppers in posts, I thinnk I am going to use Terracota, because plastic is leaching something I was told. What I am going to do is to cover the drain with coconut fiber, which is going to slow down the draining of water, what do you think? GB

     
  5. JenRi

    JenRi Active Member

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    Where did you hear about plastic leaching things?

    I don't think the coconut fibre will help all that much because water can still diffuse through the walls of the terracotta pot....I don't think there's much in it....unless the plant you want to pot is very prone to rot or problems with overwatering then there would be a significant advantage to terracotta.

    I use a combination of both because some garden centres don't sell both, I just buy what they have. Terracotta can get a bit unsightly over time and i would imagine (but haven't had this experience myself) that it is much easier to re-pot something in plastic, at least then you can move the soil away from the walls of the pot by squishing it a bit. Sometimes you have to smash terracotta pots to get things out of it!
     
  6. greenboy

    greenboy Active Member

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    Well I read recently people are avoiding all kind of plastic because the leaching of biphenol. I don't know I think I am avoiding for now on the plastic containers, I have two plastic container and I cant explained what was going on with them until now, but anything I planted on those containers they were sure to die. I don't know I am going Terracota way, after all our ancestors were using them for generations.

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-01-29-plastic-chemical_N.htm
     
  7. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    i don't have much room for vegy's...although my yard is very long it's very narrow and i've already got a bunch of flowers and herbs planted ...

    so, there's really only one spot (that gets enough sun all day long) where i can plant vegy's. it's only about 3 feet by 4 feet so i rotate what i do. tomato is done every other year so the soil can bounce back. bell peppers i do for a couple years and then take a break. i tried pumpkin last year and that didn't go well - my fault though because i didn't realize until too late that they needed more water than they were getting.

    i really want to do aspargus, so i'm thinking of doing some raised beds - i'll give up what little grass there is and it'll look a bit funky because the yard is so narrow...still i really love aspargus! plus i'll be able to do carrot and potato there and some other herbs, too.

    i hadn't thought about the plastic leaching stuff as an issue. actually, that's a VERY good point!! especially when talking about growing edibles. so, using the terra cotta would be a better plan. you'd just have to make sure you keep an eye on the soil moisture...or, you could get something that is glazed - that would help with retaining moisture in the soil. you'd still need to keep a good eye on the moisture levels though.

    i can send you some chives come spring, if you'd like. i have a nice-sized bunch going and it's going to need to be thinned out a bit this year (haven't done that in a few years).
     
  8. greenboy

    greenboy Active Member

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    Thanks for your offer, but I have chives, I am going to try the terrracota, and I am going to put coconut "fabric" in the bottom to slow down the draining.l I learn with terracota, to soak the pot for 24 hours before do the actual planting. I learn that when I was installing Saltillo Tile wish is the same terracota, but in tile form.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2009
  9. JanR

    JanR Active Member

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    I believe it is only certain types of plastic that contain BPA, I have no idea if plant pots would have it or not. :( I was planning on growing some tomatoes and peppers in 5 gallon plastic buckets. Maybe it's not a good idea. :( I know in Canada the plastics that contain BPA are type 7. Most plastics here are marked with a number for recycling purposes. I don't know if the buckets have numbers or not. They are out in the greenhouse and I would have to wade through 2 feet of snow to get to it, so it will have to wait. I grew a pepper in the greenhouse last year in a 12 inch pot and it did really well and was a least twice as big as the ones in the garden, so I want to grow more in the greenhouse this year, along with some tomatoes.
     
  10. K Baron

    K Baron Well-Known Member

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    I have tried glazed terra cotta pots and with much success, as they require less watering. A large drain dish at the base, acts a a reservoir during the hot summer days. The coir that I used in the past, developed fungus and ruin the potting medium...
     
  11. greenboy

    greenboy Active Member

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    Re: Terracota VS plastic

    I had sucess with a terracotta pot with the drain blocked with coconut fabric you keep the moist better, and terracotta is more enviormental safe.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2009

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