234 Garden vases

”A vase of unbaked clay, when broken, may be remoulded, but not a baked one.” (Leonardo da Vinci) Outdoor vases decorate gardens, terraces, balconies and patios making them nice to live in while enhancing the climate. Plants improve the microclimate, purify air, regulate humidity and decrease noise. In inhabited spaces they reduce polluting gases like CO2, NOx, CO, SO2, O3 and atmospheric particulate.
Choosing the right vase for our plants determines their durability. The wrong shape, material and color could make the plants die in no time. The first thing to consider is certainly the material. The market offers different kinds of material: classic terracotta, plastic, metal, wood and stone. Terracotta is the most used material because clay is porous and lets water evaporate. The pores in the clay may also let fungi and bacteria into the vase and in the soil. Also plastic is a very common material because it’s light and very unexpensive. Plastic doesn’t let water through and that may cause the roots to go rotten because the soil doesn’t drain fast enough. Other materials like wood, stone and metal are prefered as vase holders and not like plant holders.

The second factor to take into account is the size. If the vase is too small the plant suffers while if it’s too big you will have to use too much water. Nurserymen say that you choose a vase on the basis of the plant’s growth speed so you better get information about the plant when you buy it. Also the color is important. A pale color will reflect sunlight so it will keep earth cooler while a vase in darker colors will absorb sunrays making the inner part of the vase warmer. Ask the nurseryman which is the best compromise between the right color and good looks. ... More ... less