Containers Flashcards
List different materials used in manufacturing containers
Terracotta
Plastic
Polystyrene
Peat
Coir
Paper
Wood
Natural and reconstituted stone
Recycled materials
Terracotta (containers) - properties and characteristics
Attractive.
Best for display plants.
More expensive than plastic.
Porous - good drainage but also lose water through evaporation
Sturdy
Breakable - good for crocks!
Some are not frost-resistant
Glazed terracotta is non-porous and attractive
Plastic (containers) - properties and characteristics
Lightweight and inexpensive
Frost-resistant
Direct sun can degrade and become brittle
Durable and reusable
Poor insulators
Not that attractive
Can be used inside an attractive glazed pot (especially indoors!)
Black heats quick in sun whereas white heats slowly
Difficult to recycle, although more schemes are becoming available.
Polystyrene (containers) - properties and characteristics
Used in manufacture of modular bedding containers.
Very light, non-porous
Brittle but strong
Generally white which does not heat up root zone
Base is pierced for watering from below
Not designed for re-use, but broken up they can be used to increase drainage in large containers.
Not recyclable.
Peat (containers) - properties and characteristics
Can be bought in bulk at low cost;
Biodegradable;
Suited to raising plants before transplanting (pot and all);
Acidic;
Keep a moist root environment as absorbent;
Difficult to re-wet once dry;
Not environmentally sustainable - strong objections, so alternatives must be found! (such as coir)
Coir (containers) - properties and characteristics
Made from coconut husk fibres;
Compressed and moulded and expands as it absorbs water;
Biodegradable, absorbent and porous;
Keeps a moist root environment;
Plants can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance;
Roots can struggle to break through dry pots.
Paper (containers) - properties and characteristics
Very inexpensive
Biodegradable
Can be made easily from double-thickness rolled newspaper;
Good stop-gap for young seedlings;
Don’t last long!
Not robust!
Roots can struggle to break through dry pots.
Wood (containers) - properties and characteristics
Attractive, natural, rustic look;
Good for larger pots and planters;
Perforated plastic liner should be used to prevent wood from rotting;
Relatively inexpensive and hardwearing;
Biodegradable (after a long period!)
Heavy;
Prone to rotting but wood treatments can prolong life.
Stone (natural and reconstituted) - properties and characteristics
Long lasting
Frost-resistant
Attractive
Very heavy!
Expensive
e.g. granite, marble, Portland and Bath stone.
Tufa - variety of limestone has sustainability issues
Stone pots and planters will “weather” and grow attractive mosses and lichens;
Non-recyclable
Broken stone can be used in rockeries;
Reconstituted stone (resin and crushed stone) looks natural but is not nearly as heavy - or expensive!
Recycled materials used as/for containers - properties and characteristics
Anything from food tins, plastic bottles, shopping baskets, trugs, car tyres and wheelbarrows.
Old kettles, paraffin lamps, nautical paraphernalia and a host of other potential containers are out there for use with a little imagination.
Aesthetic qualities can fit in with a garden style rather than out of necessity!
Generally inexpensive to make and may also be recyclable afterwards.
Ensure adequate drainage and beware of some metals: e.g. iron rusts readily and copper can be toxic to plants in large doses if it begins to leach into the soil.
Factors to be considered when choosing containers for display of plants in greenhouses and interior displays
Attractive?
Aesthetics - does the colour match domestic colour schemes and styles?
Will the container require regular cleaning to keep it looking good?
Weather resistance?
How easy will it be to move?
What type of plants are going into the container?
Is container right for the root environment?
Will the container need a lot of watering?
Is container watertight?
Is there adequate drainage?
What is the lifespan?
Is the container reusable/recyclable/biodegradable?
Is the manufacturing process environmentally sound and energy efficient?
What is the cost? Cheap and cheerful or more ornamental and expensive?
