Can I plant directly in the pot? Yes.
Use it as you would any ordinary clay pot. Plants love the porosity and "feel" of clay surfaces. Because water evaporates readily from the pottery surface, it is important to water your plant on a regular basis to prevent it from drying out.

Can I keep my pottery outside? Yes.
Your pottery is suitable for outside use in all conditions except for freezing temperatures.

Will my pot leak when I water the plant? Probably.
Garden pots have drainage holes in the bottom which allow excess water to escape. Otherwise, plants could drown. Outside the house a leaky pot is not a big deal. Inside the house, however, you will want to put a non-porous saucer under your pots so that dampness will not damage rugs, floors or tables. Do not over water your plants!

How should I clean my pottery?
Just wipe the pot with a damp cloth or sponge. The whitish material that sometimes builds up on the outside of clay pots is an accumulation of harmless salts from soil or fertilizer. It will scrub off with a plastic or natural bristle brush.

Winter Storage Guidelines
Here in New England, winter temperatures fall below freezing starting in November. It is important to bring pottery inside before temperatures drop. "Inside" means any well-sheltered place that is out of the weather such as a garage, basement, covered porch or patio. It is of great importance that your pottery remain dry during the freezing months. Keeping pottery dry will prevent cracking and breaking due to expansion that comes when water freezes.
Pottery will eventually break completely apart if it is left outside during the winter! The photo below shows what three years of winter exposure will do to your pottery.