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Yummy - Easy - Healthy Potted Garlic |
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Looking for something easy to plant and grow in a decorative patio
pot, something healthy to eat, wonderful to smell, and looks good in a garden
planter? GARLIC!
If you have never tried to grow garlic in a garden container and watch it grow
so you can harvest it, then you are missing out for sure. It’s really so easy and fun to do. Great for kids and older adults alike. Just follow a few easy tips and you can have great success growing your potted garlic.

As we all know, garlic is one of the most popular herbs you can
grow. It’s used in almost all recipes
from spaghetti sauce, to stir fry and everything in between. Garlic is
reported to be a wonderful medicinal plant owing to its preventive
characteristics in cardiovascular diseases, regulating blood pressure, lowering
blood sugar and cholesterol levels, effective against bacterial, viral, fungal
and parasitic infections, enhancing the immune system and so much more.

The first thing to consider is the
right type of garlic to plant in your flowerpot. If you live in a cold climate purchase Hard
neck. The Soft neck kind is better for warmer climates. You can google this for more
information. The second thing to
consider is where you will place the garden containers once they are
planted. The best place to locate your
pottery is where they will get full sun.
A patio area or yard and garden area where they can get direct sun
without an overhang or awning.

When selecting the container to grow
the garlic in you will need one that is at least 6 inches (15 cm.) deep and has
excellent drainage. The garden container also needs to be big enough
to leave 6 inches (15 cm.) of space between cloves. We recommend a terracotta planter, window box,
or garden bowl because the clay breathes and is healthy for the soil and
garlic to get good air circulation. But
most any garden container will yield success.

Start with fresh potting mix. Don’t reuse mix from year after year in any
of your flowerpots, because the garlic will deplete the nutrients in the soil. Separate the cloves carefully and set them
into the mix pointy side up about 4 to 6 inches into the soil. Space apart.
Top with soil and mulch the planter.

Don’t overwater these planters. Allow the soil to dry a bit between watering
but never dry out completely. Feed each
flowerpot with fertilizer during the active growing season to help things
along. Stop fertilizing the potted
garlic mid-summer when the leaves begin to turn brown and die back. You will know when to harvest when half or
more of the leaves have died. That is
the time to dig up the bulbs.

Dig them up being careful not to
bruise or cut them. Lay them out to dry
for 2 to 3 weeks in a shady area or in a garage. When the roots feel brittle, rub them off
along with excess dirt, but leave the papery skins intact. You can now store them in bunches, braid them
or cut off the stems a few inches above the bulb. Store on a screen or shelf where they will
get good cool, dry air.
See how simple this all is. You just do a few things the right way and
the garlic will reward you with healthy, plentiful amounts of cloves for use |
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garlic potted, garlic in flowerpots, potted garlic, grow garlic in flowerpots, garden containers, pottery, planters, pots, arizona pottery |
By Arizona Pottery Post Last Updated: 1/20/2020 2:55:15 PM |
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Winter Wonderland of Garden Containers |
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Right now, the earth is quiet. Winter is upon us and there isn’t much going
on in our yard and garden areas. Let’s
talk about adding some décor to our stark and barren landscape planters. If you think it takes a lot of decorative
talent to create unusual and inexpensive garden containers then you would be
wrong.
Below we are going to show you examples of simple, easy, and
cheap ways to “dress up” your garden pottery that are doable no matter if you
have flower arranging skills or not. So,
let’s dive right in.
One great tip for most of these planters is the word “stuff”. We recommend that this not be the time you
skimp on materials. When you are filling
empty planters for winter, you need to fill them with as many decorative items
as you can. The more the merrier is
really germane here. So, stuff them up!

Berry Branches: A
natural yet simple terracotta garden pot is crammed with all kinds of assorted
plant materials. The main theme is dark
green and red. Fill the pot with
branches of assorted conifers, graceful cedar, spiky holly, and juniper. Drape limp branches over the sides and stand
stiff sticks in the center to create height and flow. Once finished with all the greens, place the
berry branches with emphasis on different heights. You don’t need a lot here just splats of
color nestled among the branches.
Simple, natural and truly superb.

