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What is Talavera Pottery? |
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Arizona Pottery sells one of the largest collection of talavera pottery, garden animals, luminarias, spheres and so much more. We imported directly from the factory to our Tucson warehouse where we ship it across the US to you our beloved customers. So, you see it and you love it but let's talk a bit about what it is and where it comes from.
Talavera is one of the finest ceramics of Mexico and from the Spanish colonial period of rich old world design and colorful heritage. Talavera pottery was first introduced to Mexico by Spanish guild artisans of the colonial perios. Commonly called "majolica" in Spain, Mexican Talavera draws its name from the 16th century Spanish pottery center, Talavera de la Reina.
The process to create Talavera pottery is elaborate and it has basically not changed since the early colonial period when it was first introduced. The first step is to mix black sand and white sand. It is then washed and filtered to keep only the finest particles.
Next it is shaped by hand on a potters wheel, then left to dry for a number of days. Then comes the first firing . The piece is tested to see if any cracks occur. The initial glazing, which creates a milky white background is applied. After this, the design is hand painted. Finally, a second firing to harden the glaze.
One of the most desired things about talavera pottery is the bold bright colors and unique patterns. Since each piece is hand painted they are one of a kind. Everyone knows the look of talavera and it is well loved through out the world.
At Arizona Pottery we try to carry the largest and most unique patterns and designs.
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| talavera pottery, hand painted mexican planters, mexican talalvera |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/24/2023 1:18:07 PM |
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Indoor Cat Garden |
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If you have little furry cats around you house, then this post if for you. In Arizona it is dangerous to let you cats outside, so our cats are considered indoor animals. That means you have to be aware of any potted flowers or plants that you bring into the home. If you want to pot up some plants it is best to google it to see if they are toxic to cats or not.
When it comes to cats wanting to use your potted plants as a litter box we suggest you cover the top soil with pot shards, colored rocks or toothpicks. Anything works that the cats don't want to touch their feet and makes them uncomfortable.
Now we want to talk about the substance of this post and that is to create a indoor cat garden just for your little furry indoor friends. By planting things like cat grass you can cure their craving for greens. This gives them a chance to eat the leaves that are both healthy and tasty to them without any issues. But don't just pot up food, make it decorative and fun so that everyone not only the cats get to enjoy looking at it.
Here are some plants that we recommend. Cat grass, Catnip, Parsley, Mint & Rosemary all work great. Select a low bowl garden container so that the cats can reach the plants without having to climb or jump. Make sure the flowerpot is wide and low so that it can't be knocked over.
Top the soil with decorative rocks and little figurines to create a cute look that is both playful and functional. The rocks will keep the cats from using it as a litter box. Place the pot in a sunny window and keep the soil moist so that the herbs will grow and not dry out. Then stand back and watch your little ones gather and enjoy!
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| cat garden indoors, potted cat garden, grow herbs for cats, pottery
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/24/2023 1:19:00 PM |
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Why Should You Pot UP Some Mint? |
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We all love herbs and Mint is one of the easiest to grow. Not only does it smell amazing but you can harvest it and use for so many things. With it's dark green leaves and sweet fragrance we think everyone should pot up some.
Potted mint can be easily started from a cutting off a friends plant. So if you don't want to purchase a starter plant then find a mint plant already growing and take off a sprig.
Mint will spread so we recommend you pot it to keep it contained. If you are looking for something to take over a garden area then just plant it where you desire it to spread.
Potted mint is easy to preserve so you have some for the Winter months. You can dry it and crush mint leaves or even grind it and freeze. Mint will stay good for months when dried or frozen and is perfect for cooking with or just in your iced-T.
Mint in garden pottery is easy and fun to grow. Whether you are potting it indoors or outdoors, give it a shot and tell us how you do.
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| mint in pottery, mint in flowerpots, potted mint, mint in pots, pottery |
By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/24/2023 1:19:32 PM |
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More Tips, Tips & More Tips |
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In our last blog posts we offered a few good tips for helping you with your potted houseplants. In this post we are going to give you a few more because we have so many we want to share that they won't fit in just one post. So, here are some pot tips to help with your potted houseplants.
Cat Proof Your Indoor Potted Plants!
