Terrocotta or Plastic Pots?

I do believe that once you get to a big pot size, say over 10", plastic is better. I know, I know. I dislike plastic in general. It ruined soda, has chemicals, doesn't decompose. I know.
Here's my argument: The big terracotta pots have there own needs. They want water and have temperature issues. The pot will actually absorb the water and take it from the soil and the plant. I am challenged with the task of keeping the pot watered enough that the plant gets what it needs. I tend to be a once a week waterer. I keep most of my plants in a room with my turtle tank so the room is pretty humid. The big pots will still dry out though. So the watering schedule can be affected. It is a little much to be taking care of a pot too. Soaking the pot becomes an issue when they are heavy. It makes it difficult when there is water left in the saucer that must be emptied. I always try not to move the climbing plants too often. They always loses leaves and break when you move them. The porous pots will also absorb the minerals from foods. This makes me worry that the plant might be shortchanged. I am always worried about over feeding and underfeeding.
That is why plastic is better for big plants. Sometimes it is easier to just deal with the plant alone. Once you get into the big sizes plants have so much to say on there own, the terracotta pots just hold up the conversation.

Houseplant Information

I like to pretend that I came by green thumb naturally; that I just look at a plant and it grows by feet. This isn't true. Actually I work pretty hard at my collection. I research all the time and I am vigilant in my look out for bugs and pests and leaf droop etc. I once had a spider mite infestation and I lost a couple of good specimen. I am still annoyed at the lady who gave me that plant. It was a sweet potato vine that brought the bugs in and my first lesson in infestations and the need for a speedy reaction. I have an old Readers Digest book collection that I find very informative. I bought it at a garage sale. It is one of the those mail order things where they would have sent someone binders and pages over a period of time. Lucky for me whoever bought it originally really put it together right and took care of it. Unfortunately they did it twenty-five years ago so there are some gaps in knowledge. Also houseplants change, evolve go in and out of favor etc. and I'll run into some plants that they just didn't list in the series.
Sometimes I can search a gardening forum but, they can be hard to navigate or just suck you in and cost time. I find that outside gardening prompts a lot more discussion than houseplants too. So my next best resource is Houseplant Secrets (How To Care For Any Type Of House Plant. Answers To 1001 Questions). I like having the instant information right on my desktop.
With the case of the Sweet Potato Vine, everything seemed fine at first. Then it started dropping leaves, which I figured was a light or watering issue. Almost overnight the plant was almost bare and a few others in the house started to drop leaves too. In less than a week everyone in the vines vicinity was showing signs. I ended up throwing it out and managed to save everyone else. Since then, I quarantine any new plant. I keep it away from everybody for a month or so and watch for signs that something is wrong before I put it in general population. You can't trust anyone!

My Grandfathers Plant

My favorite plant is my Pothos Or "Devils Ivy." It was my grandfather's and I've had it for 15 years, since he passed away. Once my sister knocked it over and I acted like she had spilled his ashes. It is really a very plain plant, a kind you would typically find in any office or hanging in anyone kitchen. It has those spade shape leaves and can be all green or white too when its getting a lot of light. I imagine it has my grandfather's personality and I take such comfort in his presence. I imagine he smiles at me when I come into the room. Sometimes when I try to sneak out without watering everybody yet, I am drawn back by the air of paternal disapproval in the room. Once my Pothos got sick and I was worried that I wouldn't have that anymore; that I would lose that last piece of things from then. I scrounged the Internet for advice and took cuttings to try to preserve the legacy. Eventually my friend made a complete recovery. Now I feel he is proud of me when I stop to admire his new growth.

Happy Houseplants

I am not going to be the crazy old woman with a hundred cats. You won't find out I've been eating Purina and forgetting to change the litter. When I lose control of my life the first responders will walk into a crazy overgrown jungle where they find that a plant has eaten me as my houseplants have taken over. The story starts the same. A nice woman who took in the first few because they were cute and the next batch just to be nice and she was slowly overwhelmed as the numbers just multiplied. Don't get me wrong this isn't my plan. I strive to keep the ecosystem around here just right. I prune and cut back and share clippings with friends. I love my plants. It’s just that sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into. I might be in over my head. Last week I snuck a pothos into the house. I didn't tell Brian about it, because he wants me to try and cut back. I don't think he'll really notice, its just one more "devils ivy", only a six inch pot...someone was gonna throw it way. My grandfather doted on his plants. He would stand over them and talk and care for them with these gentle movements. He had African Violets under lights in the basement. There were rootings in jars on every windowsill. My mother has a houseful too; there are green leaves peeking out everywhere you look. Her house has a warm tropical feel on the coldest days. I remember being able to finally accept my good friend's new beau once I saw him attending to his plants at their new place. I suddenly thought, "Maybe he isn't so bad." I really think that it says a lot about a person, the way they treat old people, babies, animals and plants. I consider it negligent to let any of the four lack water or nutrition. It is especially mean to deprive any of them of sunlight and fresh air. Which is why having a large collection is a big commitment. I'm prone to guilt and worry. Houseplants really have to be nurtured. I poke and prod and snip and water. I fertilize and adjust the lighting. I am vigilantly on guard for bugs and drooping leaves or dropping ones. I even quarantine new comers. I talk and give energy work when necessary. So being a successful houseplant collector means having a lot of plants. This is why I am getting overwhelmed. I have found myself putting away knickknacks and family pictures so that I have room for a geranium or the little cactus my Mom gave me. Every branch that I trimmed from my Schefflera rooted in water. Who'd of thought all ten would? Where will I plant them? The jade plant I rescued from my brother doubled in the size in a week, I have to get potting soil and put the bridal veil in a different pot so I can move that one over....