How To Paint A Clay Flower Pot

Download Commodity

Download Article

If you have lots of plants, either indoors and outdoors, you may go tired of the basic reddish of clay pots. Painting dirt pots can take a few days due to drying time, but information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel and worth it for the added ornament. Y'all'll soak and scrub the pots before you paint them. It'south also important to seal the pot for moisture and apply a primer for a base coat. Y'all'll be able to paint the pot with simple colors or with intricate designs, every bit well every bit seal it to be resistant to outdoor conditions.

1
Sand the pot to smooth any rough spots. Do this outside in the grass, if you can, to reduce cleanup. If you exercise it within, or even in a garage, y'all may want to lay newspaper down so the grit doesn't get everywhere. It's likewise probably best to wear onetime dress.
- Y'all don't need to spend also long on this, just cheque for whatsoever bumps or peculiarly rough spots. If y'all don't see anything, then yous don't need to worry about sanding.
- Fifty-fifty if the pot does have bumps, you lot take the option of leaving them to add texture to the await after yous paint it.
ii
Soak the pot for one hour. This is good for new pots because it will loosen whatever stickers for easier removal. It is also proficient for pots y'all have planted in before because information technology will loosen whatever clay. If the pot has no stickers and yous can tell for certain it is make clean, it may be alright to skip the soak.^[1]
- Although yous'll have to leave the pot to dry at various stages in the process, while information technology soaks, you tin can employ the time to get together your other supplies and set your paint area.
- If you don't want to exit it for an 60 minutes, check it at 10 minute intervals and if it seems clean to your satisfaction, move forward with the process.
Advertisement
3
Scrub the pot with a brush. While soaking the pot may loosen the dirt, used pots are likely to need a scrubbing to get them completely clean. The paint will non keep even or stick properly if in that location is any dirt or debris.
- Your pots may need a soft brush so you don't scratch them too much, but if at that place are any stubborn spots y'all can switch to a wire brush for extra strength.
- If you happen to scratch the pot any while brushing it, there's no need to worry because the paint volition cover it and even it out.
iv
Permit the pot dry completely. Painting the pot while information technology is still wet will crusade the pigment not to stick, so prepare it out to dry out. If it's a sunny day, put information technology outside to dry the pot faster. The time it takes to dry may depend on the size of the pot.
- Drying may take a few hours, and then plan alee for this part and then yous don't waste material your time while you wait.
Advertizement

1
Lay newspapers down. If y'all are working inside on a tabular array or counter, make sure you lot lay newspaper, a plastic sheet, or a drop cloth downward to protect the surface from pigment. Encompass the area where the pot volition sit down and any area you lot might set up paint downwardly.
- If yous are painting outside, you may all the same want to cover difficult surfaces and so the paint doesn't stain anything.
2
Place the pot upside downwards on a jar. Doing this will keep you lot from smearing the paint while you concord the pot. You can balance the pot by putting a hand on the lesser (which will now exist on peak), because the bottom won't be painted. Use something that is big enough to balance the pot.^[2]
- You tin use a canning jar, a soup tin can, a peanut butter jar, or another cylindrical container. The size of jar you'll need will depend on the size of the pot. If you are painting a large pot, this technique may not exist an option.
- This is non mandatory, merely it is easier than holding the pot in your easily for the whole time as yous paint.
3
Seal with a waterproof sealer. It's easiest to utilize a spray sealer that's meant for concrete or brick. Since dirt pots allow water to soak through, this creates a barrier betwixt the found and the paint on the outside of the pot. Sealer is usually plant in the pigment section.^[3]
- It'southward best to do this outside, or at to the lowest degree in a well-ventilated garage. Spraying this kind of production inside is not safe.
- Drying may take up to 24 hours. Check the product instructions to be sure.
- Seal the within and outside of the pot. If yous don't seal the inside, when you h2o the found the water will soak through the pot and tin make the paint loosen and peel off.
- If your pots are decorative and will not have real plants in them, it is non necessary to seal them.
4
Prime the pot with an all-purpose primer. You can use colored primer if yous want to, particularly if yous want it to piece of work with the paint. Otherwise, a basic white primer is fine. This will help the paint stick to the pot better. Plus, primer helps cover the reddish color of the clay.
- Prime all effectually the outside, but also extend the primer at least an inch down the inside of the pot.
- Although some sources say to pigment the bottom, information technology'south best non to put any primer or pigment on the bottom of the pot every bit this can affect proper drainage.
Ad