Feathers & Pods: A small low-profile
planter is filled with all kinds of fun objects with very little emphasis on
greens. The evergreens are almost an afterthought. Place bundles of cinnamon sticks, pinecones,
moss balls, quail feathers inside the garden bowl till it is filled. Add bundles of dried pots and curly willow
around the bundles. Finish by adding a
sprig or two of limp cedar and eucalyptus in and around the bundles. Just push anything you can find laying in the
yard or around the patio into and between the bigger items. This is planter arrangement is perfect for a
patio table or porch area.

Wire Sphere & Twinkle Lights: This winter garden urn is for the person who
wants elegance for little fuss. Any
empty planter works great for this look.
Purchase a wire sphere from any craft store. String little twinkle lights around it and
that is pretty much it. Make sure the
home and garden urns are placed near an electrical outlet or that one is
located close by. Plug it in and you
have an imaginative, impressive and really inexpensive decorative vase.

Winter Window Box Planter:
Another really easy idea to copy.
Take green spruce or graceful cedar branches and start on the outside
and front first. Place the branches
inside the planter with the ends sticking out the side and draping over the
front of the window. Then add the top and
center, following the same thing. Just
keep sticking branches in until you get the look you want. Once all branches are mixed together, they
will create a woven pattern which helps to keep them all from moving. Then top them off with a few branches of
pussy willow. It adds softness and texture to the overall window box.
We hope these few ideas can help you to create artistic
garden planters for your porch, patio, home or garden areas. Just because it’s pretty sparse outside
doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up a bit!
Share your thoughts below. We love to hear from you!
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winter garden containers, planters, pottery, window boxes, diy, easy, inexpensive planters, pots, arizonapottery |
By Arizona Pottery Post Last Updated: 1/7/2020 10:30:37 AM |
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Give Terracotta Pottery A Second Look |
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Arizona Pottery has been in the pottery industry since 2000. We have seen and continue to see all kinds of trends come and go when it comes to choices of garden planters. Fiberglass, Poly Resin, High Fired, Low Fired, Concrete, Black Clay, Terracotta the list goes on and on.
Why did we start with red terracotta and it continues to be our best seller? Because it is timeless. Terra cotta pots have been around for ages and they tend to come and go in popularity but in this post, we want to discuss some of the pros and cons.
When it comes to cons when using terra cotta flowerpots and garden planters the list is pretty short.
* Dry out quickly.
* Breakdown over time.
* Become heavy once planted.
* Discolor over time
* Plain and boring
So let’s look at a few pros on why they are basically timeless and still popular.

HEALTH
Healthy for a plant’s, roots – Did you know that terra cotta clay breathes? Yes, it is very healthy for all plants root systems. Because the clay “breathes” it will also show the chemicals that are in your potting mix or fertilizer. Every time you water the potted plant, the water soaks into the clay, eventually seeping out, the clay will start to show a calcium build up or white lines and markings. This is loved and appreciated by many terracotta owners. So much so that they try to age their planters by applying milk to the outside so that moss will grow and the pot will look aged faster than the natural process.

WEIGHT
Terracotta planters are not known for being the heaviest garden containers around but once they are filled with damp potting mix, they can become quite heavy. This is great if you are planting a tree or shrub and the yard pot is placed in a spot where it will receive some wind. Lightweight or Fiberglass containers will blow over very easily. If you need added weight you can always put a brick or rocks in the bottom of the planter before adding the potting mix. Just make sure you have it placed where you want it since you won’t be able to move it easily.

DISCOLORATION
One of the worse and most popular reasons for using terracotta is the aging process that naturally occurs. Like we stated above green thumb gardeners won’t use anything else and rejoice in the aging process. It is a sign of beauty and age that can hardly be duplicated. If you are the type who likes their containers to look brand new then Terracotta is not the planter for you.

PLAIN/BORING
Yes, terracotta is ageless and is seen everywhere. Maybe you need something different a bit more modern or contemporary. Terra cotta pottery is considered traditional, timeless and naturalistic, all good things but maybe not your thing. That is fine. If you like the look of clay but not clay itself there are resin pots that are textured and come in the terracotta color that will stand up to an explosion. Unless someone walks up and knocks on the planter they will not know it’s not the real clay of terracotta.

