Flowerpots seem over-priced... or is it just my thrift showing

[debodun]

Many of my house plants are outgrowing their pots. I was looking at general merchandise web sites, big box stores and even Marketplace (one person wants $40 for a few assorted pots that look like they were dragged through a swamp). Everyone wants a small fortune for planters. I plan on selling many of my plants at a spring garage sale and I probably couldn't even break even if I bought pots retail. I've been saving quart yogurt containers, but my plants quickly out-grow those.

I suppose I could buy gallons of ice cream, but then I'd have to eat a lot of ice cream - bad idea for me.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

What about big yogurt containers.

 

[debodun]

What about big yogurt containers.

I've never seen a gallon yogurt container. The largest they have here is 28 oz. Not nearly large enough for a big spider or arrowhead plant.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

My houseplants probably don't like me because I water them once every Saturday and give them no special attention. They look healthy, but none have outgrown the original pots, so I've never had that problem. If I ever need to, I might just look in a thrift store for some plastic pots.

Walmart's own brand of Cool Whip only costs $2.16 and comes in a fair sized container. It could be thawed and emptied into something else and the container used to repot a plant.

Dollar Tree sells disposable nice sized plastic clear containers for $1.25 here.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I've never seen a gallon yogurt container. The largest they have here is 28 oz. Not nearly large enough for a big spider or arrowhead plant.

True.

 

[debodun]

My houseplants probably don't like me because I water them once every Saturday and give them no special attention. They look healthy, but none have outgrown the original pots, so I've never had that problem.

Same here. I think the biggest problem people have with houseplants is being over-attentive or neglectful. There's a happy medium which I seem to have discovered. I always feel the soil before watering and only water when it feels dry. Also, draw tap water at least a day BEFORE watering to give any chlorine a chance to dissipate.

 

[Murrmurr]

Same here. I think the biggest problem people have with houseplants is being over-attentive or neglectful. There's a happy medium which I seem to have discovered. I always feel the soil before watering and only water when it feels dry. Also, draw tap water at least a day BEFORE watering to give any chlorine a chance to dissipate.

If you're selling just the plants, imo it's ok to put them in plastic grocery bags, along with their soil of course, and tie the bags securely at the stem. A lot of people will probably want to re-pot them, anyway.

 

[debodun]

A lot of people will probably want to re-pot them, anyway.

That's why I don't want to spend a lot on pots.

 

[That Lady in PA]

If you're selling just the plants, imo it's ok to put them in plastic grocery bags, along with their soil of course, and tie the bags securely at the stem. A lot of people will probably want to re-pot them, anyway.

That is exactly what people do in my area.
People want the plants, not pots.


That said, 25 one gallon pots for $13.75 seems to be a great deal !
Gro Pro® Premium Round Black Nursery Pot

 

[debodun]

Where do you get plastic grocery bags? They were discontinued here a few years ago here. Now you either have to bring your own box or bag or buy a tote bag from the store.

 

[Murrmurr]

Where do you get plastic grocery bags? They were discontinued them a few years ago here. Now you either have to bring your own box or bag or buy a tote bag from the store.

See if your local liquor and convenience stores still use them. They might let you buy some for .25 each.

Our Dollar Tree stores sell plant pots cheap, but I've only seen small ones there lately.

How 'bout small-sized trash bags?

 

[Aunt Bea]

I suppose that almost anything can be a flower pot.

Start rummaging through your neighbors trash for gallon and half gallon plastic milk jugs.

 

[Babs2u]

Many of my house plants are outgrowing their pots. I was looking at general merchandise web sites, big box stores and even Marketplace (one person wants $40 for a few assorted pots that look like they were dragged through a swamp). Everyone wants a small fortune for planters. I plan on selling many of my plants at a spring garage sale and I probably couldn't even break even if I bought pots retail. I've been saving quart yogurt containers, but my plants quickly out-grow those.

I suppose I could buy gallons of ice cream, but then I'd have to eat a lot of ice cream - bad idea for me.

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One of the garden centers near me (It was Pike) would pile all the old pots outside when they repotted. They were dirty but free. Maybe you could ask at a nursery if there is one nearby.

 

[Murrmurr]

I suppose that almost anything can be a flower pot.

Start rummaging through your neighbors trash for gallon and half gallon plastic milk jugs.

That's a good idea.

But I'm pretty sure Deb posted pics of a few of her houseplants, and some of them were about the size of a 3-legged stool...or like 5-gallon paint bucket size.

 

[Dr.Colosso]

Same here. I think the biggest problem people have with houseplants is being over-attentive or neglectful. There's a happy medium which I seem to have discovered. I always feel the soil before watering and only water when it feels dry. Also, draw tap water at least a day BEFORE watering to give any chlorine a chance to dissipate.

Last year I got a kalanchoë. Those things always died. The others did great. This one kept blossoming almost the whole year because I put it in front of the window next to a big plant and almost always gave all the plants water, but forgot the kalanchoë.That was it. It wanted to be neglected.

 

[Aunt Bea]

That's a good idea.

But I'm pretty sure Deb posted pics of a few of her houseplants, and some of them were about the size of a 3-legged stool...or like 5-gallon paint bucket size.

Milk jugs were just an example, keep digging until you find what you need.

Maybe a five gallon kitty litter bucket would work.

 

[MountainRa]

Dollar General has a limited selection of nice, reasonably priced decorative pots on a seasonal basis.

I always keep an eye out at thrift stores for decorative pots for indoor plants. I set my plant that is in the basic black plastic nursery pot inside a more decorative pot to protect from water damage on furniture. Some plants just prefer to be watered from the bottom anyway.

By the way, the clear plastic dome type covers that come on cakes from the grocery store ( the kind that sound like you’re tearing the house down when you try to open one late at night ) make excellent containers for pots when you invert the lid. The bottom makes a good drainage tray as well. With some plants that need humidity I put a layer of decorative stones in the bottom of the inverted cake lid, set the plant pot inside, and add about an inch of water over the stones. Adds humidity without plant roots sitting in water.

@debodun I wish I could come to your Spring garage sale! It wouldn’t matter to me what container the plant was in. Can you use the empty bag inside a box of cereal to hold your plants temporarily for a buyer since you don’t have access to plastic grocery bags?

Also, the bakery department at our grocery store will give us empty cake icing buckets for free when asked. These are really big buckets. They still have some traces of icing inside and have to be washed.
i know all this because my husband has hauled home too damn many of these buckets.

 

[debodun]

This Schefflera is my largest plant and it' s probably about 4 feet tall.

 

[hollydolly]

These flower pots line the street of a Southern Spanish town of which I visit a lot....

They're about 5 feet high... and made of plastic....

In our local garden centre they sell the same..or simialr sized ones.. and they cost £299.00...