POTR Plant Pots (that water themselves!)

POTR is a range of pots inspired by origami, often made from ghost fishing waste. Sent through the letterbox, it springs into life on opening, just insert the wicking straw into the soil to watch plants thrive. It’s tall and stable enough to hold a litre of water for a bouquet of flowers, the soft silicone rim is kind to stems.

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.

Myth: indoor plants don’t ‘clean the air’

Be careful what you read in the media about ‘indoor plants to clear the air’. This is a 30-year old myth based on old NASA technology (the only way this could happen, would be if you literally covered a room in so many plants that you wouldn’t be able to see or move!)

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’.