So, these are the best pros and cons that we can think of today. How about you? What do you like or not like about Terracotta garden planters and containers.
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clayflowerpots, terracotta, clay pots, planters, pots, terra-cotta |
By Arizona Pottery Post Last Updated: 2/19/2019 3:10:51 PM |
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Winter and Garden Pottery |
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Winter and Garden Pottery
Not everyone lives in the same type of climate. Like us here in Arizona have pretty mild Winters. It does get cold but the sky is mostly blue, clear and sunny. Back on the East Coast, we know that is not the case. Well, where you live can dictate what types of garden planters you choose to grow in and decorate with.
If you are one of the lucky ones that can move large or small containers into a garage or potting shed there are a few steps you need to follow. Start by removing all plant materials and potting soil. Now is a great time to compost but whether you do or not doesn’t make a difference. The pots need to be cleaned out!

Start by scrubbing the outside and inside with a soft brush and 10 parts water to 1- part bleach. Let them dry completely. Then move them for added protection. It is not always possible to move extra large pots, so follow these instructions instead. Clean them out if possible and lift them up off the ground with pot feet or wood boards. This keeps them from freezing and cracking.
For large pots with plants that are not seasonal, you will need to lay a layer of mulch across the top. This creates a layer between the cold freezing weather and the potting soil, where the plant's roots live. It also helps if you can wrap the planter with burlap or bubble wrap. This also creates a barrier of protection between the cold and the fragile planter.

Pots and garden containers can be expensive. Unless you don’t mind replacing your pottery on a regular basis it’s best to provide any protection you can so that the pots will last and last for many years.
Terracotta is meant to retain moisture so these are the most likely to crack. You need to keep them covered with a plastic bag so water doesn’t seep into the clay. If it does and the weather freezes then these types of garden containers will crack. Materials that do well in Winter are concrete, sandstone, frost proof glazed planters or fiberglass and polyresin. These materials are meant to repel water. But, as a caution remember if a glazed pot cracks or chips, water will find it and seep in. Then it’s just a matter of time before the pot will break down.

So, hopefully, this information is helpful. Take care, be wise and you will help your home and garden containers last for many years!
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By Arizona Pottery Post Last Updated: 2/19/2019 12:50:27 PM |
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How To Select A Garden Container |
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There are many things you need to consider when choosing
garden containers for your home and garden needs. Let’s start with the obvious and that is what
is the planter going to be used for? Are
you looking for a garden pot to grow herbs and vegetables in? Is this planter more for beauty and décor or
is it to fill a blank area on the patio or porch.

Terracotta garden pottery has been around longer than any
other substance besides baskets. It is
made out of clay that breathes and is considered most healthy for a plants root
system. Terracotta is rustic and natural
looking and comes in many styles and sizes.
As you must know a clay garden pot can only come so large. This is
because they are fired inside a kiln and kilns are only so large. The larger
the clay pot the more issues with cracks forming while being fired.

So, if you want a large garden planter you need to consider
them made from mixes that can be poured into molds and cured over time instead
of being fired in a kiln. Concrete,
Sandstone and Poly Resin can all be made in huge sizes since they are made with
molds. They are durable and long lasting
which is what you want and need if you are using a large planter.

Glazed or ceramic colored pottery is great because it comes
in shiny, colors and finishes. Blue,
Red, Green etc and so many more, where you can match your garden pottery to your
home or landscape décor. These pots are
usually durable but only frost resistant which means they can’t handle the cold
freezing temperatures. Glazed garden
pots are perfect for indoors where they add interest and beauty along with function
to your homes design and décor.

Do you live in an apartment where you need a lightweight
container where you can move it around, fill it up or take it with you when your
needs change over time? Then poly resin
is the way to go. This is not an ordinary plastic pot but a commercial grade
non-fade, will never crack, chip or warp or break. With 32 color choices these are the super
choice for indoors or outdoors.

We hope we gave you a few things to think about. Call 800-420-1808 if you have further
questions.
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picking pots, selecting planters, pottery, planters, pots, |
By Arizona Pottery Post Last Updated: 10/24/2018 2:13:03 PM |
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Prep Tips For Fall Containers |
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How to prep your garden containers for Fall
It’s much easier to turn a spent Summer garden container
into a Fall planter than you think. Just
follow some easy tips provided below and create wonderful Fall planters.

