Best Terracotta Pots

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Unglazed clay is porous, and that single physical fact should decide whether terracotta is right for what you are growing. Water moves out through the pot wall as well as the surface, so compost dries faster and air reaches the roots, which is exactly what succulents, cacti, Mediterranean herbs and cuttings want. The same property makes terracotta a poor choice for anything thirsty on a hot balcony, where a small pot can dry out within a day. Size follows from that: the small sizes these pots come in, commonly 2, 4 and 6 inches, are potting-on increments rather than final homes, and stepping up an inch or two at a time keeps the root ball from sitting in more compost than it can use. Multi-packs of twenty or thirty small pots make sense for seed sowing and propagation, while a handful of 6-inch pots with saucers suits finished plants on a shelf. Confirm there is a drainage hole, since decorative clay is sometimes sold sealed, and check whether saucers are included because unglazed bases will mark a wooden floor or leave rings on tiles. The real weakness is frost: clay that has absorbed water expands when it freezes and flakes or cracks, so unglazed pots should be emptied or brought in over winter in a cold climate. Colour variation between batches is normal.