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Berlin, Ma

I am still in the habit of using peat pots since I have damaged roots while transfering a plant out of a split plastic pot. I am concerned that roots get root bound when I use the peat pots. What are growers using these days that tend not to damage roots during the transfer?

3/21/2008