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For a long time, people have used plastic pots in their gardens. It makes sense.
Plastic pots are cheap and come in various styles, patterns, and colors, making them easy to tailor to the aesthetics in the garden or home.
However, they come with several disadvantages, key among them, their effect on the environment.
Presently, more people are moving away from traditional pots and embracing more environmentally sustainable ways to garden.
Bamboo pots are now becoming common, and as more manufacturers provide this to the market, you might be wondering if they are suitable for your plants.
We will look at their characteristics, why they may work for your plants, what’s good or not so good about them, and where you can get some. Here goes:
What is a Bamboo Pot?
Bamboo, which belongs to the grass family, is a woody plant, and you may have already noticed this from pictures or seeing the plant in real life.
With more than one thousand species growing across South Asia and North America, people have put this wood to good use.
Not only does it make furniture but it also makes mugs, straws and now pots!
It thus serves as one of the most useful natural materials on this earth and comes with a range of properties that further make it a go-to.
A bamboo pot mainly comprises bamboo leftovers blended with some binding agents.
Given that bamboo is often used to make items such as cups and furniture, manufacturers end up with many leftovers.
Rather than letting it go to waste, eco-friendly companies use these bits and combine them with resin and cornstarch to create molded pots.
After heating and pressurizing the molds, they make highly biodegradable pots.
These pots are ideal for anyone moving away from the terracotta route and who does not want to use plastic for their pots.
And here is some good news: bamboo fiber pots come in a range of colors.
You might think that all pots might feature some dull or neutral colors that might not blend with your aesthetic needs.
However, that is hardly the case. From blue to green to pink, you can find a color that best suits your home, giving you a modern finish.
Plus, the pots are highly practical and work even better than most pots you will find on the market.
Are Bamboo Pots Good for Plants?
Yes bamboo pots are good for plants. It makes sense that you might wonder if using wood is an excellent idea for a planter. Bamboo is not like your typical wood.
First of all, it is much harder than oak. Can you believe that? It can withstand more than oak can, making it a great choice as a planter as it will not let you down when harsh weather comes calling.
Secondly, it does not swell or shrink based on the water added to the pot. It ensures that water goes into maintaining the plant rather than feeding the wood.
Let’s look at some other properties that make it a suitable choice for this role:
Strength
While it may not look like it, bamboo has a very high compressive strength.
It can resist external forces even better than wood and concrete, translating to outstanding performance as a pot.
Moreover, it has a high tensile strength, which allows it to resist internal forces.
Compared to other materials, bamboo’s strength is closer to steel, making it much stronger than softwoods.
As such, if a plant’s roots are trying to escape the pot due to root binding, they will have a hard time making it through.
Please note that the pot’s strength will come down to the manufacturer, but it should be pretty high.
Shrinkage
When fresh, bamboo can shrink very fast, and manufacturers often have to work hard to prevent this from happening.
However, once the wood dries, it becomes stable and is much less likely to shrink compared to other types of wood.
That’s why it’s possible to use it in mugs and other items that come into contact with water.
Thus, even if you live in a hot area, you don’t have to worry about the pot losing its structure with changes in humidity.
Porosity
Natural materials are always the way to go when choosing a pot for your plants, and bamboo is one such great alternative.
A porous material breathes and ensures that enough air gets to the roots.
Additionally, it promotes evaporation, and as water leaves from the side of the pot, the soil cools and draws more water.
This mechanism ensures that excess water drains out of the pot and keeps root rot at bay.
Of course, this comes with the disadvantage of the soil drying up fast, which can stress the plant.
All you need to do is ensure that you water the plant adequately, and you should be fine. It’s a small price to pay for a healthy plant.
Advantages of Bamboo Pots
Bamboo pots are much like plastic pots in that they come in a range of colors and shapes.
Thus, if you want to have a vibrant look in your home or garden, you can still achieve it without damaging the environment.
Secondly, they are sustainable and highly biodegradable, and once you’ve gotten your use out of the pot, you can repurpose it.
Plus, the pots are reusable. Thus, once you have sunk some money into the pots, you will get great value for it as bamboo pots are gifts that keep on giving.
Disadvantages of Bamboo Pots
The major downside to bamboo pots is that they are still relatively new to the market and are not as widely available as other pots so you may struggle to find them for your plants.
As such, you might have trouble getting pot sizes that do not lie in the 8cm-13cm range.
How Long do Bamboo Pots Last?
A bamboo pot will last you two to three years on average. Some manufacturers state that their pots can last as many as four years.
It follows that you would require a new pot around every three years. Given that most plants need repotting after this much time, this is good enough timing.
Plus, with most sets of pots going for about $4 for five pots, you would get a good deal.
If you want a high-end pot, the cost comes to about $2 per pot every three years, which is pretty reasonable.
Are Bamboo Pots Sustainable?
Yes bamboo pots are sustainable! Other than the binding agents used to make the pots, everything else used in the manufacturing process is wholly biodegradable.
You don’t have to worry about damaging the environment when you finally have to replace the pot.
Additionally, bamboo is a fast-growing plant, and some varieties grow up to 4 centimeters each hour.
It does not take much to grow, harvest and process this plant which has minimal adverse impacts on the environment.
Thus, investing in a bamboo pot or any other sustainable plastic alternative is a great way to save the planet.
You may also like: Why is my outdoor bamboo dying.
Top 3 Bamboo Pots
You can get your bamboo pots from any of the suppliers below:
Green Tones
Green Tones sources its bamboo leftovers from making placemats, chopsticks, decking, and other areas.
They then mix the bamboo powder with organic corn starch and a small amount of resin and food-grade dyes.
Their pots boast of 70% bamboo powder, 20% resin, and 10% corn starch. Unlike most plastics used in gardening, these pots are BPA-free.
Haxnicks
The pots can thus last about five years or more, even in the outdoors.
If you wish to compost the pots after use, the process takes at least six months though you can break down the pots to increase the composting speed.
No petroleum-based products feature in these pots, and they are all BPA-free.
Paris Garden
Paris Garden, which promotes urban farming, also offers bio pots with bamboo fiber. The pots are all biodegradable and come in new designs and a range of hues.
The pots also come with a plant of your choosing to add a twist to the gardening aspect, enabling you to start gardening straight away!
How Should You Choose a Bamboo Pot?
Bamboo pots come with a set of advantages that other pots may not. However, you still have to be picky when finding a pot for your plants by considering:
The Pot’s Drainage
You always want to go with a pot that has enough drainage holes. It allows the roots to take up oxygen and ensures that they do not drown in water and start rotting.
If you ever notice that your potting mix has a sour smell, it might be time to change your watering schedule or change your pot.
Weight
If you plan to move the pot around, you should consider its weight.
Please note that once you add soil to the pot and water it, it will get heavier. If mobility is essential, you may want to consider this at this point.
Final Thoughts: Are Bamboo Pots Good For Plants?
Overall, if you’re in the market for a biodegradable, cost-effective, and modern pot, a bamboo fiber pot would be an excellent place to start.
Happy Gardening!
Before you go, here are some more related articles I encourage you to read below to help solve more of your gardening issues:
