How to take care of your planter

The care you provide to your planter depends on the material, zinc, wood and terracotta that require special requirements. The modern composite of these material, also made up of fiber, does not require any special treatment, but be sure to be careful to transport them.

Zinc

Zinc planters are produced in a two-step process that involves hot dip galvanizing and applying a coating / protection. Hot dip galvanizing coats the steel in a layer of zinc, which acts as a layer that absorbs corrosive materials before they can reach the underlying metal. The planter is then coated, applying a finish.

While zinc offers unparalleled corrosive resistance, it is unfortunately still vulnerable to mechanical damage and soil impurities (trace elements). The former exposes the underlying steel to the elements, causing a reaction that produces ferrous hydroxide (rust). The latter can cause the zinc to react, depriving the steel of its initial protection.

To maximize the life of your planter, we recommend that you be careful when moving it. If you have difficulty lifting, we have developed a device to use for this purpose. To prevent zinc from coming into contact with trace elements, it is important to use a coating, providing a barrier between the soil and the metal. Most of our planters come with covers, but you can always use non-biodegradable plastic.

Corten steel

Corten steel was specially developed for its corrosion resistance and tensile strength. Corten works differently from zinc in that it is not coated with a protective layer. Unlike steel has a special alloy added to it, which causes continuous surface regeneration when exposed to the elements. Therefore mechanical damage is not a problem.

Corten is not immune to corrosion. Pooling water accelerates the corrosion process, so it is recommended to use a coating.

Wood

Wood can be divided into softwood and hardwood variants. Softwoods come from gymnosperm trees and hardwoods from angiosperm trees. Angiosperm and gymnosperm plants are an important division in the plant kingdom, producing woods with different cellulose structures. Angiosperms contain all flowering plants, indeed most of the species we recognize, while gymnosperms contain conifers.

As a general rule, hardwoods are denser and more fire resistant, but not all hardwoods are hard and soft ones are soft. These however are not the properties we are interested in. Hardwoods and softwoods have different cell structures, with different appearances, hardwoods have the prominent grain and light grain of softwood.

Cellular structure affects resistance to decay and hardwoods can last up to 40 years if untreated, softwoods significantly less. Soft wood is treated with tanalith, producing a lifespan of around 20 years. However, its shelf life can be further extended with the use of paint and the use of a coating to prevent contact with moisture / organisms.

Terracotta

While terracotta is vulnerable to chipping and breaking in the event of falls, its biggest drawback is its vulnerability to frost damage. Since terracotta is a porous material, water can penetrate its material. Once the water freezes, it expands causing cracks in much the same way as holes formed in the road. You can combat frost damage by moving the pots to an unheated greenhouse / garage during the winter. Your plant will thrive as long as it is deciduous and dormant. Excessive heat will cause your plant to come out of dormancy and this must be avoided.

Composite materials

Fiberglass, fiberglass and fiberstone are composed of fibers combined with traditional materials such as clay and stone. They are superior to standard materials in every respect, being frost resistant, non-reactive, durable, lightweight and economical.

Fiberglass planters can be maintained with a wax polish, applied every 3 months, as well as other materials, depending on whether you want to keep the planter in perfect condition or allow the weather to give it a more natural look.