Gardening has become quite popular these days. Changes in the environment and lack of open garden space have increased the popularity of container gardening. Container gardening is incomplete without Planters. Today we will go with the plastic one. Plastic Planters are very common in container gardening.
These planters are really light & convenient to work and handle. Other materials used to make planters are clay, wood, ceramic, metal, and cement. All these planters have their own pros and cons. Here We will discuss the details about plastic planters. Let’s check out whether plastic planters are good or not for your plants.
Also, read my Previous post- Is Rice Monocot or Dicot? -Seed facts
Let’s start with the first question…
Why Do we need a Planter?
At first, this question seems stupid but trust me it’s an important one. No matter whether you have a traditional garden or a hybrid one like a hydroponic set, yet we need a container to support the plants. You can grow a plant without soil but not without a container, unless if it’s an air plant.
A container or planter stores the soil or any growing media that balances and stabilizes the growth of a plant.
So in simple words, we can say that A planter is required to physically support the growth of a plant. These planters can be big or small according to the size of plants it grows. Planters are made of different materials of various shape size, and colors. Checkout – Is the Shape of Pots Important for plants?
Need Some good quality Plastic planters? – Check out my favorite Planters on Amazon.
Significance of material of planters
Is the Material of a Planter really important? – Yes, indeed the material matters for the growth of the plant. Physical integrity is the most important significance of any planter. It is designed to hold the growing media along with the root system of the plant.
Different materials act differently in varying environmental factors. Overheating is a big problem for metal containers. Hot summer days are really harsh for plants in metal containers. Whereas a wooden container can easily sustain hot summer days. Similarly, a clay pot or planter is good for thermal and moisture exchange. While a plastic container is more durable and light in weight.
Overall the preference of one material over another is mostly dependent on these factors-
- Availability of the material. Easily available materials are mostly preferred.
- Cost of the material. Overall costing really affects the use of any planter material.
- The durability of the material. A planter should be a value-for-money product. It should be durable enough to support a plant for multiple seasons.
- Movability or Portability. Indeed portable planters are preferred over bulky ones. The material should be light enough to move easily from one spot to another. The whole concept of container gardening dependent on the ability to move a plant without damaging it. So ease of Portability really matters.
- Market Demand. Demand is also a very important factor. According to the local climate and market scenario, some materials are useful while others are not. This is why metal planters are not very common in hot & cold zones. Also, the demand for ceramic planters is high due to their versatile use. The demand for one material force increased production over other planter materials.
Pros & Cons of Using Plastic Planters
Ok, I think we are good to go with the planter thing. Now we can discuss our today’s topic- The benefits and drawbacks of using plastic planters.
Starting the discussion with a quick pick!— Pros and Cons of Container Gardening
Pros of Plastic Planter over other materials
- Plastic planters are really light. These planters are lighter than almost any other material used for making planters.
- Plastic Planters have various shapes and sizes. Plastic is a very flexible material. We can easily find planters made of plastic in different shapes and sizes. In fact, you can have planters with custom abstract shapes which is not possible with other materials.
- Plastic planters can have beautiful color varieties. It is the biggest advantage for home decorators. Whatever your favorite color is, you will find one for you for sure!
- Plastic planters are cost-effective. These planters are very affordable compared to other materials. You can buy one in 2 or 3 bucks. You can also check my favorite plastic planters on amazon.
Pros & Cons of Using Plastic Planters
Now, if you have a plastic planter and another one made of clay or something else. You can question which one is good for my plant? Should I use a plastic planter, if yes then why not try the other one?
All these questions are genuine and believe me, every gardener has to sort out these sometimes. I am not gonna say you to choose this one or that one. Just look out the comparison table below and judge accordingly. These comparisons are based on my experience with plastic planters. Some of the facts may vary according to your local climate and the plants you choose.
| Pros of Using Plastic Planters | Cons of using Plastic planters |
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Summary for pros & cons of Plastic Planters
- Plastic planters are beautiful, lightweight, and affordable. These planters are also very durable but not as strong as clay or cement planters.
- Plastic planters are easy to shift but cannot survive rough handling.
- These planters can save the plants during cold nights but they can also boil the roots on hot summer days.
- You can grow almost any kind of plant in a plastic planter. I have tried climbers, creepers, bushes, annuals, perennials, flowers, veggies, and even fruits. All do great in plastic planters but you should be aware that these planters don’t allow the movement of heat and moisture. So you have to careful in these regulations.
Overall it is your choice, whether you like to use a plastic planter or not. In fact, My first preference is always a clay pot or planter. But those are quite expensive and heavy to handle. Plastic planters are really affordable and handy for me. I can manage the cons with some tweaks and knowledge.