Ocean Made Blog

Learn why plastic nursery pots create so much waste, how community gardens are switching to biodegradable seed-starting pots, and how The Kelping Hands Project is helping reduce plastic across King County.

Do biodegradable plant pots dry out too quickly? Grow mold? Need to be removed before planting? We break down five common misconceptions.

Air pruning is a simple technique that can transform the way your seedlings grow. Instead of roots circling endlessly inside plastic pots, air-pruned roots stop at the container edge, branch out, and create a dense, healthy root system. There are a few ways to air prune: fabric grow bags let roots breathe from all sides, while biodegradable pots like Kelp Pots combine air flow with natural moisture retention. The result? Stronger plants, better transplant success, and no more tangled roots. New to air pruning? Water carefully to avoid dry soil, start seeds at the right time for your zone, and trust the process when you see root tips shrivel — it’s how they grow back stronger. Plants like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and perennial herbs love the boost that air pruning gives, making them more resilient and productive once they’re in the garden.

Does the promise of biodegradable pots hold water? We tested and found out. Moisture retention may not be the sexiest topic in gardening, but it’s the one that makes or breaks a seedling’s start. Every gardener knows the delicate dance with watering, especially with biodegradable pots. Most fiber, peat, or paper-based pots dry out quickly, forcing us gardeners back to plastic because...well...at least plastic can hold water. 🏜️ A dry dilemma Biodegradable pots were supposed to solve the waste problem in gardening. And while they’re a step forward, most of them fall short in one crucial way... they can’t seem to hold onto water. Peat pots, paper pots, coir pots all absorb water quickly but lose it just as fast. Once they dry, they shrink and crack, often pulling away from the soil itself. Seedlings dry out faster, need more frequent watering, and in many cases, fail to live their best lives. Womp womp. 😒 Why gardeners grudgingly go back to plastic It’s frustrating. You pay more for eco-friendly pots, only to find yourself watering twice as much and still losing plants. That’s why so many of us eventually go back to plastic. Not because we want to, but because plastic is cheaper and at least holds moisture consistently. The trade-off? Waste and a conflicting conscious. Billions of single-use plastic pots flood landfills every year.   Kelp Pots quickly soak up and slowly release moisture thanks to seaweed. 🧽 Seaweed: Nature’s sponge Kelp naturally contains alginate, a compound known for its ability to hold water. In fact, alginate is often used in agriculture as a soil additive for moisture retention. By designing pots made from seaweed and natural fibers, we’ve tapped into that same property. Kelp Pots that not only absorb more water than other biodegradable pots, but also release it more slowly, keeping soil consistently moist over time. 🌊 More moisture = less watering For gardeners, a pot that holds more moisture means less watering, less stress on seedlings, and stronger plants. But it also benefits our environment. the biodegradation process itself relies on microbial activity, and microbes thrive in moist conditions. A pot that stays damp long enough not only supports the plant — it also ensures the pot breaks down quickly and cleanly once it’s in the ground. 😎 The trade-off? Time well spent You might notice that Kelp Pots cost more than other biodegradable options. That’s not by accident. Most competitor pots are baked at high temperatures or pressed from materials that dry almost instantly, making them cheap and fast to produce. But that speed comes at a cost. They can’t hold moisture the way gardeners actually need them to. Our pots take longer to make and finish, but that extra time means they do the job right. They hold water, nurture roots, and disappear into the soil the way a true regenerative product should.