Actually, Jojo, I think it COULD be the pot, as weird as that sounds. I have pots that are so very cool that I keep and try to grow plants in and never have any success. Then I read, a few years ago, that some paints that are fired into ceramics can be toxic to plants. Maybe true, maybe not - can someone here confirm/disprove/debate? If it's true, is there something we can "coat" the inside of the pot with that would "block" any toxins??

I do like what you've done with your strawberry pot!

Denise in Omaha

Paint is not fired into ceramics. Some ceramics are painted and maybe the paint is heat cured. Those are rare and the treatment is very temporary. Glazes are made with a glass forming agent (silica) and a Flux to melt the silica at a certain temperature. low fire glazes usually use Lead as a flux, especially if it has bright colors. Gerstly borate or colemanite (sp?) is another low fire flux that is friendlier but mexican ware usually does not use it. I am not sure if plants are hugely susceptible to lead in the way we are. Some glazes are 50% lead The colorants are usually metal oxides like Iron oxide (green , red brown), Cobalt oxide (blue) nickel oxide (brown), Chrome oxide(green), ...... Usually the amount used of the colorants is under 6% of the recipe. Cobalt is used in measurements under 3% usually. I have an unglazed pot that kills plants. I think it is the shape of that one.

Denise,
I like your way of thinking..But, I think it's me..LOL! I could never keep them moist enough in this pot. The ONLY one that did ripen, hubby called the $500 strawberry! LOL!!! He behaved after I reminded him of all the $$ spent on fishing trips, with no fish.. he he...

I belive there is a finish you can get at places like home depot that is used on wood salad bowls and gourds to be used for food. I will look in my gourd books tomorrow.

wantonamara~ Thanks for all that info! Do you do ceramics as a hobby/living? I would love to learn that.

I filled the center of this with styrafoam. It has a minimum amount of potting mix and good drainage for these. It seems to be working.

Hi all...I agree I think it is the shape of the pot...
this big olong pot full of soil that stays wet...and these little bump outs that dry out fast...
I have one of thoses pots also and on the top I planted a small tea rose which did well and then the others I but in hen and chicks and they all died...I seen it planted that way in a garden center..thought it would work....nope....
JoJo I like yours, looks very healty and full...can I ask what the name of the plant in the top?...I have one of thoses....linda

Hi Linda,
Thank you! Yes, they are growing good. It's getting A.M sun and filtered the rest of the day.

The little side pockets do dry out pretty fast, so that's why I thought it would be good for these plants. I water it once a week.

The spotted one on top?
I'm guessing that's what your asking. That is Ledebouria socialis aka Spotted Squill~ or Silver Leopard or Silver Squill. I know.. some of these plants end up with a ton of names, LOL! I got the info from Denverplants.com. It's a popular house plant, and it says does best in bright indirect light.

Nice use of the pot!
I see some Portulacaria afras in there! The variegated form - with it's white/green leaves and red stems - will look superb against the white container.

Josh

Hi Josh,
Thank you!
Yes, there are a few Portulacaria afras. I love the bright green of the new growth! The white/green one is only about 2" tall! LOL! I can't wait for that to get growing!

I'm anxious to learn to work with them and learn the art of Bonsia's!

Here the strawberry pots are far better for succulents than they are for strawberries. Yours looks good!

Thank you hoovb.

It's been sitting in my yard for the last year empty driving me nuts! LOL!

It wasn't cheap and didn't want to just toss it. :)

I have a 55 inch high strawberry pot which i plain to put chicks any advise?

Love it, JoJo! Especially the Ledebouria, which I also have. I grow mine in a bright east window, and it seems to enjoy the sun.

Many years ago, I had a shorter strawberry jar... Mexican in origin, judging by the colorful paint... and it never seemed to moisten evenly when I watered it. I saw an article in a magazine about that... it said to solve the issue, use a piece of pvc pipe, drilled all over with holes, and plant that in the center of the pot before filling with medium and plants. Then, you would pour water down the pipe, and it should distribute fairly evenly through the little holes drilled all over the length of the pipe.

I never tried it, myself... but it sounded like a good idea!

I would think, though, that succulents would do pretty good in a strawberry jar... and apparently, the ones you've got seem to like it! Great growing, JoJo!

This may or may not help, put the soil in first, pack it down and make sure there are no air pockets then poke the plants into the pockets, make sure the pockets are full of soil, and the roots well placed, then water in to settle you may need to add more soil once a week, in the summer water from the top thoroughly so it hits all of the roots, then water the pockets separately the plant on the top should not be so big as to take up all the root space so the little ones have no place to grow. Be sure to feed at least once a week with a liquid spray fertilizer, after you water, turn the planter weekly, so all sides get some some sun, once a month. Now I don't do this I have just too many plants. My Strawberry planter is just too heavy now. Norma

I have a terra cotta strawberry pot that I'd like to plant with succulents. Or cacti. Maybe portulaca, but I'd love to have an indoor planter of house plants.

The PVC idea sounds like a good one to me!

Lee

WOW, this is an old thread! I ran across my name in it, and thought I was listening to a stranger. That said, I saw a strawberry pot with Aloe grandidentata planted in it and it was gorgeous. The aloes opened like starfish on the sides. I think I am going to have to copy it once I kill my strawberry plants. Plants are healthy but not one strawberry yet.