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Container Gardening

Patching big crack in big terra cotta pot?

claudia_sandgrower

15 years ago

I've got three aucubas in 18" terra cotta pots. One of the pots has a big crack running down/around the side... it starts at the lip and is about two-thirds of the way down the pot. Any ideas on patching it? I did a major repotting of all three just last year and really don't want to do it again so soon... these plants are HEAVY! :-\

I really love the big terra cotta containers but wish they weren't so fragile!

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Comments (2)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
15 years ago
You could try what I suggested to another forum member a little while ago - lift the plant from the pot & clean the inside around the crack. Moisten the pot and apply Gorilla Glue (moisture helps it cure). Wait for it to cure & then repot the plant. Alternately you could apply it to the outside - if you don't care what it looks like. The GG foams as it cures & ain't real pretty - but it works. You could also try an epoxy glue.

Keep the pot from freezing, or moisture will get into the crack & break the pot when it freezes & expands.

Al
claudia_sandgrower
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Al! I hadn't thought about Gorilla Glue. The pots are in a bed in front of my front porch... I can put the GG on the outside and turn the pot so the crack faces the brick... that should do until I re-pot.

I found a company out of Myrtle Beach (I think) that makes cement planters, benches, etc. and has great prices... 30.00 - 40.00 for a huge (around 25" or so; not sure of the exact diameter) pot. They have an outlet in the town my mom lives in... I'm going shopping there on Mother's Day for new planters for the aucubas!
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