Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice on keeping my succulents happy during the summer. I live in a place where it gets pretty cold, so my plants spend about 8-12 months indoors. Lately, I've been trying to acclimate them to direct sunlight by putting them outside for a few hours each day. However, I noticed that the black plastic pots and one of my ceramic pots get super hot in the sun. Is this bad for my plants? Would it be better to switch them to terra cotta pots for outdoor use?
4 Answers
I'm a fan of using terracotta outdoors. It’s porous, so I don't have to worry too much about rain ruining my plants. Just make sure they're getting enough light! I typically just water them myself if it hasn’t rained for a while, and everything stays healthy in direct sunlight.
Terra cotta all the way! I love collecting succulents because they look great, and plastic pots just ruin the aesthetic. Plus, terra cotta pots breathe better, allowing for air flow and evaporation, which helps keep humidity levels down around the roots.
I don't think plastic pots are necessarily bad. They can get hot in the sun just like terracotta. It really depends on your personal choice! I like the look of terracotta for its drying ability, but I do find myself watering my outdoor plants more often since they dry out quicker.
I stick with plastic pots indoors, then put them in pretty outer pots. Terracotta is heavy, and I tend to drop things, so the lighter option works better for me. I do have one nice terracotta pot without drainage that holds a plastic pot for my cactus, though!
That makes sense! I definitely have some worries about overwatering, especially with rainy days.