High root temperatures is (are?) actually a pretty big concern to the nursery trade. Nurserymen often take steps to ameliorate the negative effects of high root temperatures by grouping plants together, orienting rows of containers to take advantage of the shading offered by the plant material in the containers, and by strategic placement of shade cloth to reduce direct sun on containers when the containers would normally be exposed were it not for the cloth. Some surprising statistics that I just left on a post at another forum site: Most people don't realize that for most plants, just a few degrees difference in soil temperatures can have a very big impact on growth. I was just reading up on peach trees & discovered that best growth occurs at soil temps between 65-70*, with growth reduced by about 40% at 75* and 97% at 80*. Roses showed a similar pattern, but actually at temperatures even lower than the peach trees. Most of the plants we grow in containers would probably do best with soil temperatures around 70* or a touch lower. It's not unusual for black nursery containers to have soil temperatures higher than 100*, even when ambient temperatures are in the 70* range, when they are exposed to direct sun and the effects of passive solar gain. This is too high for optimum vitality. In my own containerized plants, I notice that growth stalls every summer, even in plants that exhibited lots of new growth in the spring, in those plants I've purchased and am growing on in black plastic unless I take steps to shade the container. I'm certain that is due to high root temperatures. Which brings up another point. In some plants, sap easily moves laterally as well as vertically (think of a barber pole). In others, sap moves vertically, almost exclusively. In this later group of plants, it is as if certain roots 'feed' individual branches directly above where the root joins the main stem or trunk. It's not unusual to see container plants that are extremely one-sided, or that have dead branches on the sunny side of the plant. Often we attribute the lopsided appearance or dead branches to too much sun on the foliage, even when the plant is entirely tolerant of full sun, when in reality, the root cause (is that a pun?) ;o) was more likely overheated roots on that side of the plant. I think that for best vitality, we should try always to keep container soil temperatures below 80* whenever we can, because we can be sure that these high root temperatures are affecting growth and/or killing roots, even if it's only on the side of the container with direct exposure, and even if the damage is not immediately observable by cursory inspection of the top of the plant. Finally, there is always the consideration that dead and rotting roots present a convenient pathway into the plant for things fungalugly. You may see problems developing with root infections in fall that have their origins in the high root temperatures of summer. Al ...

Try an Armstrong's Garden Center Nursery near you. They used to take in recycled/used pots. That's how I got mine for moving my cannas 2 years ago in Pasadena. Or any nursery.

I have THOUSANDS of black nursery pots from 1-5 gallon size near the Eastern Iowa Airport on Wright Bros Blvd SW. Call me or email and I will give you the address where you can come and pick them up. I have always refused to throw them in the landfill but may have to as our lease is expired and they have to all go by May 1 2007. Also have many over 500 Oak trees 1-2" caliper in ground I have to find a home for....selling for $5 per ft (IN GROUND) or $10 ft dug and loaded in your vehicle. Minimum 20 trees. There are also some large caliper trees over 4" dia available as well as Viburnum and large Forsythia. Thanks Darin Chamberlin www.chamberlinlandscape.com 319-329-9382 Cell trees4u2@dybb.com

Ok,update on what I've been able to figure out so far. Mega greenhouse store has them 1gallon black pots $14.04,for 60 pots but are currently out of stock.$9 shipping Growing Solutions,if you buy 100,you can get them for 31 cents a piece. AM Leonard,I couldn't figure out the price system,or how they were even listing them for sale,didn't understand what the size were and how many for what price,it was all confusing to me. Home Harvest wants 79 cents per pot. Tallpines e-bay $6.50 for 20 pots,plus about 10 bucks shipping. Plastic flowerpot e-bay,100 pots $23.00 $14.75 shipping