Not again! Despite your frequent scolding, your cat love to go into your indoor potted houseplants. Keep them from using your favorite ficus as a little box by placing pieces of broken pottery over the dirt. You can also top the soil with marbles, colored rocks or any kind of item you cat won't want to touch.
Guarantee Healthy Potted Plants!
Before you pot up a plant for your house, try placing tea bags over the drain hole of the planter. They will retain the water and keep your potted plant healthy and full of life with the antioxidants.
Help Your Hanging Flowerpots!
Did you know that hanging flowerpots dry out faster than one that sit on the ground. This is because of the wind swirling around them. All hanging planters should be watered daily in order to keep the flowers or plants healthy. Use ice cubes on the top soil for a slow melt that lets the plants roots soak up the moisture over time.
In the Fall Collect Pine Cones for Spring Planters!
You say what? In the fall collect pine cones that fall on the ground. Next Spring before you plant in a garden planter, drop some in the bottom of the pot. Then add potting soil. The cones provide great drainage, help keep the soil from leaking out the drain hole and don't add extra weight like rocks would.
Coffee Filter to the Rescue!
It's a well known fact but if you place a coffee filter in the bottom of your flowerpots before adding potting soil, they will help keep the soil from running out. Easy & Effective
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| pottery tips, planter tips, tips for garden planters, pottery tips & more
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/24/2023 1:20:16 PM |
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Tips, Tips & More Tips |
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Can you really ever have enough gardening tips and garden pottery tips. We don't think so. We would like to share a few random ones that are our favs. Hope you can find something useful.
Bug Proof Houseplants!
To discourage pests from preying on potted houseplants, steep 2 TBS lemon peel in 4 cups of water. Strain the mix. let it cool and spray on the potted plants leaves. The citrus oil from the lemons repels insects without doing any harm to the potted plant.
Water Houseplants in Pottery half as much!
You love how leafy green plants brighten up the house, but thanks to dry indoor heat, you have had to water them nearly every day. That's because much of the water evaporates before the potted plant can absorb it. Corks to the rescue! Use a food processor to grind up 8 to 12 corks, then mix them into your potting soil. The air filled cork cells with absorb excess water and slowly release it as the soil dries out, cutting your watering duties in half.
Filtering Your Indoor Air!
Indoor pollution levels can be more than 100 times higher than outdoors, particularly when the windows are closed. Your typical potted houseplant can remove up to 87% of indoor air toxins within 24 hours. The most effective are spider plants & potted mums.
Perk Up Dull, Dreary, Potted Houseplants!
If your potted houseplants look like they need a pick me up, give them a quick rubdown with the white side of a banana peel. The skins rough texture will gently buff away dust, white it's natural oils moisturize.
Put A Potted Plant On Your Desk At Work!
Low indoor humidity, a hallmark of colder months, can speed the evaporation of tears by up to 99%. This leaves the eyes surface vulnerable to airborne irritants such as ozone and formaldehyde, which are readily produced by laser printers and other office equipment. Luckily, leafy potted houseplants can reduce a rooms pollution level by 97% within 50 mins. Potted Plants literally neutralize airborne toxins and they hydrate the air as they breathe, reducing the odds of dry eye recurrence.
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| potted houseplant tips, tips for potted plants, pottery, planters, pots
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/17/2023 10:16:01 AM |
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Make a Faux Succulent Planter |
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Using fake succulents to make a garden container is not only smart but economical. Not only do the new faux succulents you can get at craft stores look real but they come in a huge variety. Not all garden centers carry the vast variety that you can find in faux. And yes, they really do look real.
First select a garden container. We like a large garden bowl or bulb pan. The width allows for a larger variety of plants spread out instead of them all piled up on each other. Once you decide on the planter, cut a piece of styro foam to fit inside and approx half way up the planter. Use glue to attached it to the bottom of the planter. You may need to criss cross the top of the foam with clean tape attaching the tape to the sides of the planters. No body will see these when you are done.
Next cover the foam and tape with moss. Bags of dried moss are available at all craft shots. Just tuck it around the foam and fill in the gaps with it making sure that no foam is showing. If the planter is going to sit on a patio table or coffee table we recommend placing the succulents first in the foam then covering the foam with small decorative rocks. This will allow for rain run off to drain properly.
