How To Age Terra Cotta Pots... {DIY}

Tis the season we start getting out our gardening gloves, tackling the front porch, and bringing more of the outdoors in. (Hooray!) Today I'm excited to share an easy DIY with you that helps take terra cotta pots from looking like they're straight off the store shelf to something that's been sun-faded and weathered from years of use.

I used the aging technique I'll be sharing today on the smaller pots below. (And for the larger, darker pot, you could achieve a similar look by rubbing in a little dark wax after you've aged with lime as shown below.)

 Here's what you'll need:

1. Terra cotta pot(s)
2. A bucket or bowl
3. Sponge brush
4. Gardening (hydrated) lime
5. Water
6. Sandpaper
7. Clear matte spray paint or sealant (optional)

Step 1: Mix approximately one cup of hydrated lime with two cups of water. (I added some additional lime to make mine thicker so that I could do fewer coats.)

Step 2: Paint the lime mixture onto your pot(s), allowing it to be thicker in some places. Feel free to paint in different directions and strokes. Don't forget to also cover a few inches on the top inside of the pot(s). Allow the pot to dry completely.

Step 3: Sand off much of the lime until you achieve your desired look. If you will be protecting the finish with a clear coat, leave on a bit more lime than you'd like as some of it with be absorbed by the clear sealant.

Step 4: In a well-ventilated area, lightly spray the pots with a clear matte spray paint or sealant to preserve the aged lime finish. (And remember not to leave terra cotta pots outdoors when the temperature gets very cold or they may crack!)

Here's an image of the terra cotta pots I aged...

And here are the larger flower pots by the chicken coop. The darkest one on the ground had been tipped over on the grass for several months... I guess that's another technique to naturally age pots. ;)

Thank you for visiting today! Let me know if you try your hand at aging flower pots. I'd love to hear!

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Xo