a Bergs Potter Journal post

Why A Hot Summer Gives Your Plant Pot Freckles

Ever wondered why terracotta pots develop freckles in the summer? Discover the story behind these natural ‘summer babies’ and learn how the unique mineral patterns on our raw clay pots are a beautiful testament to their origins in Tuscany. Embrace the pure beauty of nature and the charming character that summer freckles bring to your plant pots.
Picture from the mountains of Tuscany. Bergs Potter produced

View from our origin in Tuscany, Italy. The rich Italian soil beneath golden wheat and olive trees has been the base for one of Italy’s oldest crafts for a millennium.

Let’s talk a little bit about ‘freckles’. Freckles are what we have named the little visible grains of colour that occasionally appear on our natural raw clay pots. But why do some pots have freckles and some do not? We want to let you in on this topic as we dig a bit deeper into this month’s terracotta fact.

The pure beauty of nature

Freckles are what we call the little visible grains of colour that occasionally appear on our natural raw clay pots. Technically they are calcium and minerals that are naturally found in clay.

At Bergs Potter we make natural, raw clay pots, made of the best Italian premium clay, fired at extremely high temperatures. We never use chemicals to seal the surface of our raw pots – we prefer to work with the pure beauty of nature – just clay, water and fire.

Close-up of a terracotta pot with natural freckles, showcasing the unique character developed during hot summers.
Close-up of a terracotta pot with natural freckles, showcasing the unique character developed during hot summers.

Julie, our simple yet charming pot – clad in her summer freckles.

Because we use organic and untreated premium Italian Galestro clay – the best clay available – the freckles i.e. the minerals, are more pronounced on some lots of clay due to variations in soil conditions in Tuscany, Italy. Many Italian potters consider this feature an attractive characteristic, and so do we!

The minerals that cause the freckle formation are necessary because they give the material its characteristic porosity which also makes the pots resistant to frost. So don’t be sad about freckles, they are only a visual characteristic of the personality of your pot.

Summertime is freckle time

As with us humans, so with pots — freckles are a sign of summer. Most of the time, freckle formation occurs during the summer when it is hot, and the clay dries faster. So, when you see a freckled pot, you know it’s a ‘summer baby’— produced during the hot and sunny season. Sometimes it happens that the ‘freckles’ come loose and fall off and leave a bit of residue. Luckily, this only happens once. If you experience loose freckles, we advise you to soak and wash the pots with a soft brush before using, and you will avoid cleaning up ‘fallen freckles’.

Close-up of a terracotta pot with natural freckles, showcasing the unique character developed during hot summers.

Julie without the sign of summer.

Words and photos by Bergs Potter.

We are always curious and eager to learn how and what you grow in your corner of the world – and not at least how you  are living with Bergs Potter.
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