Trees in Containers

by Greg
(Bakersfield, CA)

I am planning on buying several different dwarf fruit trees to plant in containers. I’d like to know how important it is to plant in light-colored pots due to heat absorption. I think the back patio would be more aesthetic if I used terra cotta colored plastic pots. However, I can use a light grey colored pot if heat is an issue. I live in a zone 9 areas where it can get hot in the summer but didn’t know if I am being too critical about the color choice for my containers.

Thanks in advance for your help, Greg

Doug says that real terra cotta is going to be fine (avoid black like the plague). The deal with good pottery is that it also "sweats" water and this (I understand) helps reduce the heat loss by evaporative cooling. Now, colored plastic is going to be hotter than real terra cotta pots but not as hot as black coloring.

So the answer to your question is real clay/terra cotta is fine, colored terra cotta plastic is almost as good and stay away from darker, non-reflective colors.