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Teabags

B3B3 Posts: 24,459
edited April 2022 in The potting shed
I've been picking through winter survivors in my containers to decide what to keep and what to compost. One thing I've noticed is that practically all bought plants had teabags around the roots.
None showed any sign whatsoever of degrading. Some were made of a sort of cloth- like fabric and water was permeable. 
Others had the feel as if they contained plastic and had perforations which I assumed were to let the roots out and the water in. They might degrade eventually, but there will be nothing bio about it .
The third kind was a dense matting that also seemed to be made of a man-made fibre. They were dry on the inside, the plants stunted and dead. Of course the winter such as we had might have killed them, but the teabag didn't help.

In London. Keen but lazy.
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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,527
    I had that a few years ago with some rooted salvia cuttings. All those that didn't survive the first winter had the same roots trapped inside the teabag. I would cut any off I see now.
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,459
    They're much smaller these days and harder to spot.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 1,501
    I bought a few 2L osteospermum plants from the 'hospital shelf' of h0mebase 2 years ago. The roots were encased in this teabag-like fabric and was covered by the potting medium and the foliage. I repotted them at the end of their first year cutting off and removing the teabag. They are thriving now. IMHO, it is worthwhile removing those fabric stuff when the plants are young.
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 522
    Contrary to the opinion that  tea bags are good for the  garden and compost heap, it is only the tea inside that is of use. The majority of tea bags contain plastic.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,290
    Some time ago Greg Wallace and his colleagues did one of their factory programmes to show how things get produced, and the tea bags concerned were definitely made of PAPER.  Maybe there are others that aren't but, as young codger says, the actual tea conditions and darkens the soil which, in itself, can't be bad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,143
    Confused.com! I thought this thread was about the "teabag" modules that commercial growers use to start plants in, then pot up the whole thing so the teabag strangles the roots when they try to grow through, not actual tea teabags! I usually empty the tea out into the kitchen caddy and bin the bag.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,262
    The structure of tea bags varies with the brand. Very few have been made of paper - for obvious reasons. Quite difficult to get a material that can withstand boiling water on it for several minutes without just falling apart. 

    I've not had many plants grown in them, but if anything I have bought is struggling for no clear reason, I usually investigate to see if that's the reason. 
    I wonder if it'll gradually move away from this stuff, due to the whole plastic debate. It must be difficult for big commercial growers to get something that's quick, easy and durable enough though. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,740
    young codger said:
    Contrary to the opinion that  tea bags are good for the  garden and compost heap, it is only the tea inside that is of use. The majority of tea bags contain plastic.
    Think you'll find that used to be the case ... however the majority of manufacturers have reverted to using plastic-free material for their teabags ... hence complaints on the food forum I use about tea-bags not being what they were and breaking up in the cup ... can't please all the people all the time 🤔
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,976
    I drink about 12 mugs of tea a day and I stopped using tea bags when I found endless plastic remains of tea bags in my compost so I bought one of these 4 years ago - I'd never go back to tea bags again.
    They work well and when they get a bit gunky 5 mins in a 50/50 mix of bleach and water and it's like new again.
    Loose leaf tea is cheaper and much better quality than the bags too, and zero plastic.
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,740
    edited May 2022
    We have something similar @Pete.8  ... but OH likes decaffinated tea for mid afternoon onwards and it's hard to find decaff loose tea, so it's bags for later on in the day...

    https://www.pgtips.co.uk/sustainability/plant-based-packaging/plastic-free.html  

    https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/sustainability/plan-for-better/our-stories/2021/plant-based-teabags
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







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