Coir pots vs. plastic

roherb · April 16, 2012

Last rear I used coir pots that I purchase from Griffens greenhouse supply to sell my tomato plants at the local farmers markets I sell at.

The coir pot is just a bit more costly than plastic containers, but environmentally better. They are bio-degradable and also provide nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to healthy plant growth, and its high resistance to mold-great for greenhouse growing.

This was a big seller at the market, many liked the idea of the coir pot and how they could just plant the entire thing right in the ground.

Has anyone else used these containers? I really like them and they look great at Market Stand.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wk5FEIdJzx...r+2011+145.JPG

Heritage · April 17, 2012

roherb,

I would never use them for personal use, but they are a great selling point. The big box stores have made them popular.

Steve

riceke · April 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritage

roherb,

I would never use them for personal use, but they are a great selling point. The big box stores have made them popular.

Steve

Just wondering why. I never used them myself but was considering it. Are they too expensive? Don't work well?

Fatal_Franklin · August 6, 2012

Anyone who has a decorative hanging basket with coconut fiber lining can tell u they dry up fast. I tried some in my garden center last year....strawberries and tomatos we're planted in 4" coir pots. The top edge of the pot frays and falls apart. They dry out quickly and require watering more frequently. But they grow nice sturdy plants! If you're willing to deal with the extra labor grow directly in them...if you are using them as speacial "packaging" for increasing sales, grow your plants in plastic pots and pop them in a coir before you go to market.

MrsJustice · August 7, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by roherb

Has anyone else used these containers? I really like them and they look great at Market Stand.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wk5FEIdJzx...r+2011+145.JPG

Yes I did for the last 2 years ago, but many customers did not want to pay the different for the pots. Cowpots are the best pots for heirloom Plants.

Farmer Joyce Beggs

MrsJustice · August 7, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatal_Franklin

Anyone who has a decorative hanging basket with coconut fiber lining can tell u they dry up fast. I tried some in my garden center last year....strawberries and tomatos we're planted in 4" coir pots. The top edge of the pot frays and falls apart. They dry out quickly and require watering more frequently. But they grow nice sturdy plants! If you're willing to deal with the extra labor grow directly in them...if you are using them as speacial "packaging" for increasing sales, grow your plants in plastic pots and pop them in a coir before you go to market.

I did this system this year for customers who wanted to buy the pots for extra. Did not work out for me to cover the extra cost, but it's the best way for my customers too successfully grow an Heirloom Plant withoout problems.

Farmer Joyce Beggs

psa · October 24, 2012

In my trials, the plants in coir pots grew slower and smaller than those grown in my plastic sheet pots. In addition, they required more water, frayed very badly at the top, and failed to degrade at all if planted, actively impeding root growth, but tore the roots up when removed.

Cow pots haven't been well received by my customers because by the time the plants are ready for market the pots look pretty bad and are not very finger friendly. The plants seem to like them, though.

MrsJustice · October 27, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by psa

In my trials, the plants in coir pots grew slower and smaller than those grown in my plastic sheet pots. In addition, they required more water, frayed very badly at the top, and failed to degrade at all if planted, actively impeding root growth, but tore the roots up when removed.

Cow pots haven't been well received by my customers because by the time the plants are ready for market the pots look pretty bad and are not very finger friendly. The plants seem to like them, though.

I know that cowpots are not pretty looking when growing, but the Heirloom Plants grow better in them. But, I have stop selling my heirloom plants with the Cow pots. Some do not want to pay the extra cost. I guess I was just trying to education my customers of the "pure cowpots. There is many ways to use the cowpots, but I just cannot write it all down here.

Stay safe in this Hurricane everyone.

KarenO · October 27, 2012

They look nice so for selling plants at market, I can see using them but I think they would dry out easily and would be fragile in transport? do you place them in plastic trys to carry and move around? That sort of defeats the environmental purpose if you need to place them in plastic trays to prevent damage and to carry them I think. I have purchased plants in them and I always remove the coir pot and compost it as I do not find they break down quickly enough and the roots do not go through them well at all at least in my garden. For my personal use, I re-use my plastic ones and save them from year to year. Just my opinion.

greenthumbomaha · November 4, 2012

I invested quite a bit of money in coir pots for starting transplants, and I too had snagged roots galore. Rather than throw them away, I shredded them up and used them for decorative mulch on outdoor planters. Worked great at keeping the potting soil from drying out on top, and they last for more than one season. For market, maybe you could use cups as the others do and top them off with straw or coir for a crafty look, then instruct/encourage the buyer to use it as mulch. Trying to thing of a more environmentally friendly solution ,,,

riceke · November 5, 2012

KarenO...what is that humongous thing your holding in your hand on your profie pic? That's what I want!