Don’t leave your entryway garden containers empty this time
of year. Now is perfect for seasonal
color and rust grasses. Evergreen
foliage will add life to any type or style of landscape container. When you visit your local garden center you
should see lots of Fall colored mums.
Bright yellow, orange and reds, deep burgundy, purple and gold.

Simply by adding a center mum and surrounding it with
pumpkins, gourds and succulents you can create a wonderful Fall planter that
will take you into winter and welcome your guest with warmth and beauty. Plant rustic grass in the center of a
terracotta planter then surround it with ornamental kale and cabbage with dark
deep greens and purple leaves.

Instead of just planting typical green houseplants in your
entryway planters how about herbs like cilantro, thyme and oregano? They can all handle the cooler weather. Plant trailing ivy, gold mums and red flowers
in your garden container of choice and then set pumpkins and gourds around the
outside of the pot. You don’t even have
to plant anything.

Try mixing dark purple and deep green of kale and cabbage
and fill around the outside of the pot with mini WHITE pumpkins and create a
purple and white display of color. Stunning & elegant!
One tip that you can never fail at it to over stuff your
pottery. Mix lots of plants, greens and ornamental items without space between
them. This creates a full and colorful
display. By using a neutral based color
planter like terracotta or taupe you can mix tons of colors in the pot and they
will all look grand.
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fall containers, home and garden for fall, fall pottery, fall planters |
By Arizona Pottery Post Last Updated: 10/24/2018 1:25:26 PM |
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Turn Baskets Into Garden Planters |
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We love to see baskets used as garden planters. Any type of container that can be reused,
recycled or re-purposed is a plus for us, for you and for the environment. A basket container adds so much texture, and
interest to your porch or patio that it has to be encouraged and
implemented.

If you don’t have a favorite basket that you no longer want
indoors or if you need to purchase baskets to turn into garden planters, then
look no further than a thrift store or garage sale. Most folks have them already laying around
because they make the most wonderful ways to organize all kinds of household
items.

Like with any flowerpot start by thinking about what you
want to pot. Are you into houseplants or
colorful flowers. Do you need a small
basket planter for a table-scape or will this stand alone holding a large tree
or shrub? Is the baskets pretty worn
looking and could use a touch of color or is the beauty of the rattan lovely in
it’s natural state?

Start by painting it or not. Then the most important step is
to spray a couple of coats of a protectant clear sealer. This will help the basket to last longer and
is a very inexpensive step to follow. If
you don’t want to pot directly into the basket you will need to line it with a
garbage bag that is cut to fit. If the
basket pot has a tight weave you can plant directly into it. Make sure the bag doesn’t show at the
top. You want to poke a few drain holes
in the bottom of the bag.

Next add some pea gravel, rocks or pot shards to the
bottom. This helps with the basket
planter drainage and to hold the basket down if it gets windy outside. Follow the rocks with potting mix but only
fill about 2/3 full. Because you will
need room for the plants and don’t want them all the way to the top of the
basket container.

Lastly, once the plants are potted, you can add some more
soil to cover the roots but don’t pack to hard and don’t fill the basket to
full and you should be good to go.
Display this lovely basket planter on the porch next to the front door,
on the patio on a table or anywhere you want some texture, color and beauty.
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Basket pottery, home and garden, planters, pots, pottery, arizonapottery, gardenpottery, DIY, |
By Arizona Pottery Post Last Updated: 10/24/2018 2:15:52 PM |
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What is a "spill" pot? |
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What is a "Spill" pot?
Well to us here at Arizona Pottery it is a garden planter that has been turned on it's side, placed on the ground and has flowers or grass growing out of it. It's a garden container that looks like it has flowers, or colorful grasses spilling out of the inside onto the ground surrounding it.

The look that we are referring to is not something new in the gardening community. Turning a flowerpot on it's side has been around for a long time. We just wanted to show you some of the great designs that we are seeing resurface online.

If you have a large yard and would like to mix it up a bit we think adding a "spill" pot to the landscape can create a unconventional look that is both interesting and functional. Some of the designs we are seeing have the pot completely filled and overflowing with plant materials. While other pots have just a few coming out the mouth of the planter.
Many planters only spill for a few inches while others have plants flowing out for many yards across the ground. Of course it all depends on how much room you have and what kind of design you are looking for. Do you like green succulents and cacti spill out or would you prefer lots of colorful blooming flowers? Now is the time to get creative and have fun.

