Plastic Plant Pot or Clay Plant Pot? (Phoenix: house, buy)

[Great Joy]

Due to Phoenix's hot climate and the many great native AZ posters who help others, I felt this would be a good place to post this topic.

We've been here for a few years now. When we first moved here, we had purchased some really nice clay pots for some of our plants. Unfortunately, they have started to deteriorate. It seems as though the clay is returning to soil. I'm not looking forward to replacing them because they're heavy and we have automatic irrigation lines that are thread from the bottom of the pots to the top of the soil inside.

So, here are my questions to people who have lived in/around Phoenix a long time:

Is it normal for a clay pot to deteriorate over a few years here in Phoenix?

The stores have very nice looking plastic pots as well as clay ones. Our pots are in full sun by our house entrance. Should we buy the nice plastic pots or clay ones again?

Any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[AZ Tracy]

Unfortunately, the plastic pots will deteriorate too. You might try a ceramic pot, but make sure it's sealed inside. The only sure fire pot that I know of that will last and last...is a big, concrete pot.

[Great Joy]

Thanks for your reply and help. I really appreciate it.

[wit-nit]

Clay pots here deteriorate beacause of the salt in the water. Salt eats away at the pot. Many clay pots are not oven/kiln fired and deteriorate quite rapidly. They are more useful as decorative pots and not one to be used with soil and watering.
Clay pots that are oven/kiln fired and sealed work best. Clay pots breathe better than plastic pots. Ceramic pots work great.
Plastic pots breakdown because of the UV rays that destroy plastic. Plastic pots do not breathe and can easily cause root rot if constantly overwatered.

[Great Joy]

Nitram, thanks so much for your reply too.

[Panks]

If you have the big clay pots that are made in Mexico, they will fall apart in a few years no matter where you live because they are not fired in the kiln long enough or at a hot enough temperature. Thats why they sometimes coat the inside with tar.

The downside to clay pots is that it sucks the moisture out of the soil so you have to remember to water more often. The downside to plastic is that the roots get very hot since it traps heat.

[Great Joy]

Thanks also Panks for your helpful info.

Any other advice from others?