Shemitah and Flowerpots

Q. During the Shemitah year, it is forbidden to plant anything in the ground in Eretz Yisroel. What about in an outdoor flowerpot?

A. In Halacha, there are two types of flowerpots: flowerpots that have holes (atzitz nokuv), and flowerpots that have no holes (atziz sheino nokov). The status of flowerpots has application in various areas of halacha, such as Shabbos, Shemitah and teruma and maaser. With respect to Shabbos, the Mishnah Berurah (336:42) writes that detaching a plant on Shabbos from a flowerpot resting above an earthen surface that has a hole is a Torah violation. If there is no hole in the pot, this is Rabbinically prohibited. Plants growing in flowerpots that have holes are considered attached to the ground, because they absorb moisture from the ground through that hole. This is true, even if the hole is on the side of the pot and even if the flowerpot is raised off the ground. The only requirement is that the hole be large enough for a root to be able to fit through it. The Beiur Halachah writes that there are opinions that consider earthenware or wooden flowerpots to be as though they always have a hole, even if they do not, because moisture can pass through the pourous walls. Furthermore, if any part of the plant extends over the edge of the flowerpot, the Mishneh L’Melech (Hil. Bikurim 2:9) writes that it is as though the plant is attached to the ground. These same concepts apply to Shemitah as well. Just as one may not plant in the ground of Eretz Yisroel during Shemitah, it is forbidden to plant in an outdoor flowerpot that has a hole (or if the leaves extend beyond the pot), since this will be considered as though one is planting directly in the ground. (Flowerpots with no holes will be discussed in the next Halacha Yomis.)

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.