Are plastic or terracotta planters better?
Gardeners with a heavy hand at watering tend to over-water; their plants will probably benefit from clay. Other gardeners who wait for the wilting signal from their plants are better off with plastic. Plants which demand a well-drained, dry soil like cacti also prefer clay pots. Avoid terra-cotta pots for moisture-loving plants like ferns, Venus flytraps, and peace lilies since the porous clay dries out the soil quickly. Outdoor evergreens need frost-resistant pots—standard terra-cotta may crack in winter unless it’s a high-quality variety like Italian Impruneta.However, terracotta pots do have one downside. Because they are so porous, the soil dries out quickly in hot weather over the summer months – forcing me to water every day, if not twice a day.In this case, a frostproof pot with a drainage hole is important. Fiberglass, lead, iron, heavy plastic, and stone are the best weather-resistant containers to use; terra-cotta will eventually expand and crack with repeated freezing and thawing.