What Is the Advantage of Growing a Plant in a Clay Pot?

Clay pots are beautiful, practical and affordable.

Clay pots are beautiful, practical and affordable.

Your choice of pot is important. It will influence the look, cost and upkeep of your project for years to come. In theory, anything that holds soil can function as a flowerpot, but most gardeners tend to develop preferences, and sometimes strong opinions, on the subject. Clay pots are a common favorite, and with good reason. In addition to being attractive and affordable, clay pots are ideally suited for a plant's physiological needs.


Clay pots are usually affordable enough to suit any budget. Large, ornate or customized planters can be expensive, but unglazed terracotta pots are usually comparable with plastic pots of the same size. Part of the beauty of clay pots is their tendency to beautify with age as they weather and absorb mineral salts from the soil. Reused clay pots are perfect for the budget-minded and have a delightful rustic feel to them that can't be duplicated with synthetic materials.


Moderate weight can be an important feature in a flower pot. Lightweight pots may be easy to transport or store, but they can be prone to tipping in windy conditions or with top-heavy plants. Very heavy pots avoid this problem but can be tricky to move without help. Clay pots are heavier than wood or plastic and make it harder for your cat to repeatedly knock over your aloe vera plant, but they are lighter and less cumbersome than stone or concrete planters.


Plant roots require oxygen in the soil to function. Too much water will damage the root system and the overall health of the plant. In the "California Master Gardener Handbook," author Dennis R. Pittenger explains that unglazed clay pots "absorb and lose moisture through their walls," creating a natural safeguard against overwatering and allowing oxygen to enter the soil and aerate the roots. For plants requiring wetter conditions, customize the permeability of the pot by pre-treating the interior with a breathable latex sealant or adding a nonporous lining to the pot.


Container gardening requires mimicry of a plant's natural growing environment, including soil temperature. As a thick, porous material, clay naturally slows down heat transfer between the soil and the external environment, thereby avoiding sudden extremes of temperature. Clay pots hold the warmth of the sun and are also able to dissipate heat through water vapor, giving you more options with which to tailor your plant's environment.

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