All of our pots are frost proof (with the possible exception of our small pots from Sri Lanka which are  produced by women in two villages where they all have their own pottery wheels and small kilns in  their gardens). Everything else is either high fired earthenware or stoneware, or steel reinforces reconstituted stone. Our pots are of the highest quality and all artisan made and designed. That doesn’t mean that they cannot be broken. Whilst the fabric of the pots is frost proof the pots themselves are still pots!!!

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Winter Care

​If you are using your pot as a pond, make sure that the water does not freeze solid. As when water freezes, it expands causing pressure on the pot, potentially this will break it- not the frost or freezing temperatures but, rather, the pressure of expanding ice.

With this in mind there are a few options for you;

1. Empty the pot of water.
This is the most time consuming and requires the most effort but I know a number of the Community will empty their pots for the winter months (some even take them inside). If you have the time and the effort this is a sure-fire way of ensuring that the cold weather will have no impact on your pot... just make sure you don't drop it in the process.

2. Use an Ice-Free product
Completely safe for birds and wildlife, this eco-friendly product is formulated from plant extracts to suppress the freezing point of water (down to -4c).
Eco-friendly Ice Free

3. Float a ball on the surface
The idea is that the ball will move around on the surface of the water and stop water from freezing. You just need to make sure it doesn't pop out. 

Other ideas;
From RSPB Forum:
Another idea I have found works well - I've punched 4 holes in the sides of a small tin can for air flow ( carefully as the metal is very sharp!!), then put a tealight candle in, with the water dish on top. Keeps it ice free for hours. Last winter a song thrush spent ages sitting on the side of the dish- keeping warm!

​In the dim and distant past when I was young, my mother always put one spot of glycerine (the sort you use when you make icing for cakes) in the bird bath and it never froze over.  Does anyone know if this would be ok?  I keep thinking I should try it.  As far as I remember no birds ever came to any harm.  This-morning I had to go out 5 times to my two bird baths before they were completely ok, so I have been tempted to give the glycerine a go!

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Potting Up

​Make sure to put plenty of crock at the bottom of the pot so as to ensure adequate drainage, (this will also help the plant!!)

​Make sure to stand your pot on pot feet so water can drain away from beneath the pot. Don’t let your pot get water logged.