Are Cement Pots Good For Plants
So, are cement pots good for plants? Yes it is. Cement is beneficial to plants such as succulents. In general, both concrete and cement pots are excellent choices for potted plants since they are porous and allow some moisture to pass through. This makes plants simpler to care for since you are less likely to overwater them than if they were in a plastic or other non-porous planter. In this blog, we also have an article about best pots for succulents on amazon that you might want to read about it.
Most any concrete or cement mix can be used for making planters. But the best cement for making pots will depend on what you are using as the mold, as well as the size of the planter
Ellen, author from artsyprettyplants.com
Cement Pot
Cement planters and concrete planters are only two of the various containers in which you may grow your favorite plants. The primary benefit of this way of growing is that it allows you to choose the best habitat for all sorts of plants, providing them with ideal circumstances. A pot may be utilized as a little green house or a small garden in addition to its ornamental characteristics.
Selecting a pot or planter for succulents is often overlooked but it’s an important part of keeping your succulents happy and creating a beautiful arrangement!”
Succulentandsunshine.com
How Does One Go About Neutralizing Concrete?
Concrete may be neutralized by immersing it in water for three days. Soaking concrete or cement in water allows lime to be leached via the pores. The advantage of doing so is that excessive alkalinity may cause certain plant varieties to not grow or even die. Because lime has a high pH, it is quite alkaline. Plants, such as most succulents, frequently grow in soil with a higher pH, so lime leaching a concrete planter or pot isn’t required. Are Cement Flower Pots Safe to Use in the Winter?
Certain kinds of pots may be destroyed if left outdoors over the winter, according to the University of Illinois Extension. This is due to the fact that water will enter the pores of the planter material and expand and contract when the temperature dips and rises beyond the freezing point of water. This exerts undue strain on the material, which might be harmful in the case of pottery. If the material has any flaws, it might exacerbate them significantly. Leaving soil in the pots may also be problematic since the water in the soil expands when it freezes.
However, the University of Illinois Extension notes that huge concrete and timber planters may certainly withstand winter in Illinois, however this may not be the case in other climes. To avoid damage, planters constructed of different materials should be emptied of soil and kept dry. Wrapping them in plastic wrap is one method. Another option is to flip them upside down in the winter to discourage snow from filling them.
Cement or Concrete Is Better For Plants
In terms of which is better for plants, cement and concrete are the same. They both have lime in them and will absorb alkalinity. The soil’s pH level will be about the same with either concrete or cement.
Problems with Cement Planters
Cement plant pots have their own set of problems, some of which are rather evident. For one thing, they are fairly hefty, which may be a problem when dealing with bigger versions used to support trees or other large plants outside. This may make relocating them difficult, but it also makes them less likely to be stolen. Even medium-sized pots might be difficult to transport inside. Similarly, they may shatter if tipped over if they are not on firm ground or are raised aloft from the ground in an unstable way.
It should also be noted that the planters may have a chemical coating on them. They may also include a substance known as fly ash, as well as other heavy metals, according to the University of Maryland Extension. This has the potential to leach into the soil. Companies seldom offer information regarding the chemicals used in the manufacture of cement planters, despite the fact that there has been little study into how this may damage the plants. Consider putting the pots outdoors to be wet on a few occasions to flush out some of the possibly harmful substances.