Malaysian Pottery:  Winter Care

Malaysian pottery can deteriorate in the winter without proper care.  The moisture in the ground can be absorbed into the pot and when the temperature drops the moisture in the pot freezes.  This can cause the pot to crack or bust.  The pot can be left outdoors if you put them under shelter, off the ground and remove the soil.  If you have a garage, this is the best place to store your pots.  If the temperature in your garage doesn't get below freezing, you can also leave the soil in the pot.  If you must leave your pot outdoors, the best thing to do is remove the soil, turn your pot upside down on a wood plank or something that will keep it off the ground.  Next, cover your pot to help keep out the moisture.  Again, it's not the moisture that hurts the pot, but the freezing of the moisture.

Winter Care of Concrete Accents

Weather changes during the winter can damage concrete products.  All figurines, fountains, pots and benches, etc. will contract with humidity, temperature changes, freezing and thawing.  This process can cause concrete to crack.  The best solution for this problem is to store concrete items indoors during the winter.  When this is not feasible, you can take steps to prevent the problem.  Any item that can hold water, such as a birdbath, needs to be flipped so water and snow cannot collect in them.  For larger fountains and statuary that you cannot move, cover them with a plastic tarp.  Be sure that the coverings are well secured against the winter wind.  Fountains should be drained and the pumps removed, and then fill the basin with an absorbent fabric such as burlap.  Pots or planters should have the soil removed.  Benches should have the top flat surface tipped so that rain and melting snow can run off.  All items should be raised off the ground to avoid damage resulting from the product freezing to the damp ground.