Hey guys, I’m stuck renting for now and planting things in ground that really don’t take up too much space and can be propagated easily. 90 percent of my gardening will be in pots, however, I’ve come to this problem where I don’t have enough, and I don’t have any money to buy more. Specifically I’m looking for 7 or 10 gallon pots, I have a few 15 and they are big enough to where I don’t really want to put my figs in them because they get too heavy if I move and end up having to move a bunch of them. Should I just go root around in the trash bin of a garden center? Anyone have any tips? Craigslist and Facebook marketplace have yielded nothing for my area.
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I think many people have had success asking the garden centers at big box stores. The stores are often happy to get rid of extras.
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I save almost every pot I get… wash them stack them store them. Have quite the collection. Start doing that… if you have not already.
You can also save and use larger plastic coffee containers… drill some drain holes in them… they work fine.
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Have you called your local recycle center, chances are they have used 5 gallon paint cans that can be used as pots once cleaned up. I have an acquaintance that refurbishes homes and he saves all his 5 gallon buckets, gave me some that I use for multiple purposes. So just check around and call a few places. You can get a builder list from Loews and Home Depot to contact
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Pots and grow bags. The struggle is real. I hooked up with a landscaper who was just trashing his 1-3 gallon pots. Which works fine with seed starts and young grafts. I’ve found a scarce few at box stores. Everyone and their monkey’s uncle here asks for them.
About to order 150 grow bags from Amazon.
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I would go around with the scrapers on garbage day. Or pay one of those guys to bring you pots. I got some really nice ones a few times. Even brand new.
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Check local bakeries for icing containers. Ask pizza shops for food grade 4.5 gallon mushroom buckets.
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Yeah good one about bakeries. There is a place here called Firehouse Subs that was giving them away free on certain days. I’d definitely ask any large nurseries or landscape companies. Containers are a funny thing because so many people buy trees and plants and ditch the containers but right place at the right time.
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I used to do very cheap white ‘plastic bag pots’, but they do tear after a year or 2 if you move them around.
Here are those (although i would get in white color elsewhere, so doesn’t get as hot in summer):
I do like the ‘fabric grow-bags’ thats cheaper than clay pots (but more expensive than ‘plastic bag pots’. I would rec always getting with the handles so can move around stuff.
Lasts 4-6 years until something tears into the fabric to use as a bedding/nest material (and even then can patch it up). These are the recent ones i ordered, maybe someone has a cheaper source (I used to get Root Pouch brand from greenhousemegastore i think, but amazon has cheaper options [but maybe not as long-lasting]).
Here are those:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VWU2UDC
Here is the Root Pouch brand:
and of course can get free black plastic pots off FB Marketplace or local garden center as some others maybe mentioned (cat litter buckets is another option i see people use).
@Regenerative_Andrew I had great success with fabric pots. They can be had for pretty cheap bought online.
Do you adjust your soil mix at all from plastic pots? Do they dry out faster for you?
That’s what I started my pawpaw seeds in ! Lol
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When I worked in a deli, almost all of the macaroni and potatoe salads came in 5 gal buckets. Might hit them up, might also want to ask Costco/Sam’s club too for their bakery
Ask around on FB. Especially this time of year, people are busy taking things OUT of pots of all sizes.
I’ve gotten some large stacks of the single use pots in those sizes by going by construction sites for new homes when they are in the landscaping phase. They will bring in lots of bushes in those larger size pots and will toss the pots into the construction dumpster immediately afterwards.
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There’s also this option:
I was able to get 200 3G pots for 10c each from a local nursery.
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Keep an eye out for landscaper installing bushes and flowers and ask them. I have a endless supply now from one landscape company.
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Look in the craigslist free section. I’m sure you can find something that would double as a pot if not pots themselves.