Upgrading without the guilt

Call it the small-pot syndrome: You start with a little plant in a little container, and when your flora is ready to move into bigger digs, you’re left squirreling away that dinky original pot in a corner of the garage -- or tossing it in the trash. Enter EcoForms, whose petroleum-free pots are made from grain husks, natural binders and organic pigments. Co-founder Elise Loveday-Brown says the containers serve as a biodegradable alternative to plastic. “You can throw them away guilt-free,” she says. “Plus they’re beautiful.” The suggested retail price is $3.29 to $13.49 per pot, depending on the size and style. They had been available largely through Whole Foods markets, but EcoForms expects to launch Internet sales this fall. Keep an eye on www.ecoforms.com for more information and a link to the online store.

-- Craig Nakano