CowPots are 100% Biodegradable
CowPots are a revolutionary alternative to peat pots, and are PEAT-FREE! They are named after cows for a very specific reason also. That's right, you guessed it... these starter pots are made from manure. Good ol' fashioned cow dung. Their porous walls allow for better penetration from plant roots, versus the usual peat pot and also decompose in a single growing season.
If kept dry, CowPots can be stored for years without damage. Once in use, they usually have a shelf life of anywhere between 10 and 12 weeks.
About Fungus & Mold
- CowPots, like peat pots, will grow fungus and mold on the exterior walls of the pot if they are kept too wet. DON'T WORRY though, this is completely normal, and is also part of the process of decomposition. You can easily control mold and fungus if you do not overwater your seeds / plants. When the pot is dark brown and moist to the touch, this means that it does not need to be watered.
- After transplanting, you should know that its the same fungi that helps to decompose your CowPots, making it the best biodegradable pot for both your garden, and the earth.
Handling The Pots
I know you're probably thinking- "isn't this a little disgusting?"
Well the answer is, NOT AT ALL! CowPots are baked at a temperature that kills pathogens such as salmonella and E-coli, both of which are bacterias that can cause harm to humans. That's not to say that you should be eating a sandwich while you are handling the pots however.
Aside from the science behind handling CowPots, It is recommended that you refrain from handling while the pots are wet. this can cause them to easily tear.
Transplanting Your CowPots
CowPots can be transplanted right into the earth. There is no need to rip or tear the pots apart. Once they are transplanted into your garden, they should decompose by the end of the growing season.
Make sure that you cover the entire pot with gardening soil so that none of the pot is exposed to air. Sandy soils, as well as soils with fewer micro-organisms will cause CowPots to not decompose properly.
Do They Actually Work?
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station conducted a growing trial comparing 4 various biodegradable pots. The results from the trial are below and show the percentage of the pot that broke down over time.
0% of the rice hull pot (Still intact)10% of the Jiffy Peat Pot12% of the Fertil Spruce Pot88% of the CowPot (Almost 100% Decomposed)
The nitrogen that is naturally in manure serves 2 primary purposes.
- It kick starts the process of composting, which allows CowPots to break down once planted.
- Nitrogen also attracts micro-organisms in the soil or sowing medium, which aids the process of decomposition.
