Question
Hi Bakerplanter,

If you don't mind answering a very basic question; I'm wondering whether I need to bring in my terracotta flower pots indoors in winter.  They are inexpensive 8" plain planters from Wal-Mart.  Will they be damaged by ice, snow, etc.?  I don't really have room for them in my apartment.  

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Jen.
I don't mind answering a basic question, but I also like to add some advise with my answer. In my vast collection of container plants, I have only three cactus in clay pots, and the other plants are very healthy in various sizes of plastic containers. That is because I believe that the only plant that does well in a clay pot is a cactus. Clay pots suck moisture out of the soil, so the plants dry out quickly. Cactus don't mind being dry, but other plants do mind. Plastic retains moisture. Clay is very heavy to handle, if it is large, and full of wet soil. Plastic is light. Clay breaks and chips, and cracks. Plastic is tough. (And to answer your question,) Clay will crack if it freezes. It has to do with the moisture in the clay expanding and contracting. The moisture in the clay turns to ice and the clay breaks. You won't have that problem with plastic.
I also think that the plastic container are more attractive then the clay, because the clay because stained and ugly after a while. Clay is also more expensive then Plastic.
If I haven't convinced you that plastic is better then your terracotta flower pots, then go a head and find a place for them so they don't freeze this winter. Let them dry out thoroughly and place dry newspaper in them to absorb any moisture. Then place them in a dry place that doesn't get below 32 degrees.
I hope I was able to help you.