Plastic or Clay 13 March 2022 at 12:46PM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 6 replies 161 views

frankie

I have always grown my tomatoes in clay pots, but are these superior to plastic pots or the other way round. 

I need to add more pots so trying to decide whether plastic is OK as they are a lot cheaper.

Silvertabby

I grow mine in 10" plastic pots in my greenhouse - but would use clay outdoors.  The extra weight should help stop the plants from being blown over.

mumf

Plastic. Clay is old technology.

Silvertabby

But clay pots look much prettier on a patio.

MalMonroe

Can you get environmentally friendly plastic ones? I thought the world generally was working towards a plastic free environment.
Clay pots are much better, all round.  Plastic is just cheap, nasty and dangerous. Unless it's recyclable, of course. 

Catsacor

Yes you can.
Some garden centres now only supply their pots as recyclable.

Black plastic plant pots can't be recycled but some of the coloured ones can hence seeing differing colours now, i read this a couple of years ago, it's not new.
Clay pots can't be recycled either.

Plastics are being recycled, in their afterlife they're emerging as numerous different things - one such is clothing, many padded jackets and coats are made from recycled plastic.
My last 2 winter coats were made from it, research it.

twopenny

But clay pots are recyclable. They will disintegrate into the soil harmlessly as they are made from natural clay.

To recycle plastic means more transport, more machinery to recreate them and transport onwards to be sold again.

Clay, if the old fashioned sort, retains more moisture within the material around the roots but that means not the cheap ones that have a finish on them.

I managed to get some of the old ones, charity stall and such like.