Wool pots

Hello all. I went to Gardeners World live show yesterday it was a lovely day but my favourite bit was the stall promoting Wool Pots. Not heard of them before but what a good idea!
The people at the stall were replacing the plastic pots of plants bought at the show with wool pots free of charge.
Advantages of wool pots- better for the environment as no nasty plastic
Better for the plants as roots grow through the wool easily and no root disturbance when planted out, also the wool degrades into the soil providing organic matter and if planted out so pot is slightly proud of the surrounding soil there is some protection from slugs.
Better for sheep farming as they have a way to use wool and make some money
Also they smell and feel lovely.
The only disadvantage is the cost , £20 for 30 pots isn’t cheap but maybe prices would come down if more of us used them.
I don’t have any affiliation with this company but I was so impressed with the product I wanted to share my opinion.

 

It's a hard sell with everything gardening related being so much more expensive than a couple of years ago, like paper pulp and the coir based ones are great ideas but for most people just add another expense. Reusing existing plastic makes more sense to me. But alternatives are welcome.

 

I like reusing my plastic pots until they are on their last legs or passing them on to people that need them down the allotment, so for me they aren't really that disposable. Saying that I like the idea of wool pots because the problem with the alternatives is that the paper pulp ones just degrade so quickly when they are wet that they are really limiting and the coir and bamboo pots are made abroad and shipped in whereas something made out of a essential waste material here can only be better. I also think they might have a decent lifespan compared to some alternatives but don't think they will catch on massively because plastic is so cheap and people aren't willing to pay more for a greener alternative.

 

Would be a good idea, but:
better would be to pay farmers for their production. Wool has a negative cash flow to sheep farmers as it costs money to dispose of the shearings, whether landfilled or burnt. It has no value; until you all buy Axminster carpet etc, Harris tweed, Jaegar /Alan paine knitwear etc etc
Attempts have been made to utilise wool as an insulator in buildings, as an ingredient in compost but not so far in a cost -effective way to be competitive with other, less eco-friendly materials
Plastic pots are fine but could be better by a)being recyclable as a material b)be in standard size /shapes to re-use by growers.

 

There's loads of women on here, can't you all knit some?!( this was typed very quietly, so my wife couldn't hear me)

 

I'm not sure whether I want wool insulation in my roof, what about moths and other vermin?

 

I think wool insulation would be fine, especially if it was boarded in. Wool is naturally fire retardant.

 

@flounder, the problem is that a lot of wool is not suitable for knitting. I think, but I could be wrong, that it is difficult to get a sheep with good meat and also nice soft wool. Some breeds are renowned for good quality wool e.g Blue Faced Leicestershire, others not so much.
Also there are a lot of synthetic yarns nowadays which are cheaper and easier to care for, being machine washable, which is important when making clothes for babies and children.

 

Wet wool generates heat, @katecat58 , so is great for people who work outside (think Guernsey sweaters for fishermen...). Perhaps we gardeners should set a trend for wearing wool?

 

I have started wearing woollen jumpers for winter gardening, I find them warmer than fleeces. No good for the farmers though, they are all old ones that I can’t wear for best.

 

If you wear woollen jumpers when gardening watch out for your thorny roses. It took me ages to free myself when caught up in one. Silly me and my jumper has never looked the same since.

 

It was pointed out to me that a problem commercial growers have with recycling pots is the need to clean them thoroughly even sterilise them. Easier to buy new. I don’t think there is an easy answer

 

I don't think there's an easy answer either @Debs64 .
How sturdy are those pots though - especially when you water them? Do they collapse a bit?
I'd have thought a good cardboard type of pot could be viable - even if it's just for small sizes. I've tried some of those small ones mentioned, in the past and didn't find them good at all though. Perhaps not quite the right mix in the product, and of course, you can't re use very easily unless it's for something you can move on quickly to a bigger pot, and you're re sowing.

Our local B&Q now has a recycling point at the exit which is really useful, and saves booking a trip to the dump - it's never gone back to the normal operation after the pandemic.
Pots, books/DVDs, small electrical items, light bulbs etc, which is great as it saves just chucking stuff in the standard bin for landfill, or making trips to charity shops etc. I even had a look the other day because I have plenty of small pots [3 inch] and plenty of bigger ones [6 inch] but I could do with some of the in between size, for things that are slower growing and you don't want them overloaded with compost/soil. Unfortunately - none that size!

 

I am trying wool pots for the first time this year . I have put them inside plastic pots though as they were collapsing. I have my new Chrysanthemums in them , must get them planted out soon. I will let you know how they go.

 

I can knit @flounder but not with wool. I've been allergic to it since birth and it makes my skin blister. Think I'll stay with plastic pots.

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