Start with the large faux succulents and place them in the middle and one one each side. Press them into the foam once, do not keep making the holes bigger, just one good punch thru and it should be the height you desire. Now place med fake succulents ending up with the smallest size. Use these to fill in around the sides of the garden planter. Add a string of pearls to drape over the side. Make sure to work on all sides and you fill in.
If the potted container will be where wind can get to it we recommend you use a craft glue to glue the stems of the faux succulents once punched thru. If you are using moss then lay down a bead of glue first and press the moss down firmly on top of it. End with any decorative touches. A raffia bow, garden rocks, flower picks.
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| potted faux succulents, fake succulents, planted faux succulents.pottery
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/24/2023 1:21:37 PM |
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Caring for Indoor Potted Cacti |
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Everyone thinks caring for potted cactus indoors is easy to do. Basically that is true but it you want to make sure that they look as good as the day you purchased them, then you need to follow a few simple rules.
Watering - you probably think that since potted cacti is from the desert all you need to do is water once a week and it will be fine. But, what you may not know is that it's better to water your potted cactus every 3 to 5 weeks. They grow best when allowed to fully dry out between watering. During the summer while growing it's best to water every 3 weeks. In the winter when dormant go every 5 weeks. We know it sounds horrific but trust us it works.
Sunlight - Well of course they love full direct sunlight. A potted cactus can vary depending on the type of cacti but generally this is tried and true. If a cactus is turning yellow, or brown that means too much sun. If it is reaching out towards the sun then that means too little.
Potting soil - Shop your local nursery for the best soil for a cactus in a flowerpot. They look loose soil that is fast draining. If you can't find it then mix some perlite into your soil so that it is not compact.
Containers - As you already know you don't need a deep container for a potted cactus. The root system is very shallow so a garden bowl or bonsai pot will work perfectly. Now that doesn't mean you can't go with a bit of style and use any size you wish. It just means you DON'T have to.
See now that doesn't sound so hard and is basically pretty simple. Pay attention to your area and where you have placed the potted cactus. You may need to experiment a bit on different locations but once you find the perfect spot your cactus will let you know.
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| potted cactus, cactus in containers, potted container of cactus, terra cotta pots of cactus, cactus in pots.
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/24/2023 1:22:47 PM |
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Potted Palms |
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When you vacation do you go to the tropics? Do you love the look and feel of a tropical location? Well how about potting up some palms to use indoors or outdoors at your own home! We know it sounds like it would be difficult especially if you live in a location that is not known for having a sunny location, but trust us if you follow a few simple steps even you can duplicate that tropical feel at home.
There are a lot of varieties of palms that are sold as houseplants in most home and garden center. You should be able to find what you are looking for. Basically they make great houseplants and can stand a bit of neglect but of course will grow their best if treated properly. Potted palms can last many years so make sure you get the style you desire to get the affect you require. And, remember that potted palms get large so plan on moving it outside during the summer months to enjoy on your patio.
All palms basically require the same things. Water, sun, fertilizer. Potted palms can tolerate being under watered but do best in a moist soil, especially during the summer months. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering and dry out a bit more in the winter. Be careful not to over water. That is the number one killer.
When it comes to sunlight palms can handle low light but prefer indirect light or some shade. If you put them out during the summer make sure to keep the potted palms in the shade. Soil should be made for potted palms not garden soil. It needs to include moss or vermiculite to keep it loose and porous. We suggest purchasing the soil from a garden center that is meant for a palm.
A garden planter should be large enough to hold the palm but since they don't like to be re-potted we recommend you get one a bit over sized. Remember that if they become root bound it is not a bad thing for a potted palm. Use fertilizer for potted palms and watch out for spider mites on the potted palm is indoors. Any brown spots you can trim off but this is not harmful to the plant it just looks unsightly.
A potted palm whether indoors our outdoors requires low maintenance and will last for many years. Now is the time to create that tropical look and feel that you yearn for and a potted palm is the easiest way to do so.
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| potted palm trees, indoor potted palms, outdoor potted palm trees. potted treens in containers
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By Arizona Pottery
Post Last Updated: 8/24/2023 1:23:34 PM |
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