Where do you guys find larger pots?

[hstark]

I have been scouring the internet (and stores) for larger pots (20 gallon +). They are PRICEY!! I've been getting them from my local Big Lots, but they only get up to 20", and $15 each. This is not bad if you only need a few of them, but as the figs multiply and grow, I'm going to need dozens of big pots. Not just that, they are poly plastic and not very thick (much thinner than black nursery pots). So I can see the plastic breaking down in a year or 2 in the sun and needing complete replacement anyway.

I have no idea where to buy the big tree-sized black nursery pots. Also, someone mentioned feed store cow mineral buckets... when I checked online, those are all full of... cow minerals, hehe.

Is there a cheaper way to get a lot of tree-sized pots? Where do you guys get your pots?

[Tonycm]

I got mine on Craigslist. A nursery/landscaping business had a few truck loads of pots ranging from 1 gallon up to 25 gallon and listed them as "FREE" (my favorite word). I also got some plastic drums from a friend that I will eventually cut in half to make large pots for only a chosen few favorite figs.

[Figfanatic57]

Most nurseries will sell their used Pots.
But, I bought some from Greenhouse Mega store that were reasonable. Large nursery containers. Of course they have different sizes.

$45.58 — #25, Black, 5/bundle
Dimensions
Size Dia. In. Ht In. Gallons Liters
#25 23 3/4 18 1/8 27.17 102.886

Make sure you check the prices for shipping first before you order. The have warehouses in CA & IL.

[jmaler]

This should get you started

https://orlando.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=nursery+pots

[Sarahkt]

I second Cary's suggestion. Nurseries selling or giving away used pots is a good tip.

I called around at a several local nurseries to check if they sold or gave away used pots. One sells them cheaply, up to 15- or 20-gallon pots. It's a no-frills offer, just go around to the back where they stack them and pick up whichever ones you want. Prices at that nursery range from $0.10 for 1# to $4 or $6 for 15- or 20-gallons. I like choosing them myself because there's a range in quality and construction. In general, getting pots that aren't black is preferable, but I still have lots of black pots and haven't noticed too much heat stress on the roots.

[hstark]

Ahh... you guys are great! I have been looking at Craigslist, but if I have to drive an hour to get the pots, the gas and tolls make it not a savings from Big Lots (but I will keep looking for local ads too!).

I will definitely check the nurseries around here as well!!! Thanks for the great tips to all of you !

[newnandawg]

Zenhydro.com and yes these injection molded containers are the best and pricey.

[hstark]

Good to know, thanks newdawg, will definitely keep the link if I can't find cheaper pots (these are cheaper, even WITH shipping, than the much thinner Big Lots pots for $15).

[cjmach1973]

Some bigger city's dpw have them for free after they plant new trees

[hammerwood]

I use 15 gal pots. This is the best deal I have found and it includes free shipping (about $10.00 per pot). The quality of the pot is excellent

[hstark]

15 gal pots are big enough for mature fig trees do you think? I've been thinking I need around 25 gallons to give them room to grow, no??

[Sarahkt]

15 gallons are a lot easier to work with when you have to trim roots and repot... Also easier to move around if you have to do any fig-shuffling or are just compulsive about rearranging potted trees.

[hstark]

What I'd been thinking is in a 25 gal pot, they wouldn't need root trimming... but I guess they'd have to get repotted as the soil got depleted. Well, if you keep adding compost and manures, wouldn't that be similar to being in the ground? Tho a 15 gal pot would DEFINITELY be easier to move around!!!

[quackmaster]

I was getting mine at the local nursery, at first they would sell me the used one a little cheaper then the new ones. Then last time I went the lady told me they wouldn't sell me the new ones so I started looking around and got with a local landscaper here and he has truck loads behind his house and he told me to help my self, they aren't in the best of shape and I had to take the good with the bad but it was definitely worth it, I'm glad I found him.

[hstark]

Oooh... I'll ask landscapers too... great idea!!

[don_sanders]

Free 5 gallon buckets from restaurants that go through lots of pickles. $10 55 gallon drums cut in half for keepers that need larger.

Bamboo screens, burlap, etc. if you want to try to purdy them up.

[hstark]

55 gallon drums?? Where do you get those?

[don_sanders]

Craigslist. There is a guy here that sells used vinegar drums for $10. Haven't found a free source.

[hstark]

Ok thanks, will see if there are any drums too.

[greenfig]

Guys,

When you talk about the pots in the gallon measurements, do you mean an actual gallon or a trade gallon? 1 trade gal = 0.71 gal. So 20 trade gal pot is actually 14 gal actual volume.

I think the 55 gal drums are the real 55 liquid gals while in trade gals that would be 71 gal

[Jamie0507]

I noticed this when I ordered 10 supposed 5gal pots off of amazon last week.. They send me 10 4.02 gal pots and I was a bit perturbed with the company for misrepresenting their product.. Seems this may be standard though?

[hstark]

Actually, I don't really go by the gal size, because that's pretty hard to eyeball at a store when you are talking volume. When I think 15 gal, I think 15" across the top, 20 gal, 20" across the top. I don't really know how many gallons they actually hold, I just use the word gallons because that's how people talk about pots.

The ones I got at Big Lots probably aren't near the correct gallon, because they taper at the bottom. But since figs are mostly surface roots, the measurement that really matters is the top 6" of the pot. The tapering makes it lighter, and will cover a longer tap root, but that space around a tap root doesn't need to be as big as the top surface, so I like the tapering because it makes the pot lighter weight. It's just so expensive, and also thinner plastic, so I don't think they'd last as long as a 'real' nursery pot made for growing plants outdoors in.

