We use UV stabilized Polypropylene (PP) plastic- this has its own characteristics and most of these are very suitable for pots, including good structural stiffness, heat resistance and durability. Our pots have been in use for over 5 years and are still going strong at our nursery despite very high sun and heat levels. Two places where PP falls short are in cold resistance (below zero deg C) and in impact strength. Thus articles made from PP cannot easily take hard knocks and will tend to crack if, for instance, they are dropped from a height. Since this is a rare issue with pots, PP is now the most widely used plastic for pots except in very cold climates. For the large Tubs and MP Trays we use a special grade of rubberized PP that largely overcomes even this shortfall and takes reasonable impact in its stride.
Both, the Terra Cotta and the Black pots are made from UV stabilized plastic. We have used our pots in intense sun for several years but have still not had any UV degradation problems. In addition, our pots are relatively thick walled, especially compared to European pots and this adds substantially to the life of the pot. The Terra Cotta color itself has been recently upgraded to a very stable pigment mix that does not fade in the sun.
There may be some loss of media while potting and with the initial few waterings. However, the material at the base soon stabilizes and won't come out at all after this.
No, there is absolutely no need for this-crocking pots in an old practice that does not increase drainage. In fact it creates a false bottom above the real pot base and raises the area of waterlogged soil present in all pots. This actually reduces the zone with well aerated soil where healthy roots can flourish. We raise thousands of plants every year without crocking a single pot.
Yes, every year millions of plants are grown to perfection in plastic pots, which have many advantages over clay pots: they don't break easily, are cleaner, don't gather algae, are light in weight and need less frequent watering. The one advantage that clay pots have is that water can evaporate from the sides: this is only useful if you over water your plants. Once you understand that plants in plastic pots require less water, it's not a problem any more. Of course if you have tried to grow plants in many consumer pots with few or only small holes you will have killed the plants- but our pots have more than enough holes to ensure drainage of excess water.
Clay pots allow water to evaporate from the pot wall but do not actually allow entry of air when moist since all the pores are filled with water. This evaporation is helpful if plants are over watered or if the drainage holes are blocked. If the pot is plastic and there are not enough drain holes, the water will stagnate and suffocate the plant roots. That is why all our pots have ample drainage holes-they are professionally designed with plant growth and requirements in mind.
When planting in pots of any kind, use an open, fluffy and well drained mix. Clayey soil is generally not a good choice, especially for small pots. However, soil less media may not be available to you. In this case add plenty of well decayed, fibrous manure, stone chips and coconut coir to improve drainage.
Generally you should aim to keep the soil evenly moist at all times, not wet and not bone dry. Whenever you water, do so till some comes out from the drain holes. Then wait till the soil is somewhat dry at the top and still moist below the surface (you can tell by poking in a finger or by the weight of the pot) and then water again. This interval will be longer in winter or rains and shorter in hot weather. Big plants will require more frequent watering, especially if they have been in the same pot for long and are root bound. Be particularly careful when watering newly potted plants- they are easily over watered, leading to root rot.
Where available, use a good quality soil less media based on coconut coir. If this is not available, use saucers below your pots. Remember to discard the water that collects in the saucer from time to time.
This depends on your needs. Professional nursery growers use black pots because they are cheaper. Terra Cotta has its advantages: they look better and more like clay pots and are cooler compared to black pots especially if exposed to the sun.
Yes, you can use ordinary plastic paint (acrylic emulsion) to paint over the black pots. Use two coats if you want to totally hide the black base. We paint some of our pots white to keep them cooler in the hot sun.
If the quantity you require is substantial and you can wait, we can make pots of other colors. The price will be substantially higher. Contact us for further details.
Repot plants that have grown too big for the pot, where the roots fill the full pot and can be seen above the soil and when the soil dries out very soon after watering- all these are indicators that the plant is root bound. When repotting use a pot at least 2 inches bigger than the old pot. Remove the plant from the old pot- with plastic pots you can usually "knock out" the root ball by turning over the pot and tapping the rim on a solid surface. Remove any loose or decomposed soil from the root ball. Place enough fresh soil in the new pot so that when the root ball is placed in the new pot, the new soil level will be the same as the old level. Fill the gaps around the root ball with fresh media. Do not press the media in- rather thump the whole pot on the ground to gently settle the media without overly compacting it. Water thoroughly.
When repotting relatively large plants, you may not want to increase the pot size. In this case most plants will handle root pruning, especially if the weather is good- not too hot or too cold. It is a good way to rejuvenate old plants with compact, tight root balls. To root prune remove the pot and using a big sharp knife, remove a 3-5 cm (1-2 inch) layer of the root ball from the sides and bottom. Repot this smaller root ball into the same pot or similar sized new pot as described above in repotting. Soon active new roots will grow out from the cut root ends- these new roots will rejuvenate the plant, especially if you combine this with a modest amount of stem pruning.
Though live plants look good in any home or office, the pot may not match the interior. One easy way to overcome this problem is to use a pot cover. This is any container into which the plastic pot will fit in comfortably. If possible place a saucer in the pot cover first and the pot so that excess water is caught. The pot cover may be made of any material to match your interior- metal, cane, bamboo, wood with or without laminate etc. If the material used is likely to be spoiled by water (e.g. cane) just line the inside and bottom with thick but clear plastic film. Many low cost pot covers greatly enhance the look of plants in the interior.
The minimum quantity for sales within India is Rs.10000/-. Taxes, packing and freight are billed extra. For large commercial users there are a lot of savings in packing and transportation with large orders- contact us for further details. For international orders please contact us by email or fax with your requirements.
This depends on your location. Several freight companies offer door to door service and this is an advantage for a small order but for larger orders it may be too costly. As always, contact us with details of your order and location and we will work out the best options for you.
You can pay by Demand Draft payable in Mumbai, by Money Order or bank transfer. We do not accept outstation cheques except those from HDFC bank. International payments must be made in US Dollars, Euros, or Pounds Sterling by Demand Draft (Cashiers cheques) or by TT to our account.
Most items are in stock with us. I case the order is for large numbers of one or a few items it may take us some time to manufacture these. When we receive your order we will let you know the availability situation on your order.
Currently our products are available in most quality nurseries and garden outlets in Mumbai and Pune city. We are looking for distributors in other areas.
