skip to main content

Southwestern Gardening

terra cotta pots and transpiration

19 years ago

Hi, I'm a newcomer to Southern California gardening. I notice a lot of people coat their terra cotta pots on the inside, with a black (rubber? tar?) paint to slow the rate they lose water to transpiration. Does anybody know what this stuff is? And where I can find some? I like the look of terra cotta, but would like to save water where I can. Thanks, Gardenwheels

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

TucsonJen
19 years ago
Friends of mine used a water sealant they found at a hardware store - their plants are still alive! They actually did it to help protect the pots from long-term moisture damage. I've never done it.

Jen
Related Professionals
Simpsonville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Severn Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Arden-Arcade Landscape Contractors · Desert Hot Springs Landscape Contractors · East Chicago Landscape Contractors · El Mirage Landscape Contractors · Hawaii Landscape Contractors · Lantana Landscape Contractors · Matteson Landscape Contractors · Milford Landscape Contractors · Milford Mill Landscape Contractors · New Baltimore Landscape Contractors · New Braunfels Landscape Contractors · Rockville Landscape Contractors · Wallingford Landscape Contractors

Related Stories

CONTAINER GARDENS Beat the Frost With Natural Terra-Cotta Containers

Here's how to protect your pots during the cold winter months

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Potted Plants Perk Up the Streets of Coastal France

By Becky Harris

Dotting a stairway or perched on a café table, plants in colorful pots and vibrant flowers make a picturesque scene in a town on the coast

GARDENING GUIDES Pick the Right Plant Pot to Flatter Your Landscape

To play matchmaker for your container garden and its surroundings, you've got to know all the materials and pick the right style

CONTAINER GARDENS Solve Your Garden Border Dilemmas With Planted Pots

Set your containers free from the patio — placed among plantings in the ground, they fill unsightly gaps, let you experiment and more

SPRING GARDENING How to Grow a Rose Garden in Pots

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Everything can come up roses, even without a plot of soil in sight. This step-by-step guide to growing roses in containers shows you how

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: 20 Uncommonly Attractive Pots and Planters

By My Paradissi

Cultivate some personality indoors with plant containers that are as unique as the greenery they hold

CONTAINER GARDENS Want Compelling Garden Minimalism? Think One Plant, One Pot

By CYAN Horticulture

Highlight a show-worthy stunner or elevate a pedestrian plant by giving it a solo starring role in the garden

FARM YOUR YARD How to Grow Vegetables in Containers

By Annie Thornton

Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix

CONTAINER GARDENS 9 Tips for Creating an Artful Container Garden

By Christine Tusher

Make your potted plantings a beautiful sight with these ideas for container types, plant groupings and more

DECORATING GUIDES Deck Your Containers With Holiday Cheer in Half an Hour

Have 30 minutes and some seasonal greenery? You can put together festive garden pots to last through winter

Sponsored