I have often been asked this question. But has anyone asked the plant this question.... it’s going to say it wants to live in a terracotta pot. There is nothing to beat the usefulness of a terracotta pot. It’s like having a partner which helps to look after the plant , by making sure excess water evaporates and by helping the plant to breathe.
Most modern maalis are clear in their choice of pots. They only want plastic. I can understand that ..terracotta pots have to be gherood at least once a year. They are heavy to carry and they break easily. We are also content with plastic pots.. because now they are all the same size and the maali is no longer bothering us asking us to get 10” and 12” ke gamle..
Why don’t we see chrysanthemums in plastic pots? Because they are demanding plants and feel happy only in terracotta pots. All plants are happier in terracotta pots.. a bit like Human beings are happy in cotton clothing in the summer. People say आज कल कच्चे होते है, जल्दी टूट जाते हैं.. but at least they go back to the earth and not to the land fills. So please still keep buying them, keep the environment happy, your plants happy and give the lowly potter a livelihood.
So the next question for me is when do we use fiber, plastic , cement or ceramic pots... if you must use plastic or fiber pots you can use them for growing HARDY indoors plants such as Zz palms, agloenemas, pothos, money plant and oxycardium, planted in COCOPEAT & LEAF COMPOST.. this is important because this keeps the plants cool in the summer... But then the maali has to be told that his job is no longer watering everyday.. it’s watering twice a week and turning the soil once a week. The maali will do this to help the plant to breathe and for the water to dry out from the soil. Also large hardy trees such as ficus and champas can be grown in big fiber pots because it impossible to find terracotta pots in extra large sizes.
Cement pots once placed and filled with soil and plants are impossible to move. The cement also absorbs heat in the summer and is not good for the plants at all. Cement pots can be used for Bougainville. champas, ficus, Murraya, succulents and other hardy plants. Also plants which are top heavy will be more stable in cement pots ..specially during storms when they tend to topple over. Cement pots can work well outside the house.. no one can carry them away.
Ceramic pots, are far less porus than terracotta but definitely better than cement of plastic. With their mantainenance free glazes, they do look stunning. I have a particularly soft spot for the blue glazes. The rules are the same as for plastic pots. It may need watering twice a week and soil needs to be turned once a week.
Terracotta pots are the top winners. Highly fired Unpainted natural terracotta pots can age very well over time. I recommend those highly.
Very often people prefer painted ones but be prepared for the paint to chip off. One has to make the effort to have them painted every year... Best to use them in their natural finish.... that’s how they are meant to be used. No one ever thinks of painting a घढ़ा / water pitcher... why paint a pot.