I did a search but I couldn't find this asked or answered. I just joined the forum and I can't upload an image or a url but I purchased Ageratums at Home Depot today. They came in pint-sized plastic containers. Last year when I planted them I used a knife to cut the containers open. It was hard to get them out without damaging them. This year it seemed, if anything, more difficult, so I decided to try planting the whole thing -- flowers and containers -- in the ground. Is that a good idea or a no-no?

I've never heard or seen it done,so i would have to say a no no

with Larry, its a No No your plant will not grow properly. I find it easier to remove plants from the plastic pot if I squeeze them and give a little tug, you could also try holding the pot up side down with the plant in between your fingers and giving the bottom of the pot a few slaps.

Okay thanks. They come in a plastic tray, six pint-sized containers. They have a hole in the bottom with several inches of roots hanging down through the hole. Last year I cut the containers open with a box cutter. This year they have a kind of edge on top which is very hard to cut through. My sister-in-law suggested I wet them down and that will make it easier to pull them out without damaging them. Since I'm not working right now, this afternoon I'll give it a try.

Below I was able to add an image of the flowers in the containers on sale at Home Depot. I was unable to add the image yesterday and I thought it was because I had just joined the forum. Some forums restrict new members from uploading images at first. Today I discovered it was a problem with the image. It was not a conventional jpeg but I was able to convert it to one.

See the little containers? The tray is all one piece. Getting them OUT of the containers is tricky.

You should be able to give the containers a squeeze or two and slide the root-ball out. If the roots growing out of the hole in the bottom prevent the root-ball from coming out, then those roots can simply be cut off before removing the plants from the container.

Leaving the plants in the container is a bad idea since the roots won't be able to grow outward and expand. They won't be able to collect adequate water and nutrients so the plants will remain small and stunted (if they even survive).

Thanks Danita, I agree. It wasn't a good idea. Letting the soil in the containers dry and then sliding them out, was definitely the way to go.