The world’s ceramics industry is predicted to grow to $248.89 billion by the end of this year. Ceramics are used throughout homes and have many applications in industry and manufacturing too. You will most likely see ceramics in your home on your dinner table, and for flower and plant decorations.
Indoor plants can make a great addition to any household and can be a great alternative for those with little outdoor space, but choosing the right planters for them can be a challenge. With the correct planters and a creative design, you can create your very own colorful, eye-catching garden from inside your home. There are a number of health benefits of indoor plants too.
Why are indoor plants worth your time?
Indoor plants bring a touch of nature to the interior of a home. Planters suitable for indoors will allow you to bring plants in from the cold during winter to protect them. And while indoor plants and flowers make beautiful additions to home decor, they can also improve your overall well-being including improving air quality and stress relief
Of course, some plants such as herbs are edible also, so there are practical reasons for creating an indoor garden or placing plants around the home. And you can dress up the dullest plants by using bright ceramic planters. So, what type of ceramic planters should you use?
Glazed ceramic planters
These types of planters are an increasingly popular option for indoor plant storage. Plants in ceramic pots tend to grow better than in other pots, being the best at retaining water, and preventing soil from drying out too fast.
The absorbent nature of the material means it is ideal for plant owners who tend to accidentally overwater their plants, as it will take in some of the excess moisture and prevent drowning. The process in which these clay pots are made, also adds to their benefits. The kilning process, which blasts the pots with hot air, reduces the porousness of the pots, making them less vulnerable to sunlight damage.
The glazing on top of the pots helps to seal in the soil moisture, and prevent the drying of the soil. Handmade ceramics are great for effortlessly adding character to any house. They can come in a range of exciting colors and shapes and can brighten up your home, and their intricate designs blend into many different home aesthetics.
The variation in ceramic pot design can give you a more unique indoor garden, which captures your personality and style. Unlike other pots, ceramics complement the beauty of the plants, instead of detracting from them. And they can hold heavier plants than weaker pot materials such as plastic.
Terracotta pots
This type of ceramic can be glazed or unglazed and is a 100% natural material, unlike plastic. National Geographic reported that 91% of plastic isn’t recycled. Usually, terracotta is neutral in color, typically brown or orange, which doesn’t add much character to a home, and can be very delicate.
However, there are ways to dress up terracotta planters, and there are other benefits too. Acrylic craft paint can be used to brighten up terracotta, and patterns can be added or stencils employed too.
An added benefit is that terracotta pots are great for outdoor plants, being frost resistant, and enabling airflow to the roots. This means you can move plants from indoors to outside and vice versa when you wish to shake things up a little. They can also be a good option for specific indoor plants that enjoy drier soil, such as cacti for example, and can be good for the prevention of root rot, due to the material’s absorbent nature.
Hanging ceramic pots or planters
Hanging planters are a popular option for those with little to no floor or garden space, and for growing colorful flowers such as fuchsias. Having your plants up high can keep them out of reach from pests, and can provide you with easy access for watering, being at eye level.
Placing bright planters high up is a great way to add color to areas that are sometimes ignored. And your plants can benefit from gaining extra sunlight from windows.
Nevertheless, these baskets require a lot of work. Being high up, the soil tends to dry out quicker than in other pots, and they make dead-heading plants more difficult.
Should you consider other materials for planters?
Ceramic planters can come in a wide range of designs utilizing vivid colors and patterns. They are durable and make excellent additions to a home. Yet, they can be expensive. This could encourage you to consider other materials instead, but should you?
Plastic pots and planters
Most plastic is simply thrown out and never reused. This means it ends up in landfills slowly degrading over hundreds of years, all the while leaching chemicals into the earth.
There are undeniable benefits to using plastic planters. They can come in bright colors, they are inexpensive and lightweight. However, these pots are very brittle, prone to cracking and chipping, and can fade in the sun. If left in the sunlight, these pots also tend to trap heat, which can cause plants to wilt prematurely and die.
There are also many concerns about the presence of certain toxic plastics in pots containing vegetables or herbs, and the retention of water at the root can cause soil to go soggy, which can be harmful to plants.
Wood planters
When taken from a sustainable source, wood can be environmentally friendly. Bamboo is another option that is far better than plastic. Bringing indoor planters to your home might be an interesting way to introduce wood into your decor.
Yet, wood potters are the least common indoor planters even if they do offer a more rustic and sustainable option. The wood is rarely damaged by sun or cold temperatures, so is relatively durable and long-lasting. Unfortunately, almost all types of wood will eventually rot, due to the volume of water being poured into the pots over time. If the wood has been painted or stained, it will require maintenance to prevent it from looking old or worn whereas ceramics will not.
Summary
Indoor plants work well in almost any room of a home. They also make a great tip for decorating open-floor plans. When potting plants there are various pros and cons to consider. Glazed ceramics have the most benefits for indoor plants, and they are very eco-friendly when compared to plastics.
With the use of bright ceramics, you can create a beautiful indoor environment, in which to unwind and relax. Other pots may be cheaper; however, they are less durable and can be damaging to the environment. And you may find yourself replacing them more frequently than desired, which over time will cost you more.