5 gallon pots

does anyone know the measurements of a standard 5 gallon black pot?

OKay, tiG, after much research, it appears a 5 gallon pot, so-called, is actually 3.96 gallons, and measures 11 inches by 11 inches. I found a source, (40) 5g pots at $32.95, plus $8.75 shipping. Would these work for Brugs??? I am so limited on room that I used 3 gallon pots last year, as a Brug friend told me that was the absolute minimum required to get blooms. I will be needing more containers, as somehow I have some very interesting seedlings under lights at the moment... :-) John

good to hear that!! now, monika keeps hers in year-round, lifetime 5 gallon pots. no larger, but she puts them in the ground or in larger summer pots. she puts holes in the bottom and sides. That's what i am doing, I just have some unconventional containers that I wanted to use, and didn't have a 5 gallon to measure by. thanks so much for looking that up.

you're welcome!

were is your source John, cause I'd like to price a few other things.

Was waiting for that, tiG!

http://www.amleo.com

I find their site difficult to navigate, but excellent products at very good prices.

Check out the 1 g. pots at $13.69/100, or better ones for $16.88/70.

I like the 1 g. size for potting up everything, until it finds a home in the garden or in a 3 g. container; may go to 5 g. this year for the Brugs.

John

hey yall! Wait! before yall order pots maybe try this: Look in the yellow pages of your phone book under "Landscape Contractors". Landscape contractors would have an over flow of pots and most likely love to get rid of them (that is of course if their wife isn't a plant junkie-I reuse all of ours). Right now in our busy season we go through loads of pots. Just a suggestion to maybe help save a few bucks :-) I know other landscape contractors here in our area that help out gardeners.

thanks hon!! I will call.

If you guys want pots in quantity or even small amounts I can probably get them cheaper than the prices you listed if you want to email me on certain things I can get prices for you for example I believe the 1 gals are around 10-11 per 100 and those are pretty good pots, and they have pots up to 200 gallon and I would be glad to ship to you if you pay cost of freight :)

Katrina

Thanks, Katrina! I think what I was going to order was 13.69 for 100 one gallon pots, plus 8.75 shipping. Not bad... I usually order from Milaeger's, about $40 in total, but someone highly recommended amleo.com I like the containers I was getting, have been reused for a few years, and still look great, full sun, hard freeze, nothing bothered them.

tiG, Why wouldn't a five gallon bucket work as well as any pot if you could drill some drainage holes in the bottom and remove the bails, labels or whatever else? I would imagine restaurants, bakeries, etc would have a supply of five gallon buckets as much of their various fillings, pickles etc come in 5 gallon plastic containers. Just a thought. I wish you were closer cause I would be glad to share pots with you as I have a pretty good supply on hand.

aw, you're sweet. The reason I really wanted to know the size is just that. I have some of the deli buckets (they are too deep, trying to figure out how to cut them down) and I also got some buckets (rectangle shaped) that held clorine for pools last year. I know they are fine to use, I grew tomatoes in them all last summer. But needed to compare the size to a real 5 gallon pot. I'm sinking mine in the ground, so it doesn't matter what they look like, as long as they are the right size. anyone have a clue how to cut down one of those deli buckets?

tiG, just out of curiousity, what's your planting medium of choice going to be in these pots? (I'm assuming they are for brugs, yes?)

right now I'm using Promix, get it at the feed and seed, it's cheapest there. but gone2seed mentioned that he uses Walmarts manure compost, I'm going to check it out this weekend. They are such heavy feeders but you do have to make sure you use something that drains well too. I'm drilling holes in the bottom and sides to put them in the ground. You have monikas book, right? I'm doing what she does.

Haven't gotten her book yet. Did the second box arrive yet? I ordered two of her books and really could use the info right about now!

I had asked about the soil since I was particularly interested in making certain they had the good drainage.

It's funny that you're thinking about adding more draining holes. I was thinking about putting small pvc piping around the top part of the base (that's under the soil) to keep it protected from over watering...

I've so much of the pvc piping around that it's the first solution (besides duct tape) for most of my projects!!!! Sorry about the duct tape humor, but I couldn't help it ~ I can just picture myself in a duct taped room with a small pvc pipe sticking out for air!

My hubby has cut those buckets down but he is sawing logs already so I will ask him in the morning and get back to you.

Morph you must be a Red Green fan!,LOL

Root?! I didn't know what a Red Green fan was so I went to search on Google. When I hit this link, http://www.ioweb.com/redgreen/ it said 888888, "People have piled into the Possum van."

Eight is my lucky number! Especially since my b-day is 8-8.

Spooky...

Morph,You GOTTA watch RED,check your local PBS to see when he is on,8 am here,on sat.
take a look,I have watched Red for over ten years

Will do ~ thanks!!!

"Remember, if women don't find you handsome, they better find you handy !" Red Green

tiG back to the pots, my DH says he used his table saw to cut those 5 gallon pots down to a shorter heigth. Good luck.

excellent thank you!!!!

tiG, if you are buying pots, there are such things as 'squat' ones... just noticed that at amleo.com

Actually amleo is where I get mine also but have a corporate sales rep so get discounts on all items :) Not sure if they would "drop ship" but I could check it out if it would save a few dollars couldn't hurt :)

Katrina

I've asked monika if those 5 gallon deli buckets would be too deep for brugs without cutting them. will let you know.

Katrina, what is 'drop ship'? Send directly to someone other than yourself?

tiG, not sure they could be TOO deep, could they? Will wait to hear Monika's answer.

she said fine!!

I'm glad ya'll got that straight. Couldn't see how they could possible be too deep. But then sometimes I just don't know what's going on.

I did grow two last year in deli buckets. they are still there, trees now waiting for spring.

So 5 gals is big enough to grow brugs in? Or is this just for ones you are going to plant in the ground in a pot?

I put holes in them and plant in the ground. Did you get monikas book? there is an old thread on the brug forum on how she does it.

TiG no I didn't get the book but have read the post. What I am wondering is if 5 gals would be big enough to just grow them in and not sink the pots? I figure they will be to top heavy to try to grow them in a 5 gals to just sit around. Geez I know I am not explaining that to well.

I grew a lot last year in 3 gallon pots and they bloomed. they would do much better in the ground though if you have the room. If you do use a small pot, you might want to stake the pot with a piece of rebar or something. or be willing to lay them down in a bad storm or go pick them back up:)

Thanks TiG thats what I was trying to figure out. How big of pots to try to grow them in for them to bloom.

mystic, I think it was Kyle who told me last year that 3 gallon was the smallest container one could use and still expect blooms; did have some nice flowers too. I think I will go to 5 gallon though, as being less top-heavy...

good idea, I'm going to start keeping my eyes open for 5 gallon buckets!