How to Make Plastic Terracotta Containers Look Like The Real Thing

Gardening is a very popular way for people to spend their leisure time but it can be an expensive hobby if you don't watch out. However, gardeners have always had an eye for ways to replicate good quality garden items using cheaper alternatives.

One way is to use plastic containers. Terracotta looks lovely, but is expensive, prone to breaking during cold weather, is heavy to move when planted up and allows water to evaporate away from the plant roots very quickly which means that the plants need to be watered at frequent intervals during the summer.

So instead of terracotta why not use a moulded plastic container that replicates the look of an expensive terracotta pot. By spending a little extra than you would on a really cheap plastic container you can instead get a finely detailed pot made from high quality injection moulded plastic that looks the part and won't shatter during cold weather. It can also be moved easily when it is planted up whilst also trapping in the moisture around the roots during the hot summer months meaning you need to do less watering.

However, although your plastic pot may be the colour of terracotta it certainly won't fool anyone when they're standing close to it, especially when it's new. Plastic does tend to have that slightly shiny look to it but this can be got rid quite easily and the container made to look aged and far more authentic.

What you need is some fine sandpaper or a wire pad to roughen the outer surface. Don't be too harsh with your scrubbing, just do enough to take the shine off the plastic. Then apply a mix of PVA glue and soil or fine compost or even sand with a brush. You may need to thin the mixture with water as it should be applied quite thinly. You want a mix that means the soil is sticky rather than gluey. It's best not to cover the whole surface, try looking at some pictures of old pots and urns to help you decide where it's best to paint the mixture. Let it dry out for a couple of days. If some areas look too thick you can reduce them by using a stiff brush. Then you can move on to the second stage.

This time brush the treated surface with natural yoghurt or buttermilk. Then let it dry and keep it out of the way of any rainfall for a few days. Admittedly it won't look very pretty for the next couple of weeks but then the surface of your plastic terracotta pot will begin to look less like plastic and more like the real thing as the yoghurt base begins to be colonised by things like lichen and moss.

Before long your plastic container will look less and less like plastic and more and more like a real terracotta pot that can will enhance your garden for years to come.

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