How to Age Terracotta Pots

Old terracotta pots get their look from years outside. Minerals from the water seep out and leave a chalky white bloom, and moss and algae creep around the rim. You can fake that in about 20 minutes a pot with white acrylic paint, a sponge and a little green watercolor.

Madison Clevenstine shows the method on a table of brand new orange pots. No salt, no yogurt and no waiting for algae to grow. The trick is to build the color in thin, uneven layers and keep stepping back so nothing looks done on purpose.

What makes a pot look old

• White mineral bloom, heaviest on the rim and the bottom.
• Green algae around the rim and inside the lip, where water sits.
• No pattern. Real aging is patchy. One side is always different from the other.

Keep those three in mind and you can judge your own pot as you go.

Choosing pots

Plain unglazed terracotta from any garden center works. Wipe off dust and peel the price stickers before you start, since paint will not grip a dusty surface. A mix of sizes looks best grouped together, and a tall pot or two adds height to a shelf display.

Getting the white wash right

Use plain white acrylic craft paint thinned with water until it is milky, about one part paint to one part water. It does not have to dissolve smoothly; small lumps add texture. Natural sea sponges give a softer, more broken print than kitchen sponges. If one area goes too white, wipe it back with a clean damp sponge while it is wet. It is always easier to add white than to take it away.

Using the pot's flaws

Cheap pots often have small bumps, seams and cracks. Do not hide them. The thinned paint settles into every dip and makes them look worn. For a chipped look on a smooth pot, Madison drops a few random dots of paint on paper and rolls the pot over them once.

Color variations

For a gray, stone-like pot, add a drop of black to the white wash. For a warm Tuscan look, skip most of the green and lean on the terracotta brown. A cream wash in place of bright white gives a softer, older bloom.

Will it last outdoors?

Acrylic on bare clay will wear over time, especially on pots you water a lot. A light coat of matte clear enamel spray keeps the paint on without adding shine. Let the pot dry fully first, spray outdoors in thin coats, and let it cure before you plant. For pots that stay wet, line them with a plastic nursery pot so water does not soak through from the inside.

Troubleshooting

It looks painted, not aged. Too even. Blot with a damp sponge and break up any straight edges with a dry brush.

The green looks bright and fake. Mix in a touch of brown and dab it off the sponge on paper before it goes on the pot.

Visible brush strokes. Swipe them while wet with a completely dry brush, or blot with the sponge.

More pots to try: a mosaic flower pot, a hypertufa planter that ages on its own, and a cast concrete planter. The same white wash and algae trick works on cured concrete pots too.