1
Apply cream brushes to paint the pot. Bristled brushes tend to get out streaks, so using a foam castor will give you lot a more even glaze. Y'all may want a couple brushes of different sizes, especially if you desire to paint whatsoever kind of patterns on the pot.
- If y'all have bristled brushes that you want to utilise, it won't injure annihilation. Foam brushes simply work a petty better. Bristled brushes are fine for modest item work after on.
2
Record off stripes or sections. You can pigment the pot one solid color, but for more variety or for fun designs, painters record is a corking selection. With this variation, yous'll tape and paint over the record for the first coat. In one case the paint dries, y'all'll take the record off and paint the areas that were nether the record before.
- You tin re-tape over the areas you already painted so yous keep the lines betweens colors abrupt.
- Another option is to paint the entire pot with the first color, and then tape the designs y'all desire and paint once more over everything so the parts nether the tape will stay the original color.
3
Pigment the outside and one-2 inches down the inside. Y'all can use any paint y'all desire for the main coats. It's cheapest to use leftover pigment you already have effectually. Exterior or interior paints are both fine, as well equally acrylic craft paint. Spray pigment works well,too.^[4]
- Cover the unabridged outside of the pot, excluding the bottom. It'southward non necessarily harmful to paint the bottom, just information technology can't crusade the pot to not drain as well as it should.
- Also paint slightly down the within because the soil volition non go to the very top of the pot, and you well-nigh likely don't want the clay to evidence.
4
Apply actress coats of paint as needed. Depending on the paint, the color, and how thick your kickoff coat was, yous may want to apply more than one coat to get an even cover. Clay pots likewise tend to blot some of the paint, and then it'southward likely that one coat won't be plenty.
- Make certain that each coat is dry earlier you paint whatever add-on coats. If the pigment is not dry, new coats will pull the paint off of the pot.
- You can apply a different color for the second coat if you want to requite the pot a shaded look. If yous do this, you might desire to thin the second coat with water so information technology is a little more than see-through.
five
Cease the paint job with designs. Another option for further creativity is painting lines, shapes, or pictures on the pot. If you'll apply the pot for a plant with large foliage that hangs down, y'all probably don't desire to get into great detail.
- This is where you lot can make the pot as simple or equally detailed as you want. For example, you might desire to paint a detailed garden scene or you might want to paint the name of the plant in fancy messages.
half dozen
Spray the pot with an acrylic sealer. Acrylic sealer will make sure the pigment lasts longer without peeling or cracking. This is specially helpful if the pot will exist outside in the elements. Wait to put the final seal coat on until all the paint has completely dried.^[5]
- This is not mandatory, simply your pigment job will most likely not last every bit long if yous pass on sealing it.
- You lot have lots of options when it come up to sealants, but pay special attention if you lot will put the pot outside considering not all sealants are meant for all weather.
- Let the pot sit down and dry for a few more days before you plant anything in it.
seven

Finished.

Advertizement

Add together New Question

Question

What is the use of Modge Podge while making the clay pot?

When decorating dirt pots, Modge Podge (or other h2o-soluble pastes) tin be mixed with paint to prevent paint chipping, and provide a glossy finish.
Question

What is the best way to drill or expand existing holes without breaking the pot?

Use an electric drill with a masonry chip. Start slowly and increase speed and force per unit area as needed. Be patient.
Question

Is there a detail type of paint to utilise?

You tin use any pigment you want. I utilize acrylic craft paint and sometimes add together metal looking highlights with markers, paints, and rubs (silver, gold, brass, copper, whatever you lot desire). I showtime with a clean pot and use acrylic arts and crafts paint as my background and artwork. That's it! Acrylic paint is thick so you need to add water to get the desired consistency. Less water = thicker pigment which doesn't soak into the clay. More h2o = thinner paint which is swell for designs and shading. But play with it, and you'll find what works for you.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertizement

Video

Since the pot needs to dry after soaking, afterwards yous spray with sealer, afterwards yous paint, and after you seal again, this process will nigh likely take a few days total, even though the work time is only a couple of hours.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advert

Things Yous'll Need

Sandpaper
Newspapers
Bucket or tub for soaking
Brush
Empty jar or cylindrical container
Clay pots
Waterproof sealer
Primer
Tape, painter's or masking
Pigment
Foam paint brushes
Acrylic sealer

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

To paint clay pots, get-go by sanding the surface, then wash the pot and let it dry completely. Next, apply a waterproof sealer to the exterior, followed by a coat of all-purpose primer. Then, apply a coat of acrylic pigment in the color of your option with a foam brush. If yous want to brand the color look more than vibrant, you tin add together boosted coats of paint, letting each coat dry completely before adding a new 1. Finally, employ an acrylic sealer to lock in the color and prevent the pigment from peeling or cracking. To learn about using masking record to create different designs, read on!

Did this summary help y'all?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 227,734 times.