MikeInOhio · November 5, 2012

Roherb,

Several years ago I started half my plants in 4" plastic and the other half on coir. At that time I was selling about 700 plants a year, and planting 300. I was surprised to find that the plastics grew faster, but the coirs sold faster. I noticed that people would rather have a 9" plant in coir rather than a 12" plant in plastic.

The black plastic definitely keeps the soil and roots warmer, and the coir dries faster. But if I was still selling plants I would go with the coir and start my germination a week earlier.

-Mike

Redbaron · November 5, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeInOhio

Roherb,

Several years ago I started half my plants in 4" plastic and the other half on coir. At that time I was selling about 700 plants a year, and planting 300. I was surprised to find that the plastics grew faster, but the coirs sold faster. I noticed that people would rather have a 9" plant in coir rather than a 12" plant in plastic.

The black plastic definitely keeps the soil and roots warmer, and the coir dries faster. But if I was still selling plants I would go with the coir and start my germination a week earlier.

-Mike

Does anyone use homemade recycled newspaper pots? I never sold seedlings at market, but that surely is the most economical and easiest way to do seedlings I have ever found.

April 16, 2012	#1
roherb Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Salem, NY Posts: 28	Coir pots vs. plastic Last rear I used coir pots that I purchase from Griffens greenhouse supply to sell my tomato plants at the local farmers markets I sell at. The coir pot is just a bit more costly than plastic containers, but environmentally better. They are bio-degradable and also provide nutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper and iron, all beneficial to healthy plant growth, and its high resistance to mold-great for greenhouse growing. This was a big seller at the market, many liked the idea of the coir pot and how they could just plant the entire thing right in the ground. Has anyone else used these containers? I really like them and they look great at Market Stand. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wk5FEIdJzx...r+2011+145.JPG

November 5, 2012	#11
riceke Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 346	KarenO...what is that humongous thing your holding in your hand on your profie pic? That's what I want! __________________ *Ken*

April 17, 2012	#2
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	roherb, I would never use them for personal use, but they are a great selling point. The big box stores have made them popular. Steve

August 6, 2012	#4
Fatal_Franklin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 24	Anyone who has a decorative hanging basket with coconut fiber lining can tell u they dry up fast. I tried some in my garden center last year....strawberries and tomatos we're planted in 4" coir pots. The top edge of the pot frays and falls apart. They dry out quickly and require watering more frequently. But they grow nice sturdy plants! If you're willing to deal with the extra labor grow directly in them...if you are using them as speacial "packaging" for increasing sales, grow your plants in plastic pots and pop them in a coir before you go to market.

October 24, 2012	#7
psa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: TriCities, WA Posts: 141	In my trials, the plants in coir pots grew slower and smaller than those grown in my plastic sheet pots. In addition, they required more water, frayed very badly at the top, and failed to degrade at all if planted, actively impeding root growth, but tore the roots up when removed. Cow pots haven't been well received by my customers because by the time the plants are ready for market the pots look pretty bad and are not very finger friendly. The plants seem to like them, though.

October 27, 2012	#9
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	They look nice so for selling plants at market, I can see using them but I think they would dry out easily and would be fragile in transport? do you place them in plastic trys to carry and move around? That sort of defeats the environmental purpose if you need to place them in plastic trays to prevent damage and to carry them I think. I have purchased plants in them and I always remove the coir pot and compost it as I do not find they break down quickly enough and the roots do not go through them well at all at least in my garden. For my personal use, I re-use my plastic ones and save them from year to year. Just my opinion.

November 4, 2012	#10
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I invested quite a bit of money in coir pots for starting transplants, and I too had snagged roots galore. Rather than throw them away, I shredded them up and used them for decorative mulch on outdoor planters. Worked great at keeping the potting soil from drying out on top, and they last for more than one season. For market, maybe you could use cups as the others do and top them off with straw or coir for a crafty look, then instruct/encourage the buyer to use it as mulch. Trying to thing of a more environmentally friendly solution ,,,

November 5, 2012	#12
MikeInOhio Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 132	Roherb, Several years ago I started half my plants in 4" plastic and the other half on coir. At that time I was selling about 700 plants a year, and planting 300. I was surprised to find that the plastics grew faster, but the coirs sold faster. I noticed that people would rather have a 9" plant in coir rather than a 12" plant in plastic. The black plastic definitely keeps the soil and roots warmer, and the coir dries faster. But if I was still selling plants I would go with the coir and start my germination a week earlier. -Mike