Nursery containers are unarguably one of the best innovations that have hit the agricultural sector. It eliminates the stress of worrying about space, pest issues, and, of course, the challenge of soil.
When purchasing nursery containers, it is vital to ponder on some factors and weigh your options; that way, you avoid buying the wrong items and wasting money.
Four Things to Factor for Nursery Containers:
- Drainage holes: Oxygen, water, and soil are basic needs for a plant’s survival, and adequate drainage holes in your container provide the plants with proper oxygen circulation and do not stifle the plant. A planter with no pores, such that excess water cannot escape through the holes of the nursery containers, will kill your plant. So, ensure your nursery containers accommodate proper air circulation and water flow.
- Absorbency: when a container is porous or absorbent, it enables the plant to breathe because porous containers allow air and moisture to circulate effectively. When moisture evaporates from the pot, the soil is cooled, drawing excess water and keeping the root from rotting. Nursery containers made from timber, unglazed clay or terracotta, paper pulp, and other natural sources are great absorbent materials to consider as planting options. However, regarding the nature of the material, it is crucial to water your plants religiously to avoid drying out and subsequent death of the plant.
- Weight: as cheesy as it might sound, the weight of a container is an essential factor when making a purchasing choice, especially if you will be moving your containers around frequently. That is because wet soil on its own is heavy, now add that mix to an already heavy nursery container that you would need to move around often. If you have limited sunlight, but if your mobile nursery containers are heavy, moving them around to get the much-needed sunlight could be stressful.