Joyce Lee on mon 8 may 00
I'm thinking of making flowerpots and garden structures. I have several
questions; answers to which I've researched, but so far have received
conflicting concepts. Soooo.... for garden and patio pots, which clay do
you recommend, if you'd be so kind as to share? I've never purposely
fired anything below ^10 in reduction and ^06 for bisque. Are these
cones appropriate for such pots? AND would you recommend glazing inside
and outside, or just outside, or not at all? As you can probably tell,
I'm floundering, but would like to start these now so I can be a leg up
when July arrives and I take a very deep breath and begin teapots...
hoping that by that time I'll have some grasp of flower pots. I've made
a few teapots but they were all horribly dull. One is SO awful that it
travels full circle to "very interesting," as in mindboggling ...
instead of just blah like the others. It's shaped like an Aladdin's
Lamp... ok so far......but very, very heavy which is NOT appropriate to
the form.... also has a very thin half-circle handle that feels as if
it's going to break when used to hoist the teapot, and relates in no way
to the rest of the form... and a lid that looks as it it would screw on,
but doesn't so falls off every time tea is poured... no strainer holes,
but DOES POUR okay, oddly enough. It's saltfired with rutile (oxide?)
decoration, which helps it save a little face. Obviously, I'll be back
later to pick your brains about teapots although I have accumulated a
fair amount of info. THIS TIME I'm not quitting until something
desirable is achieved. Thank you very much for reading this far and for
any help you might have time from your busy lives to offer.
Joyce
In the Mojave thrilled that UPS called and the new Bailey extruder is in
the desert with........ Diana, Bonnie and Jeri, get this ..... the NEW
adaptation so that it's EASIER to change ..... hmmm whatever it is you
have to change...I'll know soon. Anyway, whichever clayarters talked to
Bailey at NCECA helped affect this adaptation, which has been tested
apparently.... I hope. Anybody know how to extrude teapots? I'm
kidding, but somebody probably actually does..........whatta crew!
Joyce Lee on mon 8 may 00
I'm thinking of making flowerpots and garden structures. I have several
questions; answers to which I've researched, but so far have received
conflicting concepts. Soooo.... for garden and patio pots, which clay do
you recommend, if you'd be so kind as to share? I've never purposely
fired anything below ^10 in reduction and ^06 for bisque. Are these
cones appropriate for such pots? AND would you recommend glazing inside
and outside, or just outside, or not at all? As you can probably tell,
I'm floundering, but would like to start these now so I can be a leg up
when July arrives and I take a very deep breath and begin teapots...
hoping that by that time I'll have some grasp of flower pots. I've made
a few teapots but they were all horribly dull. One is SO awful that it
travels full circle to "very interesting," as in mindboggling ...
instead of just blah like the others. It's shaped like an Aladdin's
Lamp... ok so far......but very, very heavy which is NOT appropriate to
the form.... also has a very thin half-circle handle that feels as if
it's going to break when used to hoist the teapot, and relates in no way
to the rest of the form... and a lid that looks as it it would screw on,
but doesn't so falls off every time tea is poured... no strainer holes,
but DOES POUR okay, oddly enough. It's saltfired with rutile (oxide?)
decoration, which helps it save a little face. Obviously, I'll be back
later to pick your brains about teapots although I have accumulated a
fair amount of info. THIS TIME I'm not quitting until something
desirable is achieved. Thank you very much for reading this far and for
any help you might have time from your busy lives to offer.
Joyce
In the Mojave thrilled that UPS called and the new Bailey extruder is in
the desert with........ Diana, Bonnie and Jeri, get this ..... the NEW
adaptation so that it's EASIER to change ..... hmmm whatever it is you
have to change...I'll know soon. Anyway, whichever clayarters talked to
Bailey at NCECA helped affect this adaptation, which has been tested
apparently.... I hope. Anybody know how to extrude teapots? I'm
kidding, but somebody probably actually does..........whatta crew!
