....contact any building painting contractor as they are left with [many] used plastic buckets, 5 gallons. I am sure they will give them for free or else ask where [to] dump them. Old, dry paint easily peels off...I have used such buckets with paint inside and it never seemed to have caused damage to the plants inside. Modern paints are not made of lead, arsenic or any other toxic pigment. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hi Gang, I did recieve very good advice from an email friend. I think his advice is sound and good. The problem for me is that here, in the greather Houston, TX area, everyone seems to be ahead of me. I think of myself as the original dumpster-diver (building pet cages 40 years ago). Howeve, I have tried and failed to find many used containters such as described, thought I have found a few and think they are very suitable for brining most bulbs to flowering size. The retail market seems to have caught on to the usefulness of such containers; new ones are now $7 to $9 at Lowe's or Home Depot. Go figure! However, the orgiginal advice is very good--I need to more agressively approach contractors and builders. Cordially, Joe Conroe, TX