POTR Plant Pots (that water themselves!)

POTR is a range of pots born out of playing around with origami (the Japanese art of paper folding). It ended up as a company making plant pots and vases that water themselves!

Unlike concrete or ceramic plant pots and vases, these won’t break if you knock or drop them. They also can be folded to post through the letterbox, so are far easier to buy and send. And better yet, they are made from recycled materials, including ghost fishing waste.

Don’t leave full watering cans around, as small creatures could drown. Many plants (including all bulbs and sago palm) are unsafe near animals (read more on pet-friendly gardens). Avoid facing indoor foliage to outdoor gardens, to stop birds flying into windows.

These are super-clever! The self-watering system basically self-regulates its own water intake. Ideal if you are away for a couple of days, or very forgetful.

Once you have assembled the pot, just add water, insert the wicking straw into the soil, and watch your plants thrive! The wicking cord can keep plants hydrated for up to 3 weeks, if needed.

The POTR vase is sent through the letterbox, then springs into life, as soon as you open it. It contains a little silicone and is tall and stable enough to hold a litre of water to support a full bouquet of flowers. The soft silicone rim is kind to flower stems.

Many of the pots are now also made from recycled fishing waste, to keep our seas cleaner for fish and marine creatures.

A cotton wick lets the plant draw up water when it needs it, keeping the soil from getting soaked or bone dry. This helps prevent root rot and makes it nearly impossible to overwater. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone who wants to save time.

Where to Recycle Plastic Plant Pots

Enter your postcode at Recycle Now to find out where – some gardening centres accept them. Black plant pots (like black bin bags) can’t be recycled, as sorting machines don’t recognise the colour, so they have to go in your normal rubbish bin.

Each year, over 500 million plastic plant pots (and trays) are thrown away in the UK, generating waste at landfills or incineration depots. Yet most councils don’t accept them, due to being ‘contaminated with soil’.