Potted

Flower pot

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Flower pot

Jiffy pots; plant pots which are biodegrable and may be planted directly into the soil

Victorian decorative flower pots at Kindrogan House, Enochdu, Scotland

A flower pot or plant pot is a container (such as a pot) in which flowers and other plants are cultivated. Historically, and still to a significant extent today, they are made from terracotta. Flower pots are now often made from plastic, wood, stone, or sometimes biodegradable material. An example of biodegradable pots are the so-called “Jiffy” pots. Often there are holes in the bottom, to allow excess water to flow out, sometimes to a saucer that is placed under the flower pot. The plant can use this water with its roots, as needed. Recently, some flower pots have been made with an automatic watering system, using a reservoir.

1 Flower pots
2 Gallery
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
6 Media in category “Planters”

Flower pots

Flower pots have a number of uses, from transporting plants to new locations, starting seeds, patio and indoor cultivation of plants, and the growing of tender plants in colder regions indoors.^[1] Through the centuries, the use of flower pots has influenced the horticultural use of plants, and the Egyptians were among the first to use pots to move plants from one location to another. The Romans brought potted plants inside during cold weather. In the 18th century, pots were used to ship breadfruit seedlings from Tahiti to the West Indies. Also Orchids, African violets and Pelargonium geraniums were shipped in pots from other parts of the world, including Africa, to North America and Europe.^[2]

In the 18th century, Josiah Wedgwood‘s flower pots were as popular as his famous dinner-ware, they were often highly decorative and used as table centrepieces.^[3]

In Athens, earthenware flower pots were thrown into the sea during the festival of the Gardens of Adonis. Theophrastus, c. 371 – c. 287 BC, mentions that a plant called southern-wood was raised and propagated in pots because it was difficult to grow.^[4]

The top of the flower pot underneath the rim is commonly known as the shoulder or collar and can aid handling.

Gallery

Meillandine rose in a terra cotta flower pot
A flower pot with straw, constructed to attract and house dermaptera-species
Giant flower pot

References

Look up flower pot in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

^ “Etaerio – A Plant News Weblog: The History of the Flowerpot”. Ubcbotanicalgarden.org. 2004-09-07. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/weblog/000511.php. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
^ “In praise of the flowerpot / The Christian Science Monitor”. CSMonitor.com. 2004-08-18. http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0818/p14s02-liga.html. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
^ Meteyard, Eliza (1866). The Life of Josiah Wedgwood: From His Private Correspondence and Family Papers.. Hurst and Blackett. p. 154. http://books.google.com/books?id=BE8EAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA154&.
^ Birch, Samuel (1858). History of Ancient Pottery. J. Murray. p. 202. http://books.google.com/books?id=YJsEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA202&.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Planters

The archaeology of the flowerpot in England and Wales c. 1650-1950 C.K. Currie; Garden History 21.2, 227-46 (1993)

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Media in category “Planters”

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