Geodesic Dome Greenhouse Gardening: Pots Are Critical To Your Success!

Most geodesic dome greenhouse gardeners use either plastic or clay pots or containers. Both are fairly inexpensive and will get the job done. However, there are some differences between them, and you should understand how each type of pot works before deciding which you’d rather garden with.

Some general points to keep in mind…

Plant containers used in a greenhouse need the drainage hole to be in the bottom of the pot. Some plants actually grow better in one type of pot over another. So be aware of your specific plants needs. Pots need to be cleaned and sterilized between uses. To do this you’ll scrub the inside with a mixture of bleach and water then you’ll leave them in the sun for a few days to kill any fungus spores that may lurk in tiny openings.

If you have a problem with slugs, snails or earthworms in your geodesic dome greenhouse here’s a tip for you. Put a small bit of fery fine mesh wire screen over the drainage hole in the bottom of your pot. This will prevent them from crawling up into the pot from the bottom . It’ll also help with drainage!

Clay Pots For Your Geodesic Dome Greenhouse…

Clay pots are the old standby of every gardener. They continue to be popular and come in many shapes and sizes. They are porous which allows them to absorb moisture and they let air circulate thru the container sides. It’s difficult to overwater your plants in clay pots.

On the other hand because they are porous if you over fertilize the excess salts will show up as a white crust on the sides of your posts. If you have lots of salt in your water the pot will act as a filter for them as well and they will also form a crust on the side of the container. Mold may also form on the pot in a humid greenhouse. These salts and mold should be scrubbed off to keep the pot porous.

One last thing about clay pots. They are heavy when planted. Several hundred plants in clay pots could be too much for your greenhouse bench.

Plastic Pots For Your Dome Greenhouse…

More and more greenhouse gardeners are using plastic pots because they are easy to clean, lightweight even when planted and watered and they come in a huge range of colors, shapes and sizes.

Unlike clay plastic pots are nonporous which could lead to overwatering. So you’ll have to be more careful when watering if you choose plastic over clay because they don’t absorb any of the excess moisture. They also don’t allow air to circulate thru the sides so slightly larger pots may be needed to let the roots thrive.

On the upside, being nonporous means that they’ll hold moisture in better and you’ll need to water less often. They also won’t collect salt crusts and mould the way clay will. This means lots less work for you.

Knowledge is power when it comes to year long growing in your geodesic dome greenhouse. Choose your pots wisely and you’ll be enjoying fresh foods from your garden all year long. Happy Gardening!