GMG's Friday Find: Ditch the Soil and Pot and Get Creative with the Root Orb

Photo Credit: Kreative Gardens

The Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) is a trade event that showcases the latest trends in foliage, floral and tropicals in sunny Florida, and one of the standouts spotlighted this year was the Root Orb Plant System from Kreative Gardens. This patent pending product is designed to take the place of a traditional plant pot by weaving the plant's roots in organic material.

Imagine a lush plant growing from an organic orb that is easy to care for and handle.  The orbs can be placed in just about any household accessory, from a beautiful crystal bowl to a rustic pail or any sort of pottery. Placing the orb on a dish in front of statuary or artwork creates a unique visual display; the options are endless.  Some of the plants assembled with the Root Orb can even be hung with galvanized wire.

Photo Credit: Kreative Gardens

Taking care of the Root Orb is easy with little guesswork on when to water.  Simply hold the orb and feel the bottom to check for dampness. It's time to water succulents and drought-tolerant plants when the bottom of the orb is dry. For water-loving plants like ferns, water when the bottom of the orb is slightly damp.

The best watering technique for the Root Orb is to place it in a bucket of water, allowing the organic material to wick up the moisture and surround the plant's roots.  Remove the Orb from the water and allow it to fully drain so water does not collect on the plant's sitting surface.  You can feed your plant by adding water-soluble plant food to the water bucket once a month, or as often as the plant food indicates.

Photo Credit: Kreative Gardens

If you see the plant's roots begin to pop out of the Root Orb just snip them off helping the plant to stay compact and healthy. Because of it's organic nature the Root Orb won't hold up forever, however can last up to 4 years with proper care.

What do you think of this new kind of organic growing medium that brings diversity and a unique style to how we display plants? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

~Peggy
Garden Media Group