We recommend you stand back and think about what you need when it comes to the size of the planter and then choose the plant materials accordingly. Don't use tiny small flowers in a large wide mouth landscape pot. If you like tall ornamental grass spilling out then maybe a large pot is necessary. Ask yourself if you like a water jar shaped pot that looks like it has blue flowers spilling out like a liquid. Maybe this is the time for colored glass beads or painted stones.

So, now you know what a "Spill" pot is. If you give this idea a go share with us your photos. We would love to see them.
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spill pots, spilling planters, spill containers, gardening, gardens |
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By ArizonaPottery Post Last Updated: 6/27/2018 3:17:05 PM |
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Beautiful Container Tips |
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When you think of a summer patio, porch or garden area what do you imagine? Furniture, water feature and of course large garden containers filled with flowers & sweet smelling plants. In this post we would like to share a few tips we hope that you haven't thought of and find helpful.
Every year you notice that by mid summer your garden containers are looking a bit worn, tired and faded. When the temps keep climbing your planters keep shriveling and you wonder what can you do. Here are a few tips we think are good.

1. Pick a perfect pot for your plants and flowers. Make sure you start with a container that is not too small. If the pot is to small it will crowd the potted plants roots and the plant will suffer. The roots of a healthy plant need room to grow, availability to water and nutrients from the potting mix. Containers to large will hold moisture leading to rotting roots, lack of oxygen and basically drowning. Fungus loves moist areas and this is not good for your flowers or plants.

2. Have a plan in advance. A garden center can be like a toy store for adults. You want to get everything you see from colorful flowers to garden containers. Impulse buying isn't always the best way to go. Choose plants that are good for your area. Make sure you place the planters in the best conditions for that type of plants needs for light and climate, direct sun or shade. Mix up the container with plants of different heights and blooming schedules so the planter stays fresh longer and has a interesting look.

3. Start with good potting mix. We can't stress this enough. Never use ground dirt. It doesn't have the nutrient rich properties your flowers will need. Get a moisture retaining plant mix during summer to help with the heat and drying out of soil. Add fertilizer to the mix and keep it loose and crumbly. You don't want compact, hard dirt that the plants roots will struggle to get thru. Fill your pottery with loose, healthy soil.

4. Keep your garden containers groomed. It's not just because the pottery will look better but it's healthier for your plants and flowers to keep them dead headed and cleaned up. Who wants a dead stem or branch hanging on sucking up nutrients, and moisture. Keep them free of infestation of bugs that are attracted to damaged leaves, stems and petals.
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Honestly it doesn't take much to keep your garden planters looking lovely all summer long.
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By ArizonaPottery Post Last Updated: 6/26/2018 2:31:17 PM |
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Creative Containers |
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We want to provide some fresh container ideas to brighten up your garden or patio areas. Give some of these ideas a go and let us know how they work out for you.
If you have to have a habit when it comes to your garden and patio areas why not make it trying to create new planters for your home. Planted pots offer color, fragrance and beauty to all areas of your home. By using beautiful flowers or lots of green houseplants you can create wonderful combinations that are decorative.

When thinking about how to create wonderful and healthy garden containers you have a number of things to consider. Start with the plants needs. Most colorful containers start with considering the soil, water, food and light needs your plants need. You don't want water logged roots which will rot if there are no drain holes in the pottery. Make sure to replenish nutrients that leach from the soil by fertilizing containers weekly.

Choose sunny spots if necessary. When you choose plants think about where that container will sit when it comes to sun needs. Try not to mix plants that have different needs so that they will all get along at the same time. Avoid mixing them up to much and try planting one type of plant or flower at a time.

Make sure you use the correct potting soil so that your plants are given the best shot for a healthy production of color and growth. When picking plants pick a combination of richly hued foliage and ruffled leaves and texture if possible. Finally clustering containers together makes a wonderful and colorful display that really brightens up a porch or patio.
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potted containers, garden, home and garden, flowerpots |
By ArizonaPottery Post Last Updated: 2/28/2018 3:08:51 PM |
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