Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 30 6/5/17 2:43 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 31 6/5/17 2:45 PM

30 chapter 1

expensive. Fiberglass is made from a plastic

embedded with glass fibers.

Fiberstone. This material is made from a

combination of crushed limestone and fiberglass

mixed with a composite. Fiberstone containers

look like stone, but they’re far lighter and easier

to move. Weather-resistant and thicker-walled

than regular fiberglass planters, fiberstone pots

can be left outdoors year-round and are not likely

to crack or flake. The biggest downside is their

expensive price.

Metal. Metal containers can be made of

copper, galvanized metal, stainless steel, steel,

cast iron, aluminum, and many other metals.

Though they’re attractive, some types may

rust if not painted, particularly steel and cast

iron. Thinner metals such as aluminum are

lightweight, but they’ll easily dent. Others, such

as cast iron, are not likely to crack or dent,

but they’re extremely heavy. Rust-proof metal

containers include aluminum, galvanized metal,

copper, and stainless steel. Some brands of steel

and aluminum containers are powder-coated to

provide a colorful, fade-resistant finish.

Polystyrene foam. High-quality polystyrene

foam containers can be quite expensive, but

they’re made to look like heavier materials,

such as terracotta, stone, concrete, ceramic, or

metal. Foam planters insulate plant roots very

well and protect them from excessive heat and

cold. These containers are lightweight, which is

a definite plus, but they’re not as strong as some

other materials. Polystyrene foam containers with

raised, embossed designs may chip and dent.

These containers can be left outside year-round

and used for many years.

There are many dierent types

of garden containers made

from metal, including cast iron,

aluminum, and stainless steel.

Polystyrene foam containers can

be expensive, but if you’re looking

for lightweight containers, they fit

the bill. They can be left outdoors

year-round but may be more prone

to fading and denting if they are.

Fiberstone pots look like stone,

but they’re much lighter and can

be left outdoors year-round.

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Getting Started 31

Fabric pots/grow bags. These extremely

lightweight containers are made from a fibrous,

geo-textile fabric that’s portable and very easy to

work with. Some brands even come with handles.

Fabric pots are inexpensive, and the best brands to

look for if you’re growing food are those that are

BPA-free. One of the biggest pluses of fabric bags

is their ability to prevent root circling and pot-

bound plants. When a growing root hits the fabric,

instead of starting to circle around inside the

pot, the root branches, creating a fibrous network

of roots instead of a pot-bound plant. The roots

stay within the fabric, and the containers last for

many years, even when left outdoors during the

winter. Fabric pots allow for good gas exchange,

Fabric pots, such as the one housing this eggplant,

are inexpensive and very useful. The geo-textile fabric

they’re made of promotes good air exchange and

prevents root circling.

Metal hayracks, planters, and baskets lined with

coconut fiber are attractive garden containers.

They dry out very quickly, though, unless they’re

lined with plastic.

too, enabling the roots to breathe and stabilizing

soil temperatures. They come in a broad range

of colors and sizes; some are so big you can even

grow good-sized trees in them.

Fiber-lined. Porch planters, hanging baskets,

hayracks, deck railing planters, and lots of other

containers are made in this style, which consists of

a metal frame lined with coconut fiber (known as

coir) or a similar-looking synthetic substitute. Pretty

and fairly inexpensive, fiber-lined containers are

lightweight, but they dry out very quickly unless

you put a thin sheet of plastic with a few drainage

holes in between the fiber and the potting soil. The

liners need to be replaced every few years, but the

natural look of fiber-lined planters is worth it.

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