Clear containers.

Mortalis

I have taken to planting my trees in clear plastic containers. Its great to be able to see the roots of your tree, I can see shifts in vigor within the week, see the mosture in the soil, and watch my trees grow both above and below.

Do any of you do the same? If so have you found any glass bonsai pots? I am about to start drilling pyrex bakeware for it but if its already done well no point.

Hey remember if you do this to wrap the pot in something to keep light out when your not looking at the roots..

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RedPine

I am found of using clear with my cuttings. I can see exactly how far along they are, just last night I was checking on some..looking like root progress to me. As for a display thing, more a gimmic I think.

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Mortalis

Its more that I want to be able to see the roots even when the tree is "finished" and in the display pot..

Vance Wood

Years ago I got some clear plastic growing pots but the UV exposure did them in after two seasons. They began to crumble and fall into dust. This is just my experience and not intended to support or pillory the idea.

Do I think it a good idea? I am open to being convinced that it is, however, from my research with my training planter most literature stated that not only are roots geotropic, growing toward the force of gravity, but heliotropic, growing away from a source of light. It seems to me from this point of view a planter or pot that allows a good deal of light access to the root system may be self defeating, discouraging root development rather than encouraging it.

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Graydon

As silly as it sounds to each his own. I can't laugh as I grow trees in colanders and they are kitchenware.

If you try to drill glass be careful. Use a carbide tipped bit or hole saw, go slow and keep the bit cool and clean with a stream of water. Be careful when using water around power tools, use a ground fault interrupter.

Here's a couple of glass items. A baking set that could be 2 pots and a pitcher for use with a cascade.

If you do this post some photos - it would be cool to see how it turns out.

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Mortalis

I think it is a good Idea since I can see the roots each day I know exactly when somthing is wrong..

Example: I have a Ficus that got a nematod infection it almost died before I knew about it as the symptoms are much like overwatering. With visible roots I would have known much sooner.

nsmar4211

Problems with glass:

Drainage.......hard to drill

When they jump off the shelves (bad squirrels) the mess is painful to feet, much worse than pottery and dangerous. And they will sooner or later get knocked or dropped.

And, I had a huge problem with plants slipping out of the glass (espically cascades). See, there's no surface for the roots to grip, the whole rootball easily slides right out.....plastic the roots can grab better.

Problem with clear containers:

Exposure to UV light does break them down very quickly, as Vance pointed out. Very bad feeling to pick up planter and it crumbles.

Honestly, cheap pots can be had for as much as clear plastic or glass containers. Clear plastic is great for starting young plants, cuttings, or seeds (cause you can check on the rooting), but I stopped using them for older plants... and glass I gave up on after a few splinters and scraping plants off the ground that slipped out. Even terracotta pots aren't that expensive. As for the overwatering, the chop stick method or a change of soil might work better than trying to deal with glass..... If you use the clear plastic, just keep an eye on it after 6 months or so for signs of cracking .

rockm

Clear containers not only let in light, but also let in heat--greenhouse effect. THis can be a double edged sword--allowing roots to develop quicker, but also allowing the soil to heat up to unacceptable levels in the summertime...

zen

What about a regular pot with a clear plexi or glass "window" in the back?

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