Producing biodegradable pots since 1953
Jiffy is very proud to announce 70 years of Jiffy Pots. Yes, we’ve been producing the biodegradable plant pots ever since 1953, long before sustainability became a hot topic.
The remarkable journey actually started in 1943, when two Norwegians, Leif Koxvold and Odd Melvold, embarked on an entrepreneurial venture. Initially, they specialized in crafting articles from pressed cellulose fibers. In 1949, their vision took a pioneering turn, when they began experimenting with the innovative use of peat for plant seeding pots. By 1953, the distinctive pots were in full-scale production, right in the heart of Oslo.
Ensuring seeds thrive—in a jiffy
We started using the Jiffy name in 1953, inspired by the expression for doing things efficiently and fast. That's exactly what Jiffy Pots represent—a plant pot designed to make planting quick and easy, ensuring your seeds thrive in a jiffy.
To keep up with growing demand, we established factories in Denmark and Canada, and both continue to supply customers worldwide. Jiffy Pots remain at the forefront of plant pot quality, adapting to meet the evolving needs of producers. Today, Jiffy Pots are as popular as ever. Our customers include a very wide range of producers, from fully automated indoor farms to tree nurseries.
Cultivating a greener, more sustainable future
“Jiffy Pots have empowered generations of producers to cultivate a greener future, one plant at a time,” says the Jiffy Pot Global Product Manager. The plastic-free pots offer multiple benefits, such as:
- Sustainability
- Versatility
- Save time and money
- Made at food safety-certified locations
- Help prevent transplant shock
- No plastic waste to dispose of
Baptiste Hag of European landscapers IDVerde saw two key advantages during a major urban greening project in Amiens, France: “We chose Jiffy Pots as they fall in line with our environmental approach, an important issue at IDVerde. The pots [also] increased our productivity and resulted in a higher return on labor estimated at 25%.’’
Now scroll down and find out more about this time-tested winner.
What makes Jiffy Pots sustainable?
The biodegradable pots are made from all-natural materials that gradually break down into the surrounding soil, so you have no disposability issues.
“They even contribute to the circular economy,” says Richard Stevenson, Jiffy Sustainability Manager. “Because they bring organic matter and nutrients back to the soil as they break down.”
How do Jiffy’s biodegradable plant pots save time and money?
Jiffy Pots have numerous advantages beyond sustainability.
“The pots enable you to make your own loose filled plugs, simply by filling them with growing media,” explains Arjan van der Snoek, Jiffy Chief Sales Officer. “They’re also fully automation compatible and there’s no need to depot during transplantation.”
Are the sustainable plant pots the same as in 1953?
We keep developing new versions, such as the new compostable pots produced in Canada, to ensure they meet producers’ needs in terms of size, shape, and composition. Choose from 5.5 to 17 centimeters (round) and 4 to 9 centimeters (square), with most sizes available in pre-loaded trays on request. We also offer reduced-peat, peat-free, and certified organic versions.
Where are Jiffy Pots shipped to?
Jiffy delivers the pots to producers worldwide from our production facilities in Denmark and Canada.
How long do biodegradable plant pots last?
Jiffy Pots will remain intact the entire growing cycle. The R2 version is specially designed for overwintered crops, and for leafy greens sold to consumers as living plants.
Will roots grow through the biodegradable pots?
Yes, the roots will grow straight through the walls of all Jiffy Pots. That means crops can be planted on with the pot attached, helping to prevent transplant shock, even in fragile crops.
“If you plant proteas in a normal plastic container, it disturbs the roots during transplantation and they just die,”says Jules Kieser of Camel Thorn, Jiffy distributor in South Africa. “But the young plants can go straight into the ground with pot and all, thanks to the compostable Jiffy Pot strips.”
For everything from trees to annuals
“Jiffy Pots are more valuable than ever as plastic-free growing becomes increasingly important,” concludes the Jiffy Pot Global Product Manager . “Customers worldwide use millions of them every year to propagate everything from conifers, to microgreens, to annuals.”
Let’s work together
Jiffy is a leading global supplier of premium growing media and solution thinking. We aim to serve you, our customers in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer worries. We do this by continually improving, innovating, and working toward our common goals, based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. Let’s develop sustainable plant growing solutions together: Let’s start today!
