Outdoor flower pots are very popular among gardeners who want flowers outside of their homes. The average consumer can be faced with many choices, including pots made out of clay, resin and metal. In addition, some consumers will have to decide whether they want their pots to be plain, glazed or self-watering.
Clay pots probably are the most common solution for those who want to invest in outdoor flower pots. The unglazed varieties can be referred to as earthenware or terracotta. Unglazed pots are great for gardeners who want to keep their plants outside, because these pots are suitable for exposure to high temperatures. Their look often complements the natural colors of plants.
Glazed pots can be called stoneware or ceramic. Glazed clay pots cannot be left outside during all seasons; they must be removed from the elements and placed inside during cold winter months. They also are more decorative and artificial-looking. An advantage of using glazed clay pots is that they can also double as part of a home's décor. They can be painted, so glazed pots can easily become part of a greater design scheme.
Resin flower pots are the outdoor flower pots of choice for people who cannot or do not want to invest in clay pots. Resin pots can be substantially lighter than clay pots and can be the ideal choice for someone who doesn't have the strength of move heavier flower pots around. In many cases, resin flower pots look and function very similarly to clay pots.
Self-watering pots are an option for people who are interested in maintaining flowers but don't have a lot of time to do so. These types of pots are capable of watering plants on their own by tapping into a water reservoir that their owner has previously filled. A wicking system included in the pot periodically waters plants for the owner. Self-watering pots are viable outdoor flower pots, but they do not take care of all of a plant's watering needs. An owner will still have to replenish water supplies and water the plants themselves every once in awhile.
If a gardener wants to go for the nontraditional look, he or she can look into outdoor flower pots that are made out of metal. These pots can be made out of variety of types of metal, including zinc, copper and wrought iron. Metal pots typically are heavy, so that can be a consideration that many gardeners will have to take into account before deciding whether to use them.