Challenge: Does this exist? Plantable Pots in extremely large sizes
Ok, I have tried my best to find these for my mother, but to no avail have I found anything. She is looking for large plantable pots, like those Cow Pots (http://www.cowpots.com/), which essentially breakdown in the soil and allow the roots to spread outside the pot. The fertilizer benefits that the Cow Pots provide are not necessary. The sizes would be somewhere between 1.5 gallon to 5 gallon container sizes.
So here is the challenge: Find plantable pots (sometimes they are also called biodegradable) in 1.5 gallon or larger with a preference towards 5 gallon pots. A deal posting is not completely necessary, only if you actually find a store that has them, a link to a manufacturer would be fine too.
by
catbertthegreat
asked 2 years ago
do some searches for "pulp pots" and "paper pots"
Most of what I could find were not as large as you need; I would guess the soil's weight would overstress most biodegradable materials
http://www.enviroarc.net/index.php
http://www.novoselenterprises.com/products/jiffy.asp
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330351707270&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=M*F%3F&GUID=0cf56c1a1250a02653439853ffafbc3b&itemid=330351707270&ff4=263602_263622
I've used paper grocery bags, triple layered, with the tops folded/rolled down to whatever height I needed & time release fertilizer pellets. The bags hold up fairly well, although care has to be used when they're ultimately transferred as the bottoms like to fall apart if you're not careful. I slide a piece of sturdy plastic that I've cut from the top of a 3 gallon ice cream bucket under the bag prior to transplanting the pot as an added support. I suppose you can use a shovel just as well.
You could try to manufacture your own using a large plastic pot as a "pattern" - if your local newspaper uses a bio-degradable ink, you could use about 12 or so layers to form the pot, and could tie it up with a natural twine of some sort. The paper and twine would disappear shortly after going into the ground. Cardboard circle bottom; in fact, cardboard would make a great inner layer. Good luck!!
I have used the method recommended here:
http://www.goselfsufficient.co.uk/make-your-own-biodegrable-plant-pots.html
Really rather like paper-maiche, only slightly less messy. The best thing about old newspapers is that you can make the bottom a bit thicker, and then just soak the ground where it's going into to make it decay quickly.
I'm not sure whether they say, but remember, no shiny paper, only newsprint.
1.5 gallon at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Straw-Pots-1-5-Gallon-Biodegradable/dp/B002Q0BF5Q
@gionot: you should post that as a deal.
Not sure how well these breakdown, but other Fiber Grow pots do: http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/Fiber-Grow-Pots/productinfo/CN-FGP/
Sizes to 2 gallons.
@hobbit: Thanks for suggestion! Too busy searching to think of it myself, but just added it.
@gionot: Yep, and it went to popular, just a few moments ago.
Thanks for all the replies. I declare @gionot the winner as his is guaranteed to break down in the soil and requires very little work. This is not my project but my mother's and I would rather just stick the plants in the ground immediately, then make a pot.
The prize: gratitude.
@catbertthegreat: You are very welcome! I don't usually have time to kibitz, but I do like to help with projects. I could relate to the challenge because my own mother is still gardening into her late 80s, only slowed by the herd of deer who think her yard is an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Burlap. It won't provide any substantial nutrition to the plant, but it will contain the root ball for planting. I wouldn't count on any biodegradable pot to provide much food for a 5 gallon planting. You'd need to work a fertilizer into the soil around your plating to encourage root growth out of the pots root ball. You should also tailor your fertilizer to the type of planting.
Also, when you get into large items, you could build simple "crates" that have large gaps in the wooden slats and are burlap lined. Use a poor weathering wood like a pine or poplar.
@funnyguy0: I recommend against the burlap. It isn't what was requested (plantable pots), and is really not biodegradable, certainly not at the speed the OP had in mind. Sure, it'll break down sooner or later, but not in a comfortable manner. In addition, burlap may have been treated with chemicals for various reasons (including fire safety).
I have used burlap dams when I was looking for something lighter to maneuver than canvas, so I'm quite sure on their long term use, and unsuitability for planting.
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply now sells wood pulp pots in 3 gallon and 5 gallon sizes. The 3 gallon pots are about 2 dollars each, and the 5 gallon pots are about 3 dollars each. I have grown both herbs (mints and oregano) and Asian vegetables in them will good results. The wood pulp seems to encourage horizontal and vertical root growth far more than plastic pots do.
A 12-gallon Fiber Pot is now available from whiteflowerfarm.com 1-800-503-9624. Their address is White Flower Farm, P.O. Box 50, Litchfield, CT 06759-0050. The pot is approximately 18" wide at the top and 14" high. In the White Flower Farm catalog it is on page 136, item number
S55840.
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