Quality of Pots

[tevfik]

I recently bought 3,6 liter plastic pots, there were two different in store, i bought cheap ones. They're a bit ugly compared to originals and they smell very much like industrial plastic. I don't have much info about pots, so i'm just worried about these. Salesman said they're ok but anyway he wants to sell his goods. Is it ok to grow in them or can they effect on plants?

tevfik Reviewed by tevfik on 12-07-2010. Quality of Pots I recently bought 3,6 liter plastic pots, there were two different in store, i bought cheap ones. They're a bit ugly compared to originals and they smell very much like industrial plastic. I don't have much info about pots, so i'm just worried about these. Salesman said they're ok but anyway he wants to sell his goods. Is it ok to grow in them or can they effect on plants? Rating: 5

[rudy2010]

We never throw any pot away unless it is broken and useless. The quality of pots make no difference with few exceptions. I use cheap pots from nurseries that people usually just toss after they plant the plant inside. I use plastic drinking cups too sinc they are really cheap. I just stack them and drill holes in the bottom of several an one time.

I would suggest that you don't use peat or choir (coconut fiber) pots. They are poor for transplanting and inhibit overall growth. The only breathable and soakable pot I would suggest is the smart pots. They are expensive but can be used for several years.

Get the cheapest thing you can that will hold dirt.

[tevfik]

Thanks for the input. Nursery cups, drinking cups and all other cups are just fine. Small pots I'm using for seedling, they're same material with plastic meat boxes from supermarket. But this quality of plastics i bought are banned from food sector ages ago. That is the only thing worries me. I was thinking to cover inside with kitchen wrap?

[gypski]

Thanks for the input. Nursery cups, drinking cups and all other cups are just fine. Small pots I'm using for seedling, they're same material with plastic meat boxes from supermarket. But this quality of plastics i bought are banned from food sector ages ago. That is the only thing worries me. I was thinking to cover inside with kitchen wrap?

Wash them out with hot water and soap. No need to line them with anything. :thumbsup:

[Cabighed]

I like the flimsy thin nursery buckets. Reusable and flexible so you can cram them together if needed. If it's a small grow, look over the bank at the cemetery and you'll find them there for free. As a side note, I went to a buddy's to check out his outdoor grow this year. Ten foot tall plants loaded with gnarly buds. He ended up with 14# from 20 plants. The buckets? Used 5 Gallon Hydraulic Fluid buckets. Not my recommendation, but impressive none the less! And definitely cheap. Scrub 'em up, fill 'em with your medium of choice and grow, baby, grow!

[Weezard]

I recently bought 3,6 liter plastic pots, there were two different in store, i bought cheap ones. They're a bit ugly compared to originals and they smell very much like industrial plastic. I don't have much info about pots, so i'm just worried about these. Salesman said they're ok but anyway he wants to sell his goods. Is it ok to grow in them or can they effect on plants?

"they smell very much like industrial plastic."

Good question.
If, what you smelled is pthalates outgassing, it's a big problem.
Pthalates are softening agent that's used for plastic hose.
They are toxic to plants.

Can't think of a reason for it's use in ridgid plastic, but what do I know?
I don't even play a chemist on T.V.!

So, I doubt that's the case, but the fact that you can smell it means there's something coming off of it.
I don't know if Pthalates even have a discernable odor.


Had a similar situation here.
They smelled more like benzopyrines and styrene than, say vinyl.
Smell was strong enough that I didn't want to risk $10 seeds.

Tried running them through the dishwasher but it seems it was not an external contaminant .

So I planted some bagseed and some tomato seed in them.
They grew jus' fine, but I still did not like the smell and I'm picky about the aroma and taste of my meds, so I used those cheapies for outdoor ornamentals.


You can grow in anything.
All a container has to do is, contain, yah?

Got a friend who uses plastic bags.
No, not grow-bags.
Bread bags, kitchen trash bags, whatever blows his way.
Seems to work fine for him.
And I've used gallon milk jugs with the tops cut off for veg.


Then had a minor brainstorm on a nursery visit.
Pointed to a huge stack of 4" 'ling pots and offered to haul a few hundred away for them to "make room".
She grinned and allowed me to pay her 2 cents ea.

Aloha nui,
Weezard

[tevfik]

Thanks fellas. I thought maybe not me but plants could get some cancer in those so I already returned them to the store and changed with good quality not smelly ones today. Just paid $2.50 difference for 10 of them and saved my babies life...

[Dutch Pimp]

My first grow; I used 4 inch terrra cota clay pots. Big mistake. The plants grew fine, but the roots stick to the sides.
This makes transplanting very hard....:wtf:

[GaGrown]

My first grow; I used 4 inch terrra cota clay pots. Big mistake. The plants grew fine, but the roots stick to the sides.
This makes transplanting very hard....:wtf:

I've used them ,too Dutch.. The roots find the tiny pores and bore their way in and makes it literally impossible to dump them out. Made transplanting a nightmare!

[Weezard]

My first grow; I used 4 inch terrra cota clay pots. Big mistake. The plants grew fine, but the roots stick to the sides.
This makes transplanting very hard....:wtf:

That's why the ancient gardeners always kept a long butcher's knife at hand.
Ya just slide it down the side of the pot to the bottom. then circumnavigate, mate!
When ya "thunk' it, the root tips that grab the pot's bottom yank down some stragglies for ya.
And the side cuts are a mild root pruning.
Them stragglies help the roots to dig right in to the new soil.
The old ways ain't dead yet, but they are feelin' poorly.

Aloha
Weezy ol' fart