How to Repair a Terra-cotta Pot

Fix a terra-cotta pot with silicone or wire.

Terra-cotta pots add a rustic look to a backyard or patio garden. However, when a pot is damaged, it does not mean you have to throw it away. Whether it is cracked or broken, a terra-cotta pot can often be mended. This money-saving project will add years to the useful life of your pots.

Things You'll Need

• Mild detergent
• Thin shim
• Rubber mallet
• Clear silicone caulk
• Caulk gun
• Craft stick
• Razor blade
• Nylon cord
• Pencil
• Rotary tool
• Masonry bit, 1/8"
• Copper wire, single-ply
• Pliers

Instructions

Silicone Caulk for Small Cracks

1. Wash the surface around the crack with a mild detergent and water. Rinse the terra-cotta pot well and let it dry thoroughly.

2. Separate the crack by gently pulling the pot with your hands or inserting a thin shim into the crack and tapping it lightly with a rubber mallet. Avoid pulling or banging on the pot excessively to prevent breaking the pot further.

3. Apply a thin bead of silicone using a caulk gun. Rub the line of silicone with a craft stick to force it into the crack. Apply a second thin line of caulk along the crack, if needed.

4. Pull the shim out of the crack and press the terra-cotta pot together to seal the crack. Wrap a nylon cord around the pot to hold the crack tight while the silicone dries.

5. Remove the nylon cord after 48 hours. Scrape off excess silicone caulk on the outside of the terra-cotta pot with a razor blade.

Wire for Large Cracks or a Broken Piece

1. Fit the broken piece of terra-cotta into its place on the pot, if applicable. Use a pencil to mark drill points 1/2-inch away from the crack along each side, as if you were creating shoelace holes.

2. Drill slowly through the markings with a 1/8-inch masonry bit.

3. Cut a three-inch-long piece of 18- or 20-gauge copper wire for each set of holes. Bend each piece of wire into a hairpin shape.

4. Thread the wire through the set of holes so that the middle of the hairpin is on the outside of the pot. Grab the two ends on the inside of the pot and twist them with a pliers to pull the crack together. Repeat for each set of holes.

5. Flatten the ends of the wires against the inside of the pot. Apply silicone caulk over the crack to seal it, if desired.

References

• The Artistic Garden: Terra-cotta Repair Techniques
• Garden Wise: Fixing Terra-cotta Pots