Key Takeaways

  • Fix old pots and planters instead of buying new ones. Use joint compound, sandpaper, and spray paint to repair cracks and give them a fresh look.
  • Cracked clay pots can be repaired by filling in the cracks, sanding down rough edges, and sealing it with spray paint.
  • Rotting terracotta pots can be salvaged by removing the decayed areas, smoothing them with sandpaper, and painting them for a new look.

Most garden enthusiasts have a few old pots and planters tucked away somewhere. It's not uncommon to see old cracked pots hoarded away in a corner because they "might have some use eventually." Many people stack them up and forget about them, and then buy more at yard sales, or during big sales events at a garden center.

Cracked, chipped, and so-called unusable patio pots can become like-new again. Decaying terracotta? Cracked clay? Plastic getting weak? Don’t waste your money on expensive new replacements. For a small fraction of the cost of a brand-new pot, you can fix up as many patio pots for plants and other planters as you have to make them look like new.

Fixing Clay Cracks

Quick clay pot repair hack

Nothing is worse than dropping a pretty clay pot and watching it thud to the ground. But if the clay is only cracked and not broken into pieces, and the pot is still mainly holding itself together, this is a simple fix.

Everything you’ll need to fix clay patio pots, you can pick up easily at a local hardware store, but first dig around in your garage because you might have some of these supplies already.

  • All-purpose joint compound
  • Spray paint
  • Fine-grained sandpaper
  • Textured spray paint

Sand Around the Crack to Smooth it Down

Begin by cleaning off the area around the crack with some fine sandpaper. Be sure to knock any loose clay off as you sand and blow out the fine dust to allow for a good bond when you begin to fill it in.

Fill in the Crack and Make Repairs

Using the joint compound, use your finger and rub it into the crack or cracks. You really want to make sure it gets into the areas that have weakened, so make sure you check both inside and outside the pot, and it doesn’t hurt to spread it around below and above the crack as well. Any cracks that fill with moisture in the winter and freeze will widen, so it’s important to make sure you get these well covered.

This stuff dries fairly quickly, so spread more over it and smooth it out a little. Don’t worry about how it looks at this step, since you will sand it down later. If you have any major chunks missing, fill in the area using more compound. Let the compound dry before adding on more layers until you are happy with the coverage. As it dries, the compound does shrink and will pull back as it settles and becomes more compact.

Let the compound dry for at least 24 hours and check to make sure it has hardened before proceeding.

Sand off the Rough Edges

Using your fine-grained sandpaper again, run it over any raised edges or other small ridges and ripples created when you spread the compound. Sand down and smooth the compound all over the pot.

Do not get too enthusiastic during this step, as you don’t want to undo any of the work you’ve already done and expose a crack!

As you sand, take a good look at your cracked areas. If large compounded areas show signs of shrinkage and cracks, fill them in again. It never hurts to be thorough with this step.

Paint and Texturize to Finish

Joint compound is not waterproof, so you need to seal it with a good coat of spray paint. Textured spray paint will maintain the earthy look of clay pots and planters and helps to cover up any imperfections left behind by your repair job. Spray paint will give any type of patio pot a beautiful new finish. After this dries, you can hand-paint or stencil a design onto the pot with another color of spray paint.

Fixing Rotting Terracotta

This ancient material can always be refreshed

Small terra cotta pots with plants
Image credits: Lum3n via Pexels

Terracotta pots are extremely durable and long-lasting but, over time, they can begin to decay, especially the detailed ones that have textured designs on them. Over time, moisture gets into cracks in the pots and areas with design details and starts to crumble the pot away.

But, as long as the inside of the pot is still intact and has good integrity, you can stop this clay rotting process and recreate your pot all over again!

Gather What You'll Need

You may already have all the tools you need for a simple DIY terracotta pot repair, especially if you've already been working on your clay pots.

