Terracotta literally comes from the Italian translation: "baked" or "boiled earth". In other words, this word was borrowed from the Italian vocabulary: terra ("earth") + cotta ("baked"). Terracotta clays are often rich in iron and are made from a type of porous clay.
Terracotta is usually made from a fairly coarse, porous type of clay. It is first shaped (or carved), then fired until it is "hard". In ancient times, the hardening of clay was done in the hot sun, which was later replaced by baking in primitive ovens in the ashes of an open fire.
Although terracotta is still an earthy material, it is sturdier than most other earthy materials, such as classic clay. It is thanks to the technique of long and special baking in fire that it becomes very strong and durable, even so strong that it can be used as utensils for cooking and preserving food or for building buildings.
A specific feature of natural terracotta from Impruneta, which makes it suitable for the production of a wide range of flower pots and containers, is that its porosity allows air and water to move through the walls of the container, thus preventing soil diseases and root rot. Terracotta pots can be used for both houseplants and outdoor gardening. Terracotta from Impruneta is also great for colder climates, down to -30°C. The walls of the terracotta pots drain water away from the soil, helping the soil to dry out faster.
And what is terracotta ceramics? In short, terracotta pottery, which is made in Italy, is a breathable, unglazed, garden, clay vase, container or flowerpot, designed for healthy plant growth. In general, most clay pots are sound, otherwise they are not strong enough to hold the amount of soil and they crack. It is the sharp sound that indicates the compactness of the particles in the terracotta container.
Classic earthen pots or ceramics in general are usually glazed to give a shiny appearance which is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but terracotta is in most cases unglazed, especially for horticultural use, as glazing is unsuitable for healthy plant growth.
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