Plant pots

Question 1

List 10 different types of plant container materials?

Answer 1

Plastic
Terracotta
Coir
Paper
Polystyrene
Natural stone
Ceramic
Recycled materials - tin can
Peat based container 
Concrete

Question 2

Facts about terraccotta pots

Answer 2

Porous
Used to display bulbs, alpines, foliage plants.
Rooting cuttings.
Display of pot plants in conservatory.
Natural looking
Stackable
Can be damaged by frost.
Expensive compared to plastic.
Harder to clean.
Can harbour fungal spores

Question 3

Facts about plastic pots

Answer 3

Different shapes - individual square or cylindrical pots, or modules.
Long lasting & durable.
Frost resistant.
Retain moisture.
Lightweight.
Used mainly in Horticulture production - raising plants, germinating seeds, propagating cuttings.
Economical.
Non biodegradable so not good for environment.

Question 4

Facts about Coir

Answer 4

A bi product of coconuts.
Biodegradable
More porous than peat so better aeration.
Many different sizes.
Seedlings can be planted out in entire pot - so no root disturbance.
Used to raise seedlings.
Economical but more expensive than plastic.
Lot of air miles to ship coir materials.

Question 5

Natural and reconstituted stone

Answer 5

Heavy
Used to display bulbs and foliage plants.
Strong and durable.
Long lasting.
Frost resistant.
Most expensive material for pots.

Question 6

Peat based container

Answer 6

Comes as a small pot or peat jiffy pellets which swell with water.
Absorbs and retains water, but difficult to rewet once dry.
Light weight.
One use.
Not as strong as plastic or teracotta.
Porous.
Raising seedlings.
Shouldn’t be using Peat as it’s unsustainable.