Dannon Rhudy on tue 9 may 00
At 04:30 PM 5/8/00 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>. the NEW
>adaptation so that it's EASIER to change ..... hmmm whatever it is you
>have to change...I'll know soon. Anyway, whichever clayarters talked to
>Bailey at NCECA helped affect this adaptation, which has been tested
>apparently.... I hope. Anybody know how to extrude teapots? I'm
>kidding, but somebody probably actually does..........whatta crew!..
-------------------------------------
Sure you can extrude teapots. Did you see the various ones
in the extruded exhibit at NCECA? Pretty clever, some of them.
Enjoy your extruder.
RE: clay/flowerpots - it probably does not make a lot of
difference what kind of clay you use. Some like terracotta
because it "breathes" and is the classic pot. But pots that
breathe are not necessarily good for plants in terms of the
salts they absorb from the soil & water(ing). I generally
glaze mine in & out, and so far no plants have complained.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
>
Ray Aldridge on tue 9 may 00
At 04:30 PM 5/8/00 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm thinking of making flowerpots and garden structures. I have several
>questions; answers to which I've researched, but so far have received
>conflicting concepts. Soooo.... for garden and patio pots, which clay do
>you recommend, if you'd be so kind as to share? I've never purposely
>fired anything below ^10 in reduction and ^06 for bisque. Are these
>cones appropriate for such pots? AND would you recommend glazing inside
>and outside, or just outside, or not at all?
As long as they have holes in the bottom, you ought to be able to use any
clay. I wouldn't bother to glaze the inside. I actually prefer vitreous
(or even plastic) planters to terracotta. In this climate, the terracotta
ones seem to dry out too fast.
The one piece of advice I'd give a prospective planter maker revolves
around a dumb thing I did long ago. I failed to follow the classic planter
shape, in pursuit of "originality." The planters were fairly spherical,
with fat bellies that constricted toward the mouth. They looked nice and I
sold quite a few before my sister the house planter told me that they
didn't work very well. She pointed out that when a plant outgrew one of my
planters, it would be impossible to get it out without damaging the roots.
You'd have to cut away the part of the root ball that wouldn't slide out
through the mouth of the pot.
So, chastened, I started making planters with the classic flare from foot
to mouth. I turned them upside down when leatherhard and threw attached
saucers onto them, so they could be watered without dripping.
I'd still make some today, except that I get the impression that they're
hard to sell these days. Am I right?
Ray
Aldridge Porcelain and Stoneware
http://www.goodpots.com
Janet Kaiser on tue 9 may 00
Ah! Joyce! What another lovely post from our very own Long Legged Desert
Flower. You have a wonderful way with words...
My humble thoughts on FLOWER POTS:
It depends (doesn't it always?) on where they will be used. Traditionally
they are porous, unglazed terracotta here in the UK. The theory is that they
hold the moisture and save the roots in the pots getting too hot and dry OR
they let the water out when it is too wet and save the poor plants getting
too waterlogged.
But all this is aimed at our climate. Certainly I have never seen a flower
pot glazed just on the outside, although I have seen them glazed inside only
in Germany. Because they are porous and absorb/hold water, surely glazing
outside would not be a good idea? Because the water will want to get out
through the body, it would eventually lift the glaze on the outside.
They are certainly not vitrified and I doubt there is much grog in the clay
body... I will ask my ex-teacher (who spent ten years throwing plant pots)
what they used if no-one replies, although Marek will probably be able to
answer you before I get any sense from said source.
I have a back yard full of these terracotta plant pots sat on bare concrete.
On the North side of the house they are in the shade all winter but can get
baked in the summer (hopefully!).
In the summer they sit in 1 1/2 to 2 inch deep terracotta holders (glazed
inside only) which hold water and prevent the pots / plants drying out
and/or overheating in the sun. I fill the saucers with water at night in
hot, dry weather and the plant pots/plants/soil suck it up during the day.
This is a more "natural" way and helps to establish a good root system.
