Why are my Terracotta pots turning white?

If you love your Letterfest terracotta pots half as much as we do, then your garden, patio or windowsills are most likely covered in them!

Every now and then though, we notice a build-up of a white powdery residue on the outsides of these pots. We spoke to our pot makers in Italy and we discovered what this is and how to best treat it.

Turns out, the clay material that these pots are made from is porous and actually breathes. It allows the natural salts and minerals from our water, to seep through to the outside causing a white powdery build up on the outsides of the pot.

This residue is not harmful and it can easily be removed. Yay!

Here are some simple solutions to this residue build-up:

1. Simply wipe down regularly with a damp cloth

2. Treat empty pots with a vinegar and water solution, scrubbing white residue with a coarse brush

3. Treat empty pots with a bleach and water solution, scrubbing white residue with a coarse brush

4. Water your plants with rainwater or distilled water

There is a beautiful article from our friends at Garden Therapy with some helpful tips on how to keep those terra cotta pots spick and span.

Good luck guys and don't forget to share your feedback! We love to hear from our fellow Green Thumbs.

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