Gardening with Plastic Flower Pots

Plastic flower pots have evolved considerably over the years with breakthroughs in polymer research and more creative approaches to design and aesthetics. No longer are gardeners limited to those reddish- brown, plastic pots poorly masquerading as terra cotta. Today’s consumer can have large flower pots at affordable prices which still have the look and feel of more traditional materials like clay, ceramic or metal and sometimes, even wood.

Plastic Flower Pots: The Advantages of Using a Large Flower Pot

The advantages of plastic flower pots become clear when gardeners consider the following factors:

• Affordability. Plastic Flower Pots are a fraction the cost as traditional pots.
• Weight. Plastic flower pots weigh considerably less than traditional pots, enabling gardeners to move larger pots with greater ease.
• Durable. Higher grade plastic flower pots can be more durable and are rustproof.
• More design options. Modern molding techniques offer a wider range of color, texture and size options.

How to Plant in Plastic Flower Pots, Outdoor Planters and Plastic Planters

In his book, The Complete Guide to Gardening, Peter HcHoy offers five simple steps to planting in outdoor planters. Flower arranging aside, he offers important hints when using planters be they plastic, ceramic, clay or metal.

1. Cover the drainage holes with a layer of gravel or chipped bark to prevent water from collecting in the bottom of the pot.
2. Use a “loam-based” potting mixture and fill the pot to just below the rim.
3. Choose a “tall or bold plant” for the center.
4. Fill in around the top with “bushier but lower-growing” plants.
5. Top-dress the surface with a decorative mulch to conserve moisture and water well. (Pots, especially plastic flower pots, tend to dry out faster than flower beds.)

Cleaning Plastic Flower Pots and Other Garden Pots

Autumn brings many chores for the average gardener and gardeners using plastic flower pots are no different. In fact, they may have a few extra chores to complete when those autumn winds start to blow. The Complete Guide to Gardening warns that plant diseases can be carried from one plant to the next on old pots. It’s a good idea to wash all flower pots in the Fall, using a disinfectant such as a vinegar or bleach solution. Pots should be well scrubbed, both inside and out, then placed out to dry and later stored for Winter. When Spring comes, all the pots will be clean and ready for another enjoyable gardening season.

Sources:

Peter McHoy, The Complete Guide to Gardening, Anness Publishing Ltd, New York, 2002