I just bought some terracotta pots at Lowe's that had some hairline cracks in the tops of them mostly. What is the easiest way to repair them, or do i even need to bother? Also, if i use something like cement glue or other chemical product, will it hurt the plants as long as i give it several days before using them?
Hey for a dollar, they were well worth it!

You can paint the outsides with several coast of Bed Liner paint. This paint can be brushed or rolled on and then you can paint any new color after it has dried.

Thank you, I have never heard of bed liner paint, where do you get it?

Shymaiden32 said:Thank you, I have never heard of bed liner paint, where do you get it?

You can find it at autozone, napa, or just about any auto parts store.

There are some aresol ones, rustolem I believe makes one but I wouldn't touch it even though I like their spray paint.

If you use this stuff you want herculiner. Other brands will chip and flake off.

I have had real good luck with Herculiner by brushing it on and you can find it at Lowe's.

Several thin coats seems to work a lot better than one thick coat.

I have also used Dupli-Color in a spray can.

Good luck,

A dab from a $4 tube of Loctite brand Stick and Seal (Lowe's, etc., glue section) should seal it up good. I use it on the crack in my cement birdbath. Dries clear.

oh I like the 4 dollar answer the best...I really didn't want to paint them but I will if necessary. I like the look of the terracotta.

I would try leaving at least some of them alone. Unless you drop them or something, I think they will last just as long.

Maybe painting just a stripe at the top, or even just painting the lip, would strengthen it.

But Porkpal might be right: they might not need any help. Especially if they are fairly small.

I think, "the bigger the pot, the more stress". If they are big pots but not especially thick, maybe doing some strengthening is a good investment.

A 6" pot may be pretty sturdy, but a pot bigger than 12" might be fragile unless thick-walled.

so far i have left most of them alone...very small hairline cracks...i did have to put some locktite glue on one of them because i could wiggle it where the crack was. and i have a huge pot that I got that has a chunk out of the lip of the rim, i think it may be OK especially if i plant something to drape over it, but just in case, when i get home today from work, i will post a picture and see what ya'll think?

I have no experience with clay pots, or terra-cotta, if that is different.

Cracked plastic pots, I tape with Gorilla Tape. That makes them stronger than brittle plastic!

When I have two cracked or brittle plastic pots of the same size, after taping the cracks, I nest them together with the cracks 180 degrees apart. Then I use them as ONE pot with two brittle layers, stronger than either pot would have been without the crack.

Maybe, if there is a little airspace between them, that even keeps roots slightly cooler. For me, that is seldom an issue. A "hot" day would be one that goes over 80.

I have used a very long cable tie to hold a split pot together just under the rim. This works the best on foam pots

I use Terra cotta pots all the time. Even the ones with cracks last quite a long time. I don't ever do anything to them They will last even longer if you don't get freezing temps. I used to drag them into the garage but now I just leave them and get new when needed. They are cheap enough to replace especially if you can find them at flea markets and garage sales.

If you put a thin wire or sturdy twine around outside of pot where the crack(s) are & tighten it well, you can just go ahead & fill it with soil & plant something. The watering of plant & the soil itself all have sediments & they get into cracks & the pots pretty much self-heal. In a few months you can remove the wire or string & pot will be strong as ever.

Thanks everyone, I did just what was said here. I just filled them up and planted something and @RickCorey just so you know, it's after 11pm right now and 75 degrees. Supposed to be 95 tomorrow and summer really hasn't started yet . Also we do get freezing Temps in the winter (not so much snow but lots of ice) so I will have to bring all my little potted friends inside. Too bad I just can't put them in the cellar (tornado alley here, got to have a cellar) and cover them up with straw...

Come over to the Greenhouse Forum. We have lots of ways to keep our plants warm in the winter time PLUS a new project for you! Oh wait. Nevermind. You did say "Tornado Alley" didn't you.

Kim, it sounds like you would have no trouble getting enough heat to ripen tomatoes ... or do they cook on the vine in mid-summer for you?

But I like my cool climate: I turn into the Wicked Witch of the West in high heat and humidity. I melt.

@RickCorey of course they cook on the vine, surely you've heard of fried green tomatoes?
I'm sure in a cool climate I would freeze to death!

It's funny: in the coastal PNW, summers are cool AND winters are mild! People here get used to being pampered. I've heard natives call 80 F a "heat wave". And summer nights usually cool down to 50.

But winters are only Zone 8, like 15-20 F is the average lowest low. Looking at weather records, I've seen some 10 F winters, and one 0 F, but those are rare and brief.

I like it here! Very "maritime" climate. OK looks about as "Continental" as climate can get.

Then I'm sure you can't even conceive of today's weather here. It's 98 degrees, with a heat index of 110 and to top it all off, 60% humidity! Some of my succulents got sunburned this morning and some are literally melting in the shade.

Too Bad I'm not EDUCATED AND EXPERIENCED Enough with succulents yet, To Have Seen This coming.