Have you tried either Big Lots or a Dollar General? If all you're looking for is something for rooting cuttings, their selection might be in the price range you're looking at.

Greenhouse Megastore - if you want to buy in bulk.

or try freecycle.org - sometimes members offer used pots/containers

Here is a link that might be useful: Nursery Containers

Or you could come over to my place, I have enough pots of assorted sizes to sink a ship, LOL.

Me too, I have tons.

Carol, thanks, I didn't know that Lowes did that. I will check out mine. :o)

I can get pots from the Ace hardware store garden center. Our recycling center/dump usually will save them if you ask. Sometimes I find them at yard sales or at the flea market.

on-line is the cheapest, if you can't get some one to give them to ya. pots are cheap, but shipping kills ya. buy a hundred or more at a time, you will use 'em! m

Thanks for all the great responses. Our ACE hardware is closest but has a minimal garden center. The closest Lowes is probably 20 miles away but I'll check them out if they're free ;-) Tropicbreeze your profile "my page" says you live in Australia, hmmmm, I'm thinking the airline baggage fees would sink me!

You know I bought some neat plants really cheap when visiting north florida recently. They were at a flea market. Hmmm, I could hit a flea market tomorrow on the way to Lowes, killing two birds with one trip.

We have a couple of new dollar generals and I visited one recently, did not see any pots but we do have a big lots that might and its close too. I was hoping to find a place close that I don't have to pay shipping costs. My first thought was online. We'll see, I hope to avoid that if I can.

Thanks

Well, just another thought - if you are industrious and don't care what they look like, many food containers (cottage cheese, large yogurt, small yogurt, cool whip, etc) can be used as long as you make drainage holes. Also, styrofoam coffee cups are very cheap and easy to punch drainage holes into.

For larger containers: If you have a Kilwins Ice Cream near you, they give away the large ice cream plastic tubs - and even the lids! Love those things - use them for fertilizer, dog food, different potting mixes, etc - all kinds of stuff. The one near me has this sign posted next to the stack of empty containers and lids: "Limit 5 per person with purchase". Heck, I am more than happy to make a purchase to get these for FREE! Like I said, they come with lids, making them like a giant plastic tupperware! I think they hold around 3-gallons each. Just awesome. And the ice cream ain't bad, either. :)

Have fun!
Carol in Jacksonville

Here is a link that might be useful: Kilwins Store Locator

How many do you need?

Thanks Carol, I've started saving all sorts of plastic containers and have bought red solo cups but wish I had bought clear cups instead.

Sis3, I have approximately two dozen cuttings in progress at the moment, that is if I don't start anything else. I've got all kinds of seeds I'm trying to propagate. I really need to buy a bundle, haha.

Darren

I buy Azalea pots for my bromeliads on Ebay for very reasonable prices. you do have to buy in reasonable quantities

Darren I can let you have some of mine. I'll email you right now with details.

If you want to take a drive to Bradenton, go to
the Plant Place garden center which is on us41 between
whitfield and 63rd street on the east side of the
road. Besides them being a good garden center, toward
the back of the place near the bargain area is a sign
that says free plant containers. They are mainly ones
from their nursery plants in many sizes including
many small ones. I know their open on both Saturday
and Sunday and most of the rest of the week, but they
are closed on Mondays.

Thank you gardenbysarasota. Free is always good. I still need to visit some of the gardens down that way, so its good to know I may get some stuff to take home while there.

Sis, I sent you an email, hope its not too late. Thanks so much!

Darren

I have only one thing to say. If you're lurking on these forums you need to stop, post something, because you're liable to meet the greatest group of people you can imagine. Since joining this August I've had more generous offers from GW'ers than I can handle. The plant knowledge of those I've met is amazing and their garden even more so.

Loving this new hobby!
Photo of Sis3's amazing coral porterweed! I hope this picture is close to the true color.

Darren

* Posted by RetiredFlorida 9 (floridabeachportraits@gmail.com) on
Fri, Sep 28, 12 at 17:57

Tropicbreeze your profile "my page" says you live in Australia, hmmmm, I'm thinking the airline baggage fees would sink me!

And if the pots weren't cleaned absolutely sterile your quarantine people would hang draw and quarter you, LOL.

That's what you get for being a plantaholic. I've just got back from holidays. While travelling all these seeds would keep "falling" into my pockets. Of course now a lot are sprouting and I've no idea what most of them are, other than "Surprise Plants". But at least I'll have enough pots to put them in. Although, might have to back in a truck load of potting mix.

By the way, the details of the pH meter are on the other thread.

My name is Darren and I'm a plantaholic. There I feel better. Do you realize how hard it is to refuse cuttings of gorgeous plants?

Welcome home. I have alot of cuttings in my minigreenhouse that I have no clue what they are. Thank god for the unusual (red looking hemp) and varigated hibiscus are so unique and I can remember them. As for the rest, all green leaves have me clueless. I will be surprised if I get them to potting stage.

I did get your link to the PH meter, I thought I wrote a reply, I'm sorry I forget to hit send twice. I could not figure out what one I should order from their website, nothing identified as "soil" meter if I remember correctly.

Darren

Good to meet you today, Darren. The color of the Porterweed looks perfectly true to life to me. That is a lovely photo!

Same here sis3! Your garden is amazing, just filled with lush amazing color like I've never seen and the butterflies! Thank you, that coral porterweed is on the want list for the future, ;-)

The neatest thing of all was that I could still smell your garden after I was home for an hour! The fragrance of the Sweet Almond was special.

Darren

Darren, I just got their basic pH meter. I put the soil samples in water, either distilled or demineralised is best. But you can use ordinary tap water, although best to test it on its own first to make sure it's not too contaminated. Some water supplies hve a lot in them, often put in by local authorities.

I have tons of these if anyone is near Polk County, Fl. I think Lowes has a recycling program, and I was going to take some there.

Darren welcome to the forum. Great group of people with a ton of info. I hope you enjoy it!

floridarose, where are you at?