Black pots often heat up excessively in the summer and probably should be avoided in some growing areas. Additional considerations for containers must be compatible with potting machines when used must stack easily but also be pulled apart easily durable for plant production period some have raised rings on inside lip for ease in handling when wet Growing Media Container soils have less volume and are more shallow than field soils. Due to poor soil aeration which leads to poor plant growth and performance, an emphasis on artificial media has occurred with little to no field soil included in the mixes. Nursery stock can be grown in almost any material that provides anchorage, water, oxygen, essential mineral elements and is nontoxic. Physical properties such as color, structure, texture, behavior towards water and air all have an effect on the health of containerized plants.
Chemical properties influence chemical reactions which supply nutrients to plants.
Finally, biological factors, primarily microscopic organisms, largely influence the growing success of any given media. Therefore, the physical, chemical and biological factors all interact to form a complex control over plant health. Although soil has advantages, it is difficult to obtain a regular supply which is uniform and of high quality. Couple this with the need to pasteurize each load and disadvantages quickly mount. To further complicate this amendment, chemical imbalances in nutrients can occur after the pasteurization process.