Biodegradable pots sound convenient for beginners, but they can quietly hold your plants back. While they’re marketed as “plant the whole thing directly in the soil,” that approach often causes slow growth, root restriction, and stalled seedlings.
Here’s the clear, beginner-friendly truth: you should always remove the biodegradable pot before transplanting.
This guide explains why.
Why biodegradable pots seem convenient
Biodegradable pots are sold as:
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eco-friendly
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easy to use
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no-mess transplanting
In theory, the pot breaks down in the soil and roots grow right through it.
But in real-world gardening, especially indoor seed starting, that almost never happens fast enough.
The real problem: roots can’t break through quickly enough
A seedling’s early growth depends on expanding its root system. When the roots hit the pot wall, three things can happen:
1. Roots get restricted
They circle inside the pot and cannot move outward.
This slows or completely stops growth.
2. The pot stays intact for too long
Even if marketed as “bio-degradable,” many pots take months to break down, not weeks.
3. Water flow becomes unpredictable
The pot walls dry out faster than soil, causing moisture imbalance.
All three problems directly affect seedling health.
The better method: remove the pot entirely
When you transplant, gently peel or tear the pot off the root ball.
This allows:
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immediate root expansion
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better soil contact
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faster recovery after transplanting
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stronger growth in the next pot or garden bed
Beginners often notice plants grow twice as fast once the pot is removed.
How to remove a biodegradable pot the right way
Follow this simple process:
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Water the seedling lightly (not soaked) so soil holds together.
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Gently squeeze the pot to loosen the soil inside.
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Tear or peel the pot away in large pieces.
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Keep the root ball intact as much as possible.
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Place the seedling into fresh, loose soil in a larger pot or garden bed.
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Water well and place in bright light.
Removing the pot removes the barrier that slows root growth.
Why this matters for beginners
New gardeners often blame themselves when seedlings stop growing. In reality, the problem is often the pot, not the person.
If your seedlings:
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stop growing
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look “stuck”
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stay small
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grow upward but not outward
…the pot is usually the culprit.
(Once other blog posts are published, here’s where you will add internal links such as “Learn more about why seedlings stall” and “How to transplant seedlings correctly”.)
When can biodegradable pots be used successfully?
Technically, biodegradable pots work fine in:
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raised beds with warm soil
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long growing seasons
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very loose outdoor soil
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high-moisture environments
But for indoor seed starting, removing the pot gives the plant the best chance to thrive.
The Push N’Grow Approach
At Push N’Grow, our goal is to make seed starting easier and more successful for beginners. That means teaching methods that actually work — not just repeating generic garden advice.
Removing the pot is one of the simplest ways to improve your success rate immediately.