Comments on: Lighter Pots, Less Soil Wasted, and a Way to Recycle Plastic Bottles

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:35:57 +0000

Interesting tip. I always use the styrofoam packing peanuts and haven’t had too many issues when changing out the dirt. Of course you have to use the packing peanuts that don’t disintegrate when they get wet

By: Fern

Fern — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:30:40 +0000

invisible.bees — I’ve given up trying to keep track of everything that the government thinks might cause health problems. The list includes virtually everything known to man. Apples, tomatoes and carrots have known carcinogens! I try and avoid the obviously unhealthy things, like smoking and dangerous pesticides, but at some point, you have to throw up your hands.

By: Fern

Fern — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:24:55 +0000

TC — I would think crumpled newspapers would turn into mush that would likely block the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Not to mention that when it becomes wet and compacted, it would be just as heavy as regular dirt. Besides, not that many people receive an actual paper anymore. And I don’t dump old soil from my larger pots. And even if all those reasons didn’t exist, it’s also not presently realistic to expect anyone except the hardcore to forgo the use of plastic all together. A large percentage of food items come in plastic containers.

By: TC

TC — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:37:25 +0000

Why not forgo the use of all plastics and use crumpled newspapers? At the end of the season you can dump the old potting soil and the newsprint in the compost bin. (Newspaper biodegrades.)
(This tip provided by a fellow Master Gardener.)

By: invisiblebees

invisiblebees — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:48:25 +0000

I may try this with some of my flower pots, but I’m reluctant to use plastic in my herb and food crop pots. I’m wondering if there’s any potential plastic “fallout” (or styrofoam as Genevieve offers) … http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94699105

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:39:14 +0000

This is the first filler tip I can get behind! I usually read to use rocks or styrofoam, which is awful, because it’s hard to seperate them out later, but bottles? Easy as pie to remove them when you change out your soil. Great tip!