Flower Pot.

The history and lessons of the simple flower pot is fascinating. Flower pots come from many parts of the world, and the flower pot has many household, commercial and creative uses in our daily lives. The number of flower pots produced on a daily basis are amazingly large. Some flower pots survive many years, but some other flower pots have a very brief existence potential. In fact some flower pot maker thrives on those flower pots that are so soon broken. Multi- machines are needed for the mass production of flower pots. This was not required by ancient potters and throwers of original flower pot containers. A glimpse of the past is necessary to compare with the worldly-minded materialist of to-day’s flower pot manufacture.

There are many flower pot manufacturing plants now devoted to the production of flower pots en masse.

Clay flower pots naturally need clay as its primary source. These form of flower pot manufacturers are among the oldest of the flower pot manufacturing plants. The flower pot business is handed down through generations, especially in England where a plentiful supply of clay is available. Clay is brought to the surface to manufacture flower pots of all sizes and styles and other products. The clay needed for flower pots is much stronger than the clay used for bricks because of the treatment it undergoes in the manufacture of flower pots.

• The clay for flower pots is well turned over, “mulched” and tempered with water.

• Next the clay that will eventually yield many flower pots, is conveyed to mixing machines for kneading and mixing.

• The next step towards the ultimate flower pot is a two dimensional rolling process.

• Once this flower pot stage is complete the “flower pot” is seen as a ball ready for the potter’s wheel. The mystical motion of the pottery wheel, often compared to the gramophone turntable, has been written about through the ages. The mechanism of motion is again simple and two-fold as the ball in the potters hand fashions the metamorphosis towards the unique flower pot.

• The experience of the potter is evident, as the steady hand hollows out the flower pot, as he secures an even thickness for the flower pot’s walls.

• The template smoothes and polishes the surface, as the potter or flower pot worker cuts the flower pot from the table. This stage in the flower pot manufacture, is comparable to cutting a whole cheese into halves.

• Duplicating the old age process of flower pot manufacture, the thrower places the flower pots side by side with previously made flower pots.

• The flower pots are transported to the drying area.

• Ideally the flower pots are dried in the open, but with the huge numbers of flower pots being manufactured, the newly made flower pots are taken to a drying shed heated by steam pipes. Once all the flower pots are dried they are turned upside down for even drying. This process in flower pot manufacture is called shuffling.

• Now the flower pots are ready for firing in the kiln.

• After the flower pots cool down, the flower pots are stacked in sizes.

What becomes of all multi dimensional flower pots, that vary in size from inches high to those capable of holding full-grown trees?

1. The commercial use of flower pots is infinite and florists, nurseries, supermarkets and dealers in general buy these flower pots.

2. Greater attention is being paid to outdoor and indoor gardens, so the demand of flower pots has increased enormously.

3. The flower pot industry is immense, and the range in price matches its range in size.

4. Some flower pots are so cheap that attention seems to be deferred from the importance of the huge flower pot industry. We sometimes break flower pots in order to re-pot flowers. We replace a flower pot for a larger flower pot when a plants roots become bound. A flower pot could become the target of a boy’s stone throwing game.

5. Continual reduction of costs for flower pots are continually being investigated. This has led to the manufacture of a more expensive variety of flower pot for decorative purposes.

Standard flower pots have a hole in the bottom, and flower pots sit in a dish to catch water. There are also one-piece flower pots in which the bottom of the flower pot is solid, but there is a flange to hold the flower pot off of the bottom. Flower pots should be large enough to hold deep roots. Different types and mediums of flower pots dictate how often you need to water the plant. Orchid flower pots have many cut-outs to allow airflow in and around the plant. Most orchid flower pots have an inner flange. Many of the one piece orchid flower pots have holes along the rim so that they can be hung. Orchid flower pots don't have to be used exclusively for orchids. All house plants can be grown in orchid flower pots.

Flower pots have infinite uses:

1. Once the flower pot is planted with seeds or plants, many varieties of flower pots are used for lifetime special occasions.

2. Flower pots can bring solace to the sick.

3. Flower pots also bring pleasure via the fragrance of its contents.

4. Flower pots are used to express our love and emotions.

• One flower pot of bright red geraniums on your window sill, door step, patio or front walk results in a miniature eye-catching garden. Discover a vast assortment of flower pot designs, shapes, sizes and styles.

• Inexpensive flower pots in many materials, shapes and sizes can be used for creative craft projects by children and adults alike.

• Commercially flower pots are being used to mass produce products e.g. Flower Pot Fairies are an example of a flower pot containing a baby fairy nestled comfortably in the center of a beautiful flower.

• Another example is Anne Geddes’ use of babies in flower pots surrounded by flowers varieties accompanying these engaging images within the flower pots.

• Different countries can even be identified by a flower pot design. The Canadian flower pot is a glazed earthenware flower pot adapted by an unknown ancient Quebec or Ontario potter. This flower pot design is based on a painted cobalt blue decoration which is a native art form produced in Canada late 19th Century.

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