In the winter (frost is very rare here) the holders are removed and the pots
are put onto bricks to keep them off the ground. High rainfall would
otherwise mean they would soon get waterlogged. I would really like some of
those wonderful fancy ceramic feet introduced from the East, but keep
thinking I will have a real garden again one day, so I should do without.
If you are going to stick to cone 10, I suppose that glazed pots would be
best. They could then be used indoors as well as outside. A plant/flower pot
with a matching saucer maybe? I guess that a lot depends on people's taste
and horticultural background and/or prejudices.
Sadly, a lot of people now prefer plastic in the UK. They are supported by
nurserymen. European laws/directives do not allow the reuse of terra cotta
plant pots for sale with or without plants unless they have been sterilised,
so to avoid this added cost, plastic has replaced the traditional pots in
nurseries and garden centres.
Large low-fired, glazed planters from Korea and other Asian countries have
more or less replaced the big pots. This is good for Nikom and his fellow
workers, but bad for UK (thrown) flower pot producers who are now meeting
the top end of the market, rather than fulfilling their traditional role.
As for teapots... DARE I say anything at all?!?!? Let us hear how you get on
with the plant pots first Joyce and maybe I will have regained enough
confidence by then to even mention the word! >g<
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art, Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales
Home of The International Potters Path
TEL: (01766) 523570
WEB: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
EMAIL: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: Joyce Lee
> I'm thinking of making flowerpots and garden structures. I have several
> questions; answers to which I've researched, but so far have received
> conflicting concepts. Soooo.... for garden and patio pots, which clay do
> you recommend, if you'd be so kind as to share? I've never purposely
> fired anything below ^10 in reduction and ^06 for bisque. Are these
> cones appropriate for such pots? AND would you recommend glazing inside
> and outside, or just outside, or not at all? As you can probably tell,
> I'm floundering, but would like to start these now so I can be a leg up
> when July arrives and I take a very deep breath and begin teapots...
> hoping that by that time I'll have some grasp of flower pots. I've made
> a few teapots but they were all horribly dull. One is SO awful that it
> travels full circle to "very interesting," as in mindboggling ...
> instead of just blah like the others. It's shaped like an Aladdin's
> Lamp... ok so far......but very, very heavy which is NOT appropriate to
> the form.... also has a very thin half-circle handle that feels as if
> it's going to break when used to hoist the teapot, and relates in no way
> to the rest of the form... and a lid that looks as it it would screw on,
> but doesn't so falls off every time tea is poured... no strainer holes,
> but DOES POUR okay, oddly enough. It's saltfired with rutile (oxide?)
> decoration, which helps it save a little face. Obviously, I'll be back
> later to pick your brains about teapots although I have accumulated a
> fair amount of info. THIS TIME I'm not quitting until something
> desirable is achieved. Thank you very much for reading this far and for
> any help you might have time from your busy lives to offer.
>
> Joyce
> In the Mojave thrilled that UPS called and the new Bailey extruder is in
> the desert with........ Diana, Bonnie and Jeri, get this ..... the NEW
> adaptation so that it's EASIER to change ..... hmmm whatever it is you
> have to change...I'll know soon. Anyway, whichever clayarters talked to
> Bailey at NCECA helped affect this adaptation, which has been tested
> apparently.... I hope. Anybody know how to extrude teapots? I'm
> kidding, but somebody probably actually does..........whatta crew!
>
Cindy Strnad on tue 9 may 00
Hi, Joyce.
Well, actually, yes--you can extrude tea pots. A little at a time, anyhow. I
haven't done it yet, meself.
As far as the flower pots go, it depends upon what you want to do. If you
want the best thing for the plants, then go with terra cotta or some
low-fire body. Reason being, the porosity of the clay allows the soil to
breath more naturally. That's the theory anyhow. I have no idea whether
*studies* have been done.
That said, flower pots come in all kinds and varieties. Glaze 'em, don't
glaze 'em, make 'em from porcelain. Flowers will forgive anything but a
brown thumb. If you want them to sit outside during the winter, I
suggest a close adherence to the classical outwardly flared shape. This
allows freezing soil to push upward rather than outward against the
walls--therefore being less likely to break the pot.