[cjmach1973]

It's easy to convert if you have the inside dimensions... height x radius x radius x 3.14 /231

[Jamie0507]

Helen I have found big 15gal bucket type deals with handles from walmart for $5.97 each.. I only bought 4 black ones and wish I picked up more.. Last time I went they only had one red one left, but if I find them again I will surely pick more up.. I know they aren't 25gal like you are looking for, but I believe even 25gal pots will eventually need root pruning. I've got 2 fig trees in 25gals but they sure do take a lot of soil to fill and are very heavy to lug around. The 10 & 15gals are much more manageable. Plus you could always allow the roots to grow into the ground on those if you'd like?

[hstark]

Hi Jamie, at Big Lots, I found 25 gal plastic 'tubs' for $8, they are like kids toy tubs. Thing is, I don't know if they are UV protected, so I have one sitting outside in partial sun to test. Flower pots have UV protection in the plastic, if they don't have this, they fall apart pretty quick (1 year or less), because the sun eats plastic that isn't treated, so that's one reason outdoor pots are more expensive. Even treated ones will get brittle and begin breaking down in a few years in the sun.

You guys have me rethinking size tho. 15 gallons is definitely easier to move around, repot, etc than bigger. I was just thinking that with a tighter root space, the plant can't get as big, so you won't get many/any figs. But if they are figging just fine for you guys at 15 gal, then no reason to go bigger. I need to conserve space anyway, my yard isn't that big either, so 15 gal would definitely make it easier for me!

[cis4elk]

This time of year it's always good to keep an eye open on garbage day. Most people that buy trees for the landscape throw away the pots or put them in their recycling. I just picked up 5 the other nite that are really good sized, just guessing but I would say one 10 gallon and the other for are 15-20 gallon (real size not trade).

[hstark]

another great idea!! Actually, best would be to find a new subdivision... too bad none right around here, but lots of tree planting in new subdivisions.

[lilfiggy]

New subdivision landscaping is a good place to get pots but you have to be vigiliant or they get put into the recycling trash. go the night before. I saw those walmart buckets last year but when I posted it someone said they would not last. don't remember who

[drew51]

I'm kinda a cheap guy and I live in a decent neighborhood in the burbs. People throw them out all the time. Last week I got about 7x 20 gallon plus pots. All were in good shape. I had to throw one away that was damaged. I also use root pouches. They last about 4 seasons, maybe 5. Only the good ones though. The brown 15 gallons ones are 6 bucks. I'm using 10 gallon on 2nd leaf plants for the next 2 seasons or so.
Photo taken on 2016 05 14

[hstark]

I was eyeballing bags... do you have to water a lot more often? Do they rot at the bottom if sitting on dirt?

[drew51]

Yeah you do have to water more, and they do tend to rot from the bottom, if on dirt or cement. So is dirt worse? No, not really. You'll get 3 years, maybe 4 or 5. By that time plant should be re-potted anyway. At 6 dollars a bag (And these 10 gallon ones are not 6 but 4.50). these pots cost 2 dollars a year. So who cares? One note with air pruning abilities of fabric, a 15 gallon root pouch should be compared to a 30 gallon plastic pot. Roots do not circle in these pots!!!

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/root-pouch-boxer-brown-fabric-pot-longest-lifespan/growing-pouches-and-bags

[hstark]

Those look pretty good! Thanks Andrew!

[lilfiggy]

nice looking bags no problems with animals?

[drew51]

I have not harvested many figs yet. Rather new, second year growing them. Although I have over 40 years of growing experience.
I grow stone fruit and brambles, and many other fruits. It is my dog's job to keep the animals away. Currently fighting off the robins from my strawberries. I have ton's of fruit in pot, pouches, whatever I find dumpster diving.So far not many problems with animals.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...hoto/015_1.jpg

[drew51]

I moved one of the figs to another location, but here is two of the three today pictured aboive. About 1 month's growth in the fabric pots, in cool Michigan

[WillsC]

I use half 55 gallon barrels. A barrel though is a true 60 gallons so you get 2 true 30 gallon pots per barrel. They make great sips.

[hstark]

ahhh... I can't wrap my head around how SIPs work exactly...

[don_sanders]

SIPs are just a nice way to bottom water. Figs like a lot of water and a sip will provide a constant supply in the reservoir below. Capillary action pulls the water upward into the potting mix as it is used. You could go as simple as a saucer of water under a pot or as complicated as a self watering system of interconnected containers.

[hstark]

but doesn't watering from the bottom rot roots? That's the part that doesn't make sense to me. It's basically wicking water continuously from the bottom, so how does the plant ever dry out?

[WillsC]

but doesn't watering from the bottom rot roots? That's the part that doesn't make sense to me. It's basically wicking water continuously from the bottom, so how does the plant ever dry out?

It doesn't dry out. You control the wicking, soil saturation by the soil mix you put in and how much contact you allow between the soil and water. In mine there is two pillars of contact about as big as a baseball is across, they act as the wick.. The mix keeps it not too wet, not too dry. The roots will actually grow down in to the water and be quite happy there completely submerged. Not every root has to have air as long as some of the roots are in an airy condition. The sips have an overflow that sets the water depth in the reservoir which is below the base level of the soil in the pot.