Bamboo Pots - An Alternative to Plastic Pots?

If you are looking to buy pots for your plants and want to avoid plastic pots, why not consider a pot made of bamboo? Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet so makes a sustainable and biodegradable option.

Bamboo pots are free from Petroleum based plastics and BPA, which is a chemical used to make plastics. They are made from bamboo, rice and resin from naturally occurring compounds. They will not last as long as plastic pots as they are biodegradable but should last about five years. After this they can be composted! Just break the pots up and put them in your compost heap. They should then biodegrade in 6-12 months.

Options are fairly limited in terms of size, you will most commonly only find 5 inch and 6 inch pots available. They are available in a couple of colours, a light brown and light green. Unlike plastic pots they have a slightly mottled appearance and are much heavier. You can use them for indoor and outdoor plants.

As well as pots, seed trays are also available in the same colours. As the material these are made from is porous, the shape of the seed tray may change and warp due to moisture held within the bamboo. According to the manufacturer this won't affect the use of the product. The seed trays also come without any drainage holes so that you will have to drill your own. Be aware that the tray is much thicker and heavier than a standard plastic seed tray so drilling holes might be a little more difficult. 

You will be able to find bamboo pots at your local garden centre, but be prepared to search for them as there won't be such a large range as the plastic version.

Below are a number of photos of bamboo pots and trays, including one of a Plectranthus happily growing in a brown bamboo pot.