Finally got around to trying these mini trash bags--No kidding.
First off, these aren't Viagrow, they are Hydrofarm, black inside and out. The bottoms aren't flat until you make them that way.
Note to self: In the future, if you DON'T want holes open on the sides, find some tape...
This plastic is
exactly a Glad trash bag, only smaller. I'll guestimate the thickness at 2 mil, but don't quote me. Though initially tough, I'm not going to call them reusable until after I try to reuse them.
My first test subject, which I now am somewhat regretting, is my Growdown entry, a sole aji lemon out of 6 seeds planted. I put down a single layer of paper towel in the bottom, just as I do with all planters and pots, for hygiene purposes, then started to fill. Learning curve alert! This is definitely messier than a solid pot, lots of repositioning needed and the potential for disaster is definitely there, especially if this is being done other than outside or a room designated for a mess. My aji lemon, though small above ground, had developed an impressive amount of root, making Daddy proud. After folding the edge of the bag (for stability?), I tucked it's little rootlettes into the medium (coco coir wants to fall through these holes way too easily, hence the tape comment) and stopped for a second to take a shot.
The little guy got a bit leggy being so much farther away from the lights than his big brothers, so I went ahead and buried him to his little earlobes.
Now for the real test; To see if all this is going to be worth it
space-wise. The size of standard round 1 gallon planters wastes a lot of valuable space, I'm hoping that instead of 4 cylindricals, I can fit 6 "square" bottomed poly bag pots in my trays.
....a-a-a-a-a-a-and.....
The crowd goes WILD!!!!!
I'm not really sold yet, but I'm sure Hydrofarm and Viagrow and whoever else makes and sells these wouldn't be making and selling them unless there was a trusting market, and for $4 and change for 25 of them I'll give it a whirl.
...the 5 gallon bags are going to be interesting....And filled OUTSIDE.....
that is all