Plant Material - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 126

tainer sizes appears to exist. Many nurseries specializing in native plants are now using differently
shaped pots to grow various native plants, responding to the specific needs of the species. This is a
significant step toward ensuring good, healthy plant material.
Plants with strong, deep roots or taproot-like systems do better in longer, narrow containers
than in shorter, cylindrical pots (Burkhart 2006). Plants with fibrous network root systems do not
generally need deep pots in the nursery environment and can do well with the standard sizes and
shapes of commercial production.
Most pots are made of plastic and paper pulp. Although common in the past, metal cans now
have very limited uses because other materials perform better. Reusable bands are made of paper
and plastic. Small four-inch pots are made of plastic and are commonly reused.
Except for larger sizes, most production nursery plants are meant to be planted in one to two
growing seasons. Larger plant sizes and plants held in pots for a longer time than planned will
require larger containers when potted and possibly containers made of different material to with-
stand the nursery environment for this extended time period. If you have ordered plants in paper

Table 8-2. Plant Propagation Containers

Group Sizes Comments

Plugs 1 × 1 × 2 inches Grown in trays and removed to

direct planting on project site or
seed increase operations

Paper pot 1.5 × 1.5 × 6 inches 2 × 2 × 6

inches

Pot lasting up to one year in nurs-
ery; held in plastic trays

Tubes: leach, super 0.4-0.6 × 0.75-8.5 inches Reusable pot; slow- and fast-grow-

ing species

Small pot: four-inch pot 3.5 × 3.5 × 3.25 inches Used for herbaceous perennials;

used in irrigated areas due to
shallow roots

Plant band; variable sizes, liner 2 × 2 × 7 inches

tar paper typical
1.5 × 1.5 × 10 inches

Use with box to transport; one-
year life in nursery; homemade;
removed on planting

One gallon: can* 6-inch radius × 7 inches to

1.5 × 1.5 × 14 inches

Typically for woody tree or shrub;
plastic pots reusable

Five gallon: can*
Fifteen gallon: can* and larger

10.25-inch radius × 12 inches
18 × 16 inches

Trees and shrubs

*This is a typical example. Check with providers or manufacturers for other dimensions because there are numerous
combinations.