A robin's egg blue speckle glazed ceramic bowtie planter from Ungemach Pottery. The planter measures 5 7/8" across, 3 3/8" wide, and 2 1/2" high. The bottom is impressed with "UPCO 918 USA." The condition is very good, with no chips, cracks, or plant residue, and only minor factory glaze irregularities common to this type of planter.
Ungemach Pottery Company was founded in 1937 initially as South Fork Pottery by Fred Ungemach in Roseville, Ohio. In 1942 the company was renamed Ungemach Pottery Company ("UPCO"). As a young man, Mr. Ungemach worked at McCoy Pottery and Robinson Ransbottom Pottery Company before founding UPCO, which may account for some of the comparisons made between UPCO and McCoy Pottery. UPCO operated until 1984 when it changed hands and became Friendship Pottery.
A drainage hole in a planter is always ideal because it allows for any extra water to seep out of the bottom, which in turn helps keep the plant and its roots healthy. If a planter doesn't have a drainage hole, we recommend treating your planter more like a cachepot by employing the double potting technique. Place your plant into a smaller pot with drainage hole(s) and then place the pot inside of your decorative planter. You can even line the bottom of the decorative planter with some gravel, which catches the extra water from the drainage holes and creates humidity which plants like.
If you choose to plant directly into the planter, between watering wait until the soil is dry to the touch. Then, try to moisten the soil from the top to the bottom. The goal is maintaining a moisture balance to the soil so the plant isn't always needing water, which will lead to wilting, or watering too much which will asphyxiate then rot the roots, which will lead to the eventual death of the plant. To that end, don't use a watering can. Instead, use a spoon and add a spoonful or two of water and check the soil in a couple of hours. If the soil is still dry to the touch, add a couple more spoonfuls and so on until the soil is lightly moist to the touch.
