Terra cotta pots are a popular choice for home gardeners and crafty people because of the many designs and styles available. You also can create your own designs and paint pots in colors that match your flowers or the theme of your outdoor space. Unfortunately, if you pick the wrong type of paint, you'll likely see it start fading or peeling off long before the season ends. The key to painting your pot is preparing the interior correctly and using the right paints.
1 Seal the inside of the terra cotta flower pot using a urethane sealer in a spray bottle. When you use the pot for planting, the terra cotta absorbs the water you pour inside on the soil , which eventually reaches the outside, causing the paint to bubble and pull away from the surface. Use at least two layers of sealer and let it dry completely.
2 Use fine grade sandpaper on the outside of the pot, running it lightly against any trouble spots. Pay special attention to the top of the pot and the bottom edges, as these spots may have bumps left behind by the pot's mold or loose clay that make painting more difficult.
3 Paint the exterior of the terra cotta pot with latex or acrylic paints. Terra cotta tends to absorb any liquid material, which means you'll need several coats of paint. Let each coat dry before adding an additional layer to let yourself see the exact color the paint has when used on the pot.
4 Decorate the outside with either stencils or decoupage. If using stencils, lay the stencil on the pot once the paint dries and hold it in place while painting over it. Remove the stencil and let the new paint dry completely. For decoupage, lay different paper decorations on the surface of the pot and coat them with a layer of Mod Podge.
5 Seal the outside of the pot with your spray sealant, the same as you did on the inside. Let all the paint or other materials dry completely and then coat the surface with a layer of sealer. Wait until the sealer dries before adding another coat and preferably three coats. Once the sealer dries completely, fill with soil and your favorite plants or flowers.