Cindy Strnad
earthenv@gwtc.net
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
Jeri Palmer on tue 9 may 00
Wow you must be excited about your extruder. I got my pugmill a couple of
weeks ago and it has changed my life. Every horizontal surface in my studio
is covered with greenware. We fired the wood kiln this past weekend Open her
up tonight. I am in that kiln opening mode you know, excited scared,
apprehensive. It a lot like Christmas when I was a kid. Jeri
tgschs10 on tue 9 may 00
Joyce,
I not an expert on gardenware but I've been growing potted plants for about
20 years and presently have approximately 200 in two greenhouses and
outside. Indeed it was my love of potted plants that drew me into making
pottery. You'll hear various arguments about the advantages of unglazed
earthenware [able to breath] and high fire pots [slower to dry]. High fired
vitreous pots are more durable to freezing weather and here in Florida I
prefer them because the plants don't dry out as fast. Glazes on earthenware
pots after a while will flake. The outside of high fired glazed pots gets
very hot and retards root development on the perimeter. If you have many
plants, watering can be a problem. In the summer, I need to water at least
every other day. Use large pots if they are going to be outside and you'll
not have to water as often and root development is stronger. Also, if you
have a watering system and can place your pots appropriately so they are
automatically watered, you'll save a lot of work. As to glazing, it helps
when you repot and want to clean ; at the high fire end there is less need;
glazing earthenware negates the advantage of "breathing" which I personally
have come to believe is overstated.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joyce Lee"
To:
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 1:30 PM
Subject: flowerpots/teapots
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm thinking of making flowerpots and garden structures. I have several
> questions; answers to which I've researched, but so far have received
> conflicting concepts. Soooo.... for garden and patio pots, which clay do
> you recommend, if you'd be so kind as to share? I've never purposely
> fired anything below ^10 in reduction and ^06 for bisque. Are these
> cones appropriate for such pots? AND would you recommend glazing inside
> and outside, or just outside, or not at all? As you can probably tell,
> I'm floundering, but would like to start these now so I can be a leg up
> when July arrives and I take a very deep breath and begin teapots...
> hoping that by that time I'll have some grasp of flower pots. I've made
> a few teapots but they were all horribly dull. One is SO awful that it
> travels full circle to "very interesting," as in mindboggling ...
> instead of just blah like the others. It's shaped like an Aladdin's
> Lamp... ok so far......but very, very heavy which is NOT appropriate to
> the form.... also has a very thin half-circle handle that feels as if
> it's going to break when used to hoist the teapot, and relates in no way
> to the rest of the form... and a lid that looks as it it would screw on,
> but doesn't so falls off every time tea is poured... no strainer holes,
> but DOES POUR okay, oddly enough. It's saltfired with rutile (oxide?)
> decoration, which helps it save a little face. Obviously, I'll be back
> later to pick your brains about teapots although I have accumulated a
> fair amount of info. THIS TIME I'm not quitting until something
> desirable is achieved. Thank you very much for reading this far and for
> any help you might have time from your busy lives to offer.
>
> Joyce
> In the Mojave thrilled that UPS called and the new Bailey extruder is in
> the desert with........ Diana, Bonnie and Jeri, get this ..... the NEW
> adaptation so that it's EASIER to change ..... hmmm whatever it is you
> have to change...I'll know soon. Anyway, whichever clayarters talked to
> Bailey at NCECA helped affect this adaptation, which has been tested
> apparently.... I hope. Anybody know how to extrude teapots? I'm
> kidding, but somebody probably actually does..........whatta crew!
>
Maggie Woodhead on wed 10 may 00
Hello Joyce, Kia Ora,
Not an expert on pots but use them a lot for plants. We have found
that pots which contain plants can dry out in the hot dry summer
weather. A plant which needs to be kept damp will be happier in a pot
glazed at least on the inside so there is less evaporation. The outside
is not so important and more a matter of taste.
