Painting pots white for less heat

[father nature]

I just moved my plants outside. The pots are noticeably hot in the sun and its only late may.
Anyone paint there pots white to deflect the heat?
Would it help?
Don't want to cook the roots all summer

 

[TintEastwood]

If possible, block direct sun from hitting the pot.

Lost 1 due to roots being roasted....

 

[roaf]

I was thinking of doing this as well. I ended up putting each pot in a white plastic garbage bag and it seems to be working pretty well. The pots aren’t nearly as hot.

 

[thumper60]

Once the plants get bigger they shade the pot pretty good

 

[jungle666]

Pile mulch around them, keep it a little moist ,just a thought

 

[Nizza]

You could use bubble wrap insulation instead or some panda film and just tape it on the planter

 

[Danielson999]

Put the pot inside a slightly bigger pot.
Dig a hole and keep your pot underground without letting the roots run wild in open soil.
Pile hay around the pot, or small hay bales.
Line your pot with a white garbage bag.
Lean a piece of plywood up against the south facing side of your plant.
Plenty of ways to block the sun from hitting your pot. Torching the roots is the worst scenario but you also end up needing to water more often if your pot is exposed to the sun. Painting them white isn't going to stop the sun from beating on the pot all day, it will just be a few degrees cooler...but still too hot.

 

[Renfro]

Reflectix insulation is another option.

 

[too larry]

If your soil isn't too rocky, sinking the pot flush with the ground will help with heat. Plus it's good for water retention.

 

[JimmiP]

Why not just put them in the ground and toss the pot?

 

[Nizza]

Why not just put them in the ground and toss the pot?

That is a nice option but when a storm comes it is nice to be able to have the option of bringing a potted plant into a shelter/ inside where I live

 

[JimmiP]

That is a nice option but when a storm comes it is nice to be able to have the option of bringing a potted plant into a shelter/ inside where I live

I understand that. Illinois has a lot of storms too (like right now lol). And I also grow in pots. However, the plants I do put in the ground seem way easier to care for. They pretty much handle things for themselves. And they get bigger than the ones I have kept in pots.
Anyway, all options that have been presented seem sound to me. Good luck to the OP.

 

[xtsho]

They get hot but you won't cook the roots. Nurseries keep plants in black pots all summer long in the sun. I grow plants in black pots outside and never have any issues. Just keep the watered. If black pots were a problem they wouldn't be used by all the nurseries.

 

[Mr. Cheetah]

I just moved my plants outside. The pots are noticeably hot in the sun and its only late may.
Anyone paint there pots white to deflect the heat?
Would it help?
Don't want to cook the roots all summer

deff works man, dont paint the plants though

 

[Sir Napsalot]

I started painting my pots white a couple of years ago and it does help

I used some white automotive primer and scuffed the plastic for better adhesion

 

[TreeFarmerCharlie]

Wouldn't it be less expensive, and better, just to buy lighter colored pots? You can get inexpensive fabric and plastic pots in white and light tan colors.

 

[Mr. Cheetah]

I started painting my pots white a couple of years ago and it does help

I used some white automotive primer and scuffed the plastic for better adhesion

View attachment 4584329

mofuka, thats huuuuge, big up!

 

[JimmiP]

I like the lighter colored pots too. But like was said before, black seems to work just fine. I've used both And think there was little difference either way. Size, watering frequency or yield (per strain) were generally similar. But I suppose that could be climate/ region related. I've never grown in the desert or anywhere but the midwest for that matter.

 

[Sir Napsalot]

Wouldn't it be less expensive, and better, just to buy lighter colored pots? You can get inexpensive fabric and plastic pots in white and light tan colors.

The white pots that were available locally were square and not as heavy-duty
Also, they weren't totally opaque and let some light through