It's about terra cotta pots

[PhoenixFlower]

I would like to use terra cotta pots for my next project, but I'd like to use my Dremel to drill holes in the pots sort of similar to what an 'air pot' might look like. Not exactly an air pot, but you get the gist.

Has anyone ever done this? Or am I in over my head?

 

[BigBlonde]

I've not done it. It sounds interesting, even though it seems like a lot of work. What would be the advantage over other types of pots?

 

[PhoenixFlower]

I've not done it. It sounds interesting, even though it seems like a lot of work. What would be the advantage over other types of pots?

I watched this video on Twitter the other day talking about the beneficial properties of terra cotta for growing in vs using something like plastic. I can't find that video anymore, but I did find this https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/health-benefits-of-using-clay-water-pot/ it helps neutralize the acidity of water, because supposedly terra cotta is an alkaline material. If it's good for you to drink from terra cotta, it should be good for my plants too, yes?

 

[shnuckles]

Problem with Tera Cotta....In my experience is...It retains moisture because its clay. Drill holes to allow air to flow to avoid moisture? The biggest draw back? Moving my pots around....I didn't notice the hair line fracture in my pot....Now its an ordeal because....Juggling broken pot. Wondering how transplant shock will impact plant? Now l have a canabis plant in my stock growing Because that was the only pot l had.

 

[TSD]

You can drill Terra cotta? That shit is so fragile I don't see how... but I guess they have drill bits for everything.

 

[PhoenixFlower]

Problem with Tera Cotta....In my experience is...It retains moisture because its clay. Drill holes to allow air to flow to avoid moisture? The biggest draw back? Moving my pots around....I didn't notice the hair line fracture in my pot....Now its an ordeal because....Juggling broken pot. Wondering how transplant shock will impact plant? Now l have a canabis plant in my stock growing Because that was the only pot l had.

Drill holes to allow the roots to get extra oxygen. From the additional research I've done in the past hour, apparently terra cotta is porous and allows for oxygen, so maybe the drilling is unnecessary? And the pots won't be moved at all, they'll be in the 2x4 grow tent Im planning to get.

You can drill Terra cotta? That shit is so fragile I don't see how... but I guess they have drill bits for everything.

Unsure, I've never done it. But I do know they make a Dremel bit to go through almost anything.

 

[shnuckles]

It retains moisture...Drilling holes to remove moisture? To provide oxygen?

 

[PhoenixFlower]

It retains moisture...Drilling holes to remove moisture? To provide oxygen?

To provide oxygen, similar to what an airpot does, with all those little holes throughout the container.

 

[RootsRuler]

I watched this video on Twitter the other day talking about the beneficial properties of terra cotta for growing in vs using something like plastic. I can't find that video anymore, but I did find this https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/health-benefits-of-using-clay-water-pot/ it helps neutralize the acidity of water, because supposedly terra cotta is an alkaline material. If it's good for you to drink from terra cotta, it should be good for my plants too, yes?

I'm not sure I get what you're trying to do here. This sounds like a solution looking for a problem. You mentioned neutralizing the acidity of water. When you feed your plant isn't your water already pHed to the range you want to give to your plant?

You want to use a terra cotta pot. I'm going to assume soil will be the media. Soil will regulate pH to a degree so I'm not sure what the pots acid reducing properties would do that the soil would do already unless your tap water is highly acidic? Maybe I'm not understanding.......

 

[growsince79]

I used to use clay pots centuries ago, and they always worked better than plastic with just one pre fab hole at the bottom. Conventional wisdom was the clay is pourus and good for the roots. Yes they hold moisture, but they also hold air and it's impossible to expel the air just buy watering. You would literally have to put it under water in a vacuum tube to get the air out. I love clay pots-they just cost too much and break easy. Oh and the silica in clay is a bonus. I would never want holes in the side.

 

[PhoenixFlower]

I'm not sure I get what you're trying to do here. This sounds like a solution looking for a problem. You mentioned neutralizing the acidity of water. When you feed your plant isn't your water already pHed to the range you want to give to your plant?

You want to use a terra cotta pot. I'm going to assume soil will be the media. Soil will regulate pH to a degree so I'm not sure what the pots acid reducing properties would do that the soil would do already unless your tap water is highly acidic? Maybe I'm not understanding.......

I don't want to use plastic pots for my next grow. Terra cotta is a natural material, plastic is not. I like the concept of what an airpot is, and what it accomplishes, but the plastic aspect turns me off.

There are health benefits associated with using terra cotta, higher alkalinity being just one of them. I'm going to go out on a whim and assume marijuana plants grown in terra cotta pots will probably grow better/healthier, especially since I know terra cotta keeps the soil cooler. And where I plan to do my next grow, it gets pretty hot in that room and I might not be around to water as much as I was last grow.

 

[RootsRuler]

Make a diary. Would love to see how that works out.

 

[Will58]

Go ahead and drill. Use a hammer drill bit. Do not use a hammer drill only use a rotary drill and don't press to hard. Terra cotta is not really very hard and will drill. Keep the tip of the drill bit cool by dipping it ion cold water. I have done this before. The hardest thing like that I drilled was a giant clam shell say a foot in diameter. Put a plant in it (not pot) and put it on the porch

 

[EternalSun]

You could look into fabric pots, burlap bags, etc if you are against plastic

 

[mysticepipedon]

I don't want to use plastic pots for my next grow. Terra cotta is a natural material, plastic is not. I like the concept of what an airpot is, and what it accomplishes, but the plastic aspect turns me off.

There are health benefits associated with using terra cotta, higher alkalinity being just one of them. I'm going to go out on a whim and assume marijuana plants grown in terra cotta pots will probably grow better/healthier, especially since I know terra cotta keeps the soil cooler. And where I plan to do my next grow, it gets pretty hot in that room and I might not be around to water as much as I was last grow.

I think you'll regret it if you try to drill a bunch of holes in a terracotta pot. Make sure your health insurance covers mental health, because you might go nuts.

What happens with terracotta, anyway, is that they suck some moisture from the soil and then the soil pulls away from the wall of the pot. You'll have all the aeration you need, I think, without the holes.

Do an experiment with terracotta, cloth sided and plastic pots. That will tell you which is best for you.

 

[RootsRuler]

I think you'll regret it if you try to drill a bunch of holes in a terracotta pot. Make sure your health insurance covers mental health, because you might go nuts.

What happens with terracotta, anyway, is that they suck some moisture from the soil and then the soil pulls away from the wall of the pot. You'll have all the aeration you need, I think, without the holes.

Do an experiment with terracotta, cloth sided and plastic pots. That will tell you which is best for you.

I seem to remember on one of my visits to mexico seeing a terra cotta pot that the artist made a net pattern much like a net pot. Maybe they already exist?

 

[mysticepipedon]

I seem to remember on one of my visits to mexico seeing a terra cotta pot that the artist made a net pattern much like a net pot. Maybe they already exist?

Orchid pots. They're hard to find, larger than about 8" in diameter. I have to drill holes in plastic pots to deal with large ones.