Which plant pots are the best at tolerating winter weather?

Container gardening is as popular as ever. Now that winter has arrived, what should we do with our containers, which can range from inexpensive plastic to pricey ceramic? Some pot materials will tolerate freezing and thawing, while others could crumble under winter’s harsh conditions.

Plastic pots are not harmed by freezing and thawing and can be exposed to the elements. The concern with plastic containers is the sunlight. Over time, ultraviolet light fades the color and makes the plastic brittle. This brittleness leads to cracks and splits. With plastic, you can either leave the pots exposed to the elements, or you can move them into a shaded area to reduce sun exposure.

Concrete pots are heavy and not easy to move, so they are usually left to the elements for the winter. Good quality concrete should be able to withstand cold temperatures. But over time, the freezing and thawing of moisture in the material breaks it down. Protecting them from moisture absorption will help extend their life.

The classic pot is made of terra cotta. There is just something about the rich, earthy color that works with many plants. Clay pots are porous, which makes them great growing containers but can spell doom over the winter when the terra cotta absorbs moisture. Moist terra cotta shrinks and swells with winter freezing and thawing, causing the pots to break up.

Extend the life of clay pots by storing and keeping them dry. Remove the soil and store the pots indoors or out of the elements. If left outdoors, place them under a deck or wrap them in plastic. If the soil is left in a pot stored outside, make sure it remains dry — moisture will wick from the soil into the pot.

Glazed and fired ceramic pots come in a variety of styles and colors. Because of the glazing and firing process, these pots can be expensive. Depending on the quality, they will absorb moisture if left outdoors and will break down like their terra cotta cousins.

Remove the soil and store these pots indoors, such as in the garage. An alternative is to not pot directly into the fired container. Instead, use a plastic insert. Once the season is over simply remove the plastic pot. The glazed container is left fairly clean, lighter and ready to be stored. If there is no room in the garage, the pots could be stored dry or wrapped in plastic outdoors.

Be sure to leave some containers out for winter as they can easily be transformed into festive holiday décor.

This story was originally published November 25, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Which plant pots are the best at tolerating winter weather?."