Abstract: A Metamorphic Damping-off Guard (30) accessory for improving the performance of an excess water shedding root shaping plant container (100) is disclosed. Guard (30) is placed on top of the container's protrusion (120). This arrangement reduces soil moisture under a seedling's (70) stem and thereby protects it from damping-off disease. Guard (30) can be used in combination with an insertable protrusion (20) to provide similar protection for a seedling planted in a conventional plant container (10). The Metamorphic Damping-off Guard (30) is made from a durable component and a biodegradable component. The durable component is comprised of a quantity of small, rigid, durable, nonabsorbent, non-biodegradable, non-toxic objects, such as stones (35). The biodegradable component is comprised of a biodegradable, nonabsorbent, non-toxic cement, such as wax (37). The cement binds the objects together into an easily handled whole. The Metamorphic Damping-off Guard (30) changes its properties over time.

Abstract: An improved plant container (10) having a protrusion (20) with plates (42) is disclosed. A typical protrusion is shaped like the frustum of a cone. It is situated centrally at the bottom of the container. This arrangement creates an annular soil receiving space whose vertical cross section is roughly W-shaped. The plates are thin imperforate members placed radially between the protrusion wall (22) and container wall (12) (i.e. in the notches of the `W`). This placement partitions the aforesaid space into open topped noncommunicating wedge shaped compartments (40).A plant grown in such a container obtains several benefits:1. The soil receiving space's shape causes soil to shed more excess water than does soil held in a conventional container.2. The plates prevent growing roots from becoming convoluted as is typical for plants grown in a conventional container.3. The compartments cause growing roots to form into lobes (80) which are easily spread out when transplanting.4.