How can I protect my terracotta pots from frost damage?

sdr6

I have recently bought a number of terracotta pots to place on a low wall and don't want to move them. Can anyone tell me if painting them (inside and/or out) with a clear water sealant will protect them from frost damage?   Maybe Thompsons water seal?

SophieK

I thought the point of clay pots was that they were porous and therefore better for the plants. If you seal them with paint you will remove the benefit of the terracotta pot and perhaps should have gone for plastic instead? (There are some very nice ones nowadays)

Also not sure that the paint is per se insulating. I think the tried and tested method to protect your pots in winter is to wrap them with bubble wrap. Not very sightly for sure but it's only for the winter months.

sdr6

Many thanks for the response, Sophie.   The nice looking plastic posts are too expensive for my budget. I will look into the bubble wrap idea.

Obelixx

You can protect them form absorbing water by painting inside and out with 2 to 3 coats of clear acrylic varnish which comes in matt, sating and gloss finish.   Allow 24 hours between coats - no matter what it says on the tin - and no more than 3 coats or it goes milky.

This means they will always look good and the expansion and contraction of water being frozen and thawed within the terracotta won't happen in winter.  However, you won't get the patina of moss and algae either.   I'd rather have a whole, clean pot than a flaking, breaking aged pot.

sdr6

Thanks, Obelixx, those are my thoughts, but not sure of the best way to go about it.

Obelixx

Clean pot, varnish and a paint brush.  Works for me.