Sealing Clay Pots

There's a spray sealer made for clay pots. You can get it from Michael's craft stores. I haven't used it so I an't tell you if it works well or not

Shell

I would not seal them. I use clay pots specifically because they are porous.

Moisture evaporating through the sides (even when they don't look damp) keeps the soil in the pot cool even in full sun. It's that evaporation process that causes the mineral build-up on the outside of the pot.

There is also some air penetration into the pot through the porous sides, which is very important for confined roots.

A couple of years ago, I made the mistake of trying to seal a few of my clay pots with a clear spray acrylic. They looked pretty good the first season, but by the second season, the acrylic began to peel off in yellowish flakes, and it got progressively worse. Also, this did not deter the natural tendency for clay pots to leach mineral deposits. Finally, I used a wire brush to remove the rest of this yellow scale, so I was able to salvage the pots. Like others have said, due to the porous nature of clay, it is probably not a good idea to try to seal it. I do have a strawberry pot from Mexico that I acquired about 10 years ago. It has a black (tar?) sealant on the inside, but the outside was not treated. It has survived fairly well over the years. Every fall, I empty my clay pots, clean them, let them dry, and then store them upside down on a shelf out of the weather for the winter, so they won't get wet, freeze, and crack. Hope this is helpful. Gary

Just set a plastic pot inside the clay pot. Problem solved.

My grandmother used to line her clay pots w/aluminum foil - very simple, hidden, and effective solution.

Good luck - whatever you decide to try, Nicole

The nurseries here sell a water-based proofing liquid. You paint the new pots with it (inside and out) and it soaks into the terra cotta. You let it cure for 24 hrs before use. The color of the pot is not affected. Graham

Canning wax.

In a previous post on this thread I described a pot sealing solution. The product is:

"Seal-A-Pot" Distributed by: Haney Pottery Sales Ltd., Delta, B.C. Canada

For those south of the border, I would imagine that your local nursery could either order it from them or find out who the manufacterer is.

Graham