You either love them, or you don’t. Chalky, mossy, rustic pots have a definitive look that draws people in or turns people off. Personally, I adore a weathered-looking terracotta pot. Something about the chalky, aged terracotta reminds me of dreamy scenes like an Italian countryside or a balcony in Morocco. In my own setting, distressed terracotta blends perfectly with neutrals. The chalky overlay tones down bright orange terracotta, so your plant stands out. Aged terracotta blends in beautifully on a bookshelf or table and brings texture and depth to your houseplant style. Here’s the dirt on rustic pots and where to find them. 

What’s That White Stuff?

Curious plant lovers post questions on message boards asking how to get rid of that perplexing “white stuff” on their pots. It seems to appear out of nowhere. The white stuff is a combination of mineral deposits found in hard tap water and fertilizers. Since terracotta is porous, it pulls water and minerals away from the soil and draws them onto the surface of the pot. City tap water contains calcium, chlorine, fluoride, and sodium. Strong fertilizers also leave behind residue. Rainwater and organic fertilizers are much more pure, so the amount of build up on your pot depends on what you give your plant. 

Majestic Moss 

Unplanned algae is usually an unpleasant surprise, but if algae or moss shows up on your weathered terracotta pot – bravo! A touch of moss gives your standard clay pot a magical, old English garden feel. When terracotta stays consistently damp, algae and moss form green stains or swirls on the pot surface. The mix of green and white with textured calcifications creates a sophisticated look to highlight your plant. You can encourage moss by keeping your pot out of the sun and in a cool damp location. You can also find pots designed with artificial moss for the same effect. 

Where To Find Vintage Pottery 

Garden centers and high-end boutiques sell artificially distressed pots, but you can also buy them secondhand. Sellers often discard their calcified terracotta or sell them cheaply on sites like Craigslist or Offer Up. Last week I found two perfectly calcified, mid-sized, terracotta pots for FIVE DOLLARS! You can also ask your local garden center if they have any used or “B stock” terracotta pots. Over summer, I rummaged through some old stacks of terracotta at an outdoor nursery. When I paid for the pot, the owner apologized to me for selling a calcified pot and cut the price in half. What a steal! 

My Five Dollar Pots

Don’t Forget To Clean Your Chalky Pot

The dirtier the better, but we do need to take precautions, because moss can harbor bacteria. Remember to sanitize your weathered pot before using it. You can scrub the inside with a bleach and water solution or clean it thoroughly and let it dry in the sun. It’s fun to find a thrifted pot and worth the extra effort. Shiny new things are nice, but it’s the old weathered things that add warmth and character to our homes.