Stoneware cone 10 is stronger as someone else pointed out and more
vitrified anyway. Terracotta pots are good for pots which like to be on
the dry side, like succulents and so forth, they will absorb moisture on
a wet day through the pot and also dry out in the same fashion.
A case of the right pot for the plant or the right plant for the
pot.
I enjoy making planters of all kinds. Have fun!
----Best Wishes Maggie----
maggiew@clear.net.nz
----- Original Message -----
From: Joyce Lee
To:
Sent: Tuesday, 9 May 2000 08:30
Subject: flowerpots/teapots
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I'm thinking of making flowerpots and garden structures. I have several
questions; answers to which I've researched, but so far have received
conflicting concepts. Soooo.... for garden and patio pots, which clay do
you recommend, if you'd be so kind as to share? I've never purposely
fired anything below ^10 in reduction and ^06 for bisque. Are these
cones appropriate for such pots? AND would you recommend glazing inside
and outside, or just outside, or not at all? As you can probably tell,
I'm floundering, but would like to start these now so I can be a leg up
when July arrives and I take a very deep breath and begin teapots...
hoping that by that time I'll have some grasp of flower pots. I've made
a few teapots but they were all horribly dull. One is SO awful that it
travels full circle to "very interesting," as in mindboggling ...
instead of just blah like the others. It's shaped like an Aladdin's
Lamp... ok so far......but very, very heavy which is NOT appropriate to
the form.... also has a very thin half-circle handle that feels as if
it's going to break when used to hoist the teapot, and relates in no way
to the rest of the form... and a lid that looks as it it would screw on,
but doesn't so falls off every time tea is poured... no strainer holes,
but DOES POUR okay, oddly enough. It's saltfired with rutile (oxide?)
decoration, which helps it save a little face. Obviously, I'll be back
later to pick your brains about teapots although I have accumulated a
fair amount of info. THIS TIME I'm not quitting until something
desirable is achieved. Thank you very much for reading this far and for
any help you might have time from your busy lives to offer.
Joyce
In the Mojave thrilled that UPS called and the new Bailey extruder is in
the desert with........ Diana, Bonnie and Jeri, get this ..... the NEW
adaptation so that it's EASIER to change ..... hmmm whatever it is you
have to change...I'll know soon. Anyway, whichever clayarters talked to
Bailey at NCECA helped affect this adaptation, which has been tested
apparently.... I hope. Anybody know how to extrude teapots? I'm
kidding, but somebody probably actually does..........whatta crew!
Kelley Webb Randel on thu 11 may 00
here in missouri, usa, our temps vary to the extremes.
i love the aesthetic of terra cotta pots, dirt and plants,
but some of my ferns aren't so happy in such pots, so
i leave them in plastic and hide them in terra cotta,
or i glaze the inside of said terra cotta.
i love my plants, though it creates a jungle inside during
the winter. spring brings relief to my long suffering hub,
as the plants move outdoors to division and repotting.
any terra cotta that gets left outdoors in missouri
doesn't last but 4 or 5 winters, at most. these pots absorb
too much water, then freeze and stress my beloved
terra cotta.
the whole point of my response was to make the plants
happy using the pots they like best. (my cacti love terra
cotta!)
kelley
sitting here at the puter, dodging a giant june bug my
tigger brought in. . .
Andie on thu 11 may 00
(snip)
>I'd still make some today, except that I get the impression that they're
>hard to sell these days. Am I right?
>
>Ray
>
>
>Aldridge Porcelain and Stoneware
>http://www.goodpots.com
>
Ray -
I take flowerpots to upscale local garden stores throughout the summer and
fall, and have no problem selling them. Don't know about your area, but you
might look in to it.
: ) Andie
Andie on thu 11 may 00
I have quit using those completely unglazed (inside and out) terracotta
flowerpots, because in my humid climate, they get moldy right away. I would
at least glaze the outside OR the inside. I have several that were glazed on
the outside only or both inside and outside, and they have three and five
year old plants in them, not problems.
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