For the avid balcony gardener or even people who simply enjoy plants in clay pots, there comes a time when those pots start looking a little tired and applying a coat of paint may just be the answer to giving them a new lease on life! So, if you are looking to add more colour to your home garden, paint up a storm with your flowerpots.
What you’ll need to clean the pots:
- Scrub brush or pot brush
- White vinegar
- Utility tub for large terracotta planters or a bucket or sink for smaller pots
Step 1: Remove any loose dirt from the pot. Use your pot brush to clean as much dirt off the clay pots as you can. You don’t need to be super finicky here as you are going to soak the pots in a vinegar/water solution.
Step 2: Use 1 cup of white vinegar for every 3-4 cups of water. The less vinegar you use in the water, the longer you’ll need to soak the pots. Completely submerge the clay pots in the solution and although you may hear a fizzing noise sounds or see bubbles, it’s the clay pot absorbing the water. Soak for 20-30 minutes and if the dirt/build up comes off easily, they’re done. You may need to use your pot brush to scrub some of the residue off if it’s stubborn.
Step 3: Ensure that they dry completely before moving on to the next step. Depending on the size of the pot, drying time can take anywhere from overnight to a few days for the pots to dry completely.
Materials needed for painting your pots:
- Foam sponge paint brushes
- Craft paint brushes
- Universal Plaster Primer (Water-Based or Oil-Based)
- Universal Acrylic Sealer
- Assorted PVA wall paints or a selection of artist’s acrylics
- Newspaper
Step 1: Lay down newspaper where you will be painting your pots.
Step 2: With the foam sponge brush apply a coat of Universal Plaster Primer as it serves as both a sealer and a primer and can be overcoated with a wide range of Universal Water and Solvent Based Products. Wait for it to dry thoroughly.
Step 3: Apply your base cover coat/s of PVA paint with a craft brush or foam sponge, depending on the area you need to cover. How many coats you use depends on the quality of your paint, if you want any of the pot showing through, and what colour paint you are using. While you don’t have to wait for the paint to dry completely in between coats, it should be at least 75% dry before adding more paint. It can be sticky to the touch, but not wet. You don’t need to paint the very underside of your pot as no one will see, and neither the complete inside. – only up to where the inside may be seen.
Step 4: For your details. Once painted (step 3), let them dry completely before moving on to the next step of adding more creative details. Drying might take longer than you anticipated as clay flowerpots absorb water and paint, so give them a minimum of 24 hours before you continue. Remember that the thicker the base layer of paint, the longer you need to allow them to dry.
Step 5: Paint on your design with PVA/artist’s paints.
Step 6: Allow to dry thoroughly.
Step 7: Apply Universal Acrylic Sealer to seal your pots. While this is a water-based binder used as a base coat for various substrates before the application of a topcoat, it is also good for an overcoat/sealer and will enhance the sheen of the paint underneath
.Step 8: Stand back and admire your masterpieces!