Clay Pots?

[greenthumbnails]

Does anyone know if it is generally recommended or not to use clay pots to grow your lilies in?  I see a lot of the wide brimmed variety at the neighborhood Loews made out of ceramic or clay.  I thought that I read somewhere that it was not a good idea due to something leaching out into the water....does that sound familiar to anyone?  I also see pots lined with a black painted layer which I am guessing is a waterproofing coat, so I could always get one of those if the clay pot is an issue.

[MikeW]

Apart from any other issues with this, I find any kind of pots to be quite expensive.

I use oil change pans, black plastic, and about $1 each, which work brilliantly.

Cheers,

Mike

[greenthumbnails]

Oh, I should clarify....I meant as the barrel or pond tub.  I saw huge clay pots that looked like they could hold about 20-30 gallons of water.

[Esther]

Clay is porous unless sealed and then I don't know if I'd trust it to hold water.

[Julles]

Don't do it.  You'll spend a lot of money, and it will still leak, and possibly break.  I had made a table top fountain out of a pot I sealed with black gunk made for that specific job - leaked and totally ruined my NEW hand-installed (by me) hardwood floor.

I got RubberMaid type tubs at local resale stores, up to 50 gallons, and only $3-$5 a piece.  Just be sure there are no holes, which can be hard to see, and be sure the plastic is sturdy.  One of mine bulged so far it was really misshapen, and I was afraid it wouldn't hold up.  Some others I have squished in a flower bed inbetween the house and a concrete retaining wall, so they're supported on the sides.

[greenthumbnails]

Thanks for the feedback....I thought there was something particular about not using clay pots, just couldn't remember what the reasoning was. 

[Julles]

It's CONCRETE that appears to leach fish-killing chemicals into the water.  I also had two stinkpot turtles die rather quickly when I put a concrete block in their pond (for a hiding place and a sunbathing place).  Don't know what they put in that stuff, but keep it out of your pond, at least the new concrete.

[greenthumbnails]

Ohh...okay that makes more sense.  Starting to sound familiar now.

NO clay pots for water containers--they leak.
NO concrete  anywhere (pot/blocks/etc) in pond--leeks chemical that kill fish.


Thanks!

[Esther]

UM. don't mean to argue but have used cement blocks in the pond several times. Some people's ponds are made from concrete. My waterfall slate steps and rocks are held in place with concrete cement.

[Sunbeam56]

Plastic is MUCH cheaper.
For dry-land pots, I prefer ceramic. For wetland pots, face it, the lilies grow better WITHOUT a pot, so I prefer the cheapest possible.

[Joyce]

No problems with concrete either.
I have made my own hypertufa concrete bog planters...no problems.

I use old clay pots for potting up lilies and bog plants ALL the time.
They are heavy, and they help keep the plants from blowing over in the wind.
(we live in a very windy area...especially right NOW)
Most of my mini lilies are in old terra cotta clay pots. 

I also have several large ceramic pots that I use for mini lilies and lotus...no problems. 

[tinkster]

My entire pond is made of concrete artifical rocks and I have not had a problem either. 

tinkster