Wakehurst "Kew" Frostproof Pots

Temperate Authentic Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew frostproof terracotta planters.

It is easy to confuse "frostproof" with freeze proof.

When water freezes in an enclosed space, it expands forcefully enough to crack any rigid container, even cast iron.

There are potteries in Italy and the UK that offer a "frostproof guarantee" for their terracotta. In the climates of the UK or Italy, the temperatures may dip below freezing for a few days, but probably not for months at a time. The biggest freezing threat to pottery in winter is that the root ball and soil inside the pot may be damp enough at the onset of the freeze, that it will expand and crack the pot.

Frostproof really refers to whether or not the clay is fired high enough, (making it less porous) to keep the pot from delaminating once the temperature goes below zero.

Delamination happens when the clay absorbs a lot of water, and then when it freezes, this causes the outside of the pot to flake away.

Our pottery is fired to nearly 2000° F, (1090° C), so it does not have the open porosity of lower fired terracotta, and does not delaminate in cold weather. Pots that are left outside during the winter will survive best if raised on pot feet or blocks of wood. Hopefully there are no cracks due to damp soil freezing solid.

The other risk to pots freezing outdoors is if they are in full contact with the ground, patio or deck.

Do not add moisture to a vessel that you know is going to freeze. If you are going to take the time to cover the plants take the time to cover the pot too. Ceramics are a living, breathing, expanding and contracting entity just like the plants they hold.

Small Temperate: 1 in. X 9 in., 21 lbs, with Drainage Hole

Medium Temperate: 15 in. X 12 in., 34 lbs, with Drainage Hole

Large Temperate: 22 in. X 18 in., 52 lb., with Drainage Hole

*The Pots CANNOT be shipped, they are too heavy!

*Sold Individually, Not as a set

*Please note that as unique, handmade piece, no two pieces are ever exactly the same and color varies across monitors. Our website photos are a close representation of this work, but may not be identical to the piece you receive.