Greenhouse and Nursery - Alternatives for Plastic Pots 2

There are many alternatives to plastic pots being offered for the greenhouse and nursery trade. The following is the second in a series of posts on this subject (information from the University of Maryland).

Fertilpots are a biodegradable wood fiber pot composed primarily of spruce fibers. Fertilpots are biodegradable and are intended to be planted directly in the ground. Water, air, and roots penetrate the walls of the fertilpot so there is supposedly no need for drainage holes. Fertilpots do not require a composting situation to degrade and are planted directly into the ground by the consumer. Fertilpots has come up with a tray for handling of biodegradable containers. Developed jointly by Fertil International and Desch Plantpak, the Dioni tray encourages airflow around the pots for better root formation. The design of the Dioni tray provides an air space which promotes air pruning of the root tips emerging from the porous walls of fetilpots.

Fertilpot

Dioni tray.


Information from the February 20, 2009 edition of the Greenhouse TPM/IPM Bi-Weekly Report from the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Central Maryland Research and Education Center http://www.ipmnet.umd.edu/09Feb20G.pdf.