Cheap Plant pots

[carloso]

anyone got any suggestions as to where i may find a lot of plant pots CHEAP !!!!!!

i am from YORKSHIRE !!!! LOL

Carl

[carloso]

[bupster]

There's a thread somewhere on making your own out of newspaper. I did twelve last night - berliner format is perfect. They work out at about equivalent to a 3" plant pot, so should be ok for seedlings without needing to pot on for a bit (I think). 

[Derekthefox]

Other than that, you may  find your local garden centre has some offers on for bulk purchases, eg for quantities from 100 -1000. You may find bargains if you have a poundshop near you too ... For smaller sizes, I reclaim plastic drinks cups from the coffee machines ...

[mat]

For smaller sizes, I reclaim plastic drinks cups from the coffee machines ...

Very good suggestion, we have one of these on our floor at work, I think I will start collecting some...

mat

[jennym]

If you want to buy 7cm pots in bulk with trays, the best value I have found is on this link from H.Smith Plastics:
http://www.plantcell.demon.co.uk/single%20pots.htm
- look at option K at the bottom of the page - the mixed case of singles and carrying trays. This is 1,000 7cm square flimsy black plastic pots, plus carrying trays - 15 pots fit into a tray. The cost is reasonable, (even more so if you can find someone to share with) and I have found them to be very adequate for my needs. Delivery was prompt, and came packed neatly in a square cardboard box.

[MutantHobbit]

I picked up 50 polysterene cups for a quid in a Pound shop. ;D

Great for propogating as they retain heat, and my late Nan used to swear by them.

Dave 

[grassroots]

Derek excellent idea with the drinks cup's.  :)

[Derekthefox]

Thanks grass roots ...

Mutant, if you get the 'thin' drinks cups, targetted for cold drinks, they are 100 for £1

[supersprout]

Hey carloso, if you do a search on this site for loo rolls you will see they are popular too, and just rot away (and how green is that!) ;D

[growmore]

 Good idea  MH,Polystyrene don't rot either..If You are carful with em you will be able to use them again. Jim

[Ceratonia]

I did a bit of searching for cheap pots before christmas and found the following places on the web

http://www.lbsgardendirect.co.uk/
http://www.kaysdiscountgarden.co.uk/
http://www.essentialscompany.co.uk/
http://www.thegardensuperstore.co.uk/

The "H Smith plastics" that jennyM posted are very cheap (and I'm told very friendly if you drop by their factory in Essex), but they are a little flimsier than the Sankey or Teku pots.

Cheapest place I found in the end was my local zoo - they buy thousands of bedding plants and had loads of clean, neatly stacked pots free to take away. Made a reasonable amount of money for the school PTA last year selling plants at the summer fair, (we pretty much sold out), so I wanted more pots so I could sell more plants.

[bupster]

And for starting seedlings Joy Larkcom suggests used teabags....

[katynewbie]

 ???

Erm......used teabags? How? Why? I really need to know now!!

;D ;D ;D

[bupster]

Haven't got book to hand, but many people recommend adding teabags to compost so presumably the plants like the stuff as a fertiliser. Don't know if anyone's tried this. We could do an experiment recycling all the teabreak paraphernalia - teabag to cup, then potting on into teapot? Spout would be useful for feeding and watering  :)

[keef]

I used to get loads of free ones from supermarket building sites and refits when i was working on site. All the ones from the plants they put out in the car parks etc.. just get binned. I just helped me self from the skip, some massive ones too.

[ACE]

Go to your local municipal park and give the gardener a drink, he will then save you all the used bedding pots which they usually put in a skip.

[plot51A]

Joy Larkcom also suggests planting seeds in egg boxes - using the sections as modules and planting straight out. After your potatoes have chitted of course! Have got a mountain of egg boxes and loo rolls saved now so all ready to go.

[Gardenantics]

Hi Carl,

I've got loads of 1litre pots that I had given, you can have 100 anytime you are in Sowerby Bridge Near Halifax. PM me if you want some.

Brian

[ipt8]

Mum always used to put tea leaves on the rose bushes, she never used tea bags.Then again mom and dad never owned a car, hasnt life changed!
My wife puts a tea bag in the pot of houseplants. I compost them.

[Amazin]

In Wilkinsons the other day I bought some 'Breeding pots' - flimsy, but cheap - in various sizes at 99p per pack:
6cm  x 96
8cm x 72
10.5 x 48