COST OF LIVING OVERVIEW : Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means Springfield, Illinois is cheaper than the US average. A cost of living index above 100 means Springfield, Illinois is more expensive. Springfield, Illinois cost of living is 83.30. Housing is the biggest factor in the cost of living difference.
Terra-cotta pots are porous, meaning liquids and small particles travel through the material when it is wet. Water traveling through the pot carries with it salts and minerals from the soil within, leaving white, chalky areas on the outside of the pot.
Glazed pots, on the other hand, do NOT allow for evaporation. Glaze is essentially glass, which is non-porous & traps water in the pot, so any benefit from terracotta is lost. For all intents & purposes, glaze turns terracotta pots into plastic ones.... sorry.The way to tell between terracotta (which is porous) and ceramic (which is not-again, the high-firing fuses the silica in the clay into a glassy substance) is to tap or flick the pot.f you are so inclined.... and have the cash... and don't mind more slaving over pots.... one solution is to pot into terracotta & use the glazed pots as giant, beautiful saucers to catch your runoff water & disguise the real pot. I just read of someone who uses soda bottle lids as pot feet-what a good idea!