What's so great about using clay for pots?
Clay is quintessential Earth. It is free of organic matter (which rots and burns), uniform, fine textured, stable. It won't burn but can melt at given temperatures - a useful trait. When heated to the right temperature, clay becomes like rock (vitrified.) It is cheap. It can be found in many places - the result of weathering and erosion and settling of earth - as fine sediment in watery basins.
But the thing I really like about clay is I can form it into the shapes of my fantasies. Clay can be squeezed and smeared, pushed and pulled, carved and poured. You can "throw" it! Clay moves for you. When you take away your hands, the clay stays put in exactly the form you leave it. It will stay that way forever given the right treatment. What other material can so well accommodate our fantasy life? Look at any collection of ceramic art. Crazy stuff! All springing from fantasy.
And clay makes a fine nest for our plants.
The art of ceramics is the transfer of our fantasies into real objects using clay. Real things. Things that, once you've removed your hands, there there they are: real. Clay is the place to leave your footprints. As dinosaurs did walking through sediments, now fossilized and on display in museums.
And the art of ceramics is a place for your plants.
So, given the clay, what do you do with it? More on that later...
Having fun with semperviven and stone crop...
So you want to make clay pots for your plants? How to start?
As mentioned in my first post, you will need access to a kiln. And clay. And time. And a place to work.
But really, the first thing you need is the framework: What are you trying to do and why?
I find it is best not to pay much attention to what the rest of the world is thinking. For instance, in the case of pots, most folks think they should be a certain way. Like round. With a level rim. With drain hole. But what if you made up your own rules? You know your plants, right? You know they need soil for their roots? So the pot should be able to hold soil for roots. You know where the pots will sit? So the pot should be of a certain size. Beyond that, you can do as you like. The thing has to stand up. That is enough. Physics and plant physiology govern what will work as a container for plants. What the rest of the world thinks is beside the point. To be creative, one must ignore the rules.
The next thing is the clay. If you intend to use clay to make your pots, you must know clay. There is a lot of information out there of course, and I will not even try to pass that on to you. What you should do, though, is to plug into a community, or a craft business, or some sort of infrastructure (for me it was auditing pottery classes at a community college) that can support your making of pots. There should be someone you can ask questions of. A place where you can apply glazes (if you want to). A place you can have your pots fired.
Once you have secured that infrastructure, you are ready to start building.
Just remember; other than the laws of physics and physiology, you are free to make anything you want. The clay just has to stand up.
More about clay later.
PotterK
Hello Gardeners
Like you, I spend my happiest days with hands in the dirt.
It started with planting seeds as a child. Then came the serious veggie garden while the kids grew up.
Then, with extra time on my hands, I decided to make my own pots of clay. That was twelve years ago.
After a while, though, I came to realize that the making of pots also kept my hands in the dirt. A different kind of dirt.
So now, when it rains or winter keeps me inside, I mess with the clay. Not just to make pots for plants, but to have fun.
Anyone can do this - all you need is access to a kiln, clay, time and a place to work.
And someone to coach you. I could do some of that - if anyone is interested in giving it a try.
It is a fine way to spend the time.
Attached are some samples. If you want to see more go to akvkceramics.com
PotterK