  • Medium-grained sandpaper
  • Fine-grained sandpaper
  • Spray paint
  • All-purpose joint compound

Remove the Rotting Areas

First things first, you need to get rid of the crumbling clay. Using your fingers or the edge of a flat screwdriver, remove all the rotting material that will flake off. Usually, areas of direction change, such as in curves and around decorative designs, will have the worst signs of rot. Be gentle and only take what comes off easily, working slowly. You don’t want to damage any still-intact areas of the pot.

Use Sandpaper to Smooth it Out

Start with medium-grained sandpaper and clean up any areas of rot to remove everything that is not solid terracotta. Switch to fine-grained sandpaper to give these areas a smooth finish. Terracotta patio pots for plants will last much longer with continued maintenance repairs, so continue to check your pots and eliminate signs of rot as soon as you see them.

Resurface Your Pot

Terracotta looks pretty cool with an old, weathered, and rotted look. But when the pot really is old and weathered and rotted, it will eventually rot away and it won't perform well at holding plants in a protected, enclosed space. Terracotta can be repaired and still retain that handsome patina of time.

Examine the pot for chips, cracks, and other signs of wear. Fill in any areas you find with joint compound. Apply it generously and rub it into the affected area. Once the compound has dried, smooth it down with fine-grained sandpaper. Use this method to fill in a design or part of a design if you want to give your pot a whole new look.

Paint the Pot for a New Look

To give terracotta pots a brand-new look, paint them. Apply a coat of primer to any area of the pot you plan to paint. Don't paint the inside! Once the primer is dry, use acrylic paint in any color you like. Experiment with using rubber bands and tape to mark off areas of the pot and you can fill in these areas later to create your own pattern or design.

Broken Plastic? Time for Tape

Repair plastic pots with an affordable fix

Plastic pots are much less expensive than clay, and some designs withstand the weather just as well. Sun and weather take a toll on plastic over time, however, and can begin to weaken thin areas, such as curved rims.

Cracked and broken plastic pretty much spells certain doom for the life of your planter...or does it? There is no need to toss your pot and invest in something new. A simple, affordable fix to a whole new look is a quick DIY project.

Gather What You'll Need

Broken and cracked plastic patio pots for plants will become weaker and weaker over time and it can actually scratch and even cut the skin when handled. Plastic edges can be sharp. Luckily, it does not take much to restore plastic pots to their former glory. Gather the materials you need and you can fix a plastic pot in short order.

  • Fine-grained sandpaper
  • Clear strong tape
  • Spray paint

Lightly Sand the Cracks and Damage

Use fine-grained sandpaper to sand down cracks and broken areas of the plastic, working carefully to make sure you don't cut yourself. Shake off any dust you created during this process and wipe the pot down with rubbing alcohol to get it clean.

Tape the Cracks to Repair the Pot

Using strips of strong waterproof tape, tape both sides of the crack, pressing firmly to get a good seal. Don’t use more tape than is necessary, as one layer is usually good enough. For areas that have curvature or edges, use smaller pieces that overlap a quarter inch. Smooth the tape carefully to avoid air bubbles.

Resurface the Pot for a Smooth New Look

Plastic can be repainted in any color or design you like, so have fun and experiment. Spray your pot with a base color first. To cover up any rough areas where tape was applied, add textured stone spray paint. The textured paint will help to hide imperfections.

  • Layer paint in thin coats.
  • Allow each layer to dry.
  • Apply another coat as needed to get the right finish.

For large taped areas, the tape may bubble a little as the paint dries. If this begins to happen, just let it finish curing (give the paint a good 24 hours dry time) and add on another textured layer if the look is undesirable.

Apply any of the painting techniques to any pot you feel needs a refreshed look. In fact, even if you have a good plastic planter in perfect shape, adding a layer of paint will keep it from weathering even further and give you many extra years of use.

Give Old Pots New Life

Repair and refinish your old patio pots to give them a fresh look, extend their lives, or just to change things up around your home and garden areas. Painted pots are a great way to add pops of color to your landscaping, your patio areas, and all around the house. Knowing how to repair old pots gives you the option of buying pots secondhand. You may get some deep discounts for pots that other people think are no longer usable.

Use your DIY skills to put your own creative touch on your pots and get a lot more life out of them with simple fixes and quick hacks.