Product Overview
Jumbo LilyBlooms Fabric Pot 20"w x 7"h
Planting containers are necessary for plants that need to be anchored in soil and are being placed in a pond without a soil bottom. A container is also advisable in a soil bottom pond if the plant being planted is one that spreads quickly, and that fast spread is undesirable. Many different types of containers have been used and are available--we have used them all, and have concluded that permeable fabric pots are best for the health of the plants.
Our black fabric pots are custom made for us to our specifications; they are made from heavy landscape fabric, and feel like felt. Much thicker and sturdier than Laguna containers, we have been using them for 6 years and have not had even one degrade or come apart. We use the term "fabric" and that is the word used in the textile industry, but they are not an organic fabric--they are a nonwoven polypropylene geotextile.
Fabric pots are superior because they porous and therefore breathe, which allows for the exchange of gasses and helps minimize anaerobic soil conditions. Anaerobic conditions mean without oxygen or low oxygen, and promote the growth of bacteria who can live in these conditions; these bacteria produce toxic byproducts that build up in the soil, and adversely impact plant health, possibly causing rotting of plant roots and rhizomes.
Fabric pots also allow the fine hair roots to penetrate the porous fabric, while keeping the larger rhizomes inside the pot. Having hair roots extend into the water surrounding the pot not only increases beneficial oxygen and carbon dioxide gas exchange, but also allows the plant to absorb more nutrients from the pond water; this helps reduce algae growth while feeding the plant.
Our fabric pots also have handles for easier planting and moving.
Hard plastic pots are popular because they are convenient and used for terrestrial plants, but they do not offer the same benefits. No-hole plastic pots inhibit the transfer of gasses, and do not allow the hair roots to penetrate into the water surrounding the pot. Plastic pots with holes are better, but still give less opportunity for gas exchange. At the same time, plastic pots with holes allow soil to escape the pot, and also allow runners and even rhizomes to escape the pot.
Pond plant containers, whatever they are made from, should always be wider than they are tall. This helps them be stable and not tip over as easily, which is especially important for tall marginal plants and ones with large leaves. Greater width promotes gas exchange at the soil surface for a healthier plant and soil microbiome. Pond plants also like to spread horizontally rather than vertically, and this gives them more soil surface area for spreading.
We have 5 sizes of plastic pots, to better match the needs of the plant and the pond landscape:
7.5" wide x 5" high $5.95 each (best for small, non-spreading plants such as marsh marigold or dwarf lilies)
10" wide x 6" high $6.95 each (for small plants such as water hawthorne, bowl or dwarf lotus, or to keep plants intentionally restricted for a small pond)
12.5" wide x 7" high $9.95 each (for medium sized specimen plants and small to medium sized lotus cultivars)
15" wide x 6" high $12.95 each (for large specimen plants and medium sized lotus cultivars)
20" wide x 6" high $17.95 each (for group planting of specimen plants and large lotus cultivars)
