When it comes to fire prevention, most people don’t give a second thought to the risk posed by outdoor potted plants. But Fire Departments have often cautioned that during hot, dry weather, the sun-dried planting material in a flower pot or in a compost bin can actually get hot enough to spontaneously combust into an open flame.
Potting soil poses this fire risk because it contains little or no actual earth but instead, a high amount of inorganic material that in the right circumstances can ignite.
An accidental fire can also be caused by using the planter as an ashtray.
TIPS: Don’t store bags of potting soil in direct sunlight, near other combustible materials.
Avoid plastic planters. Clay planters hold moisture and will better contain a fire, in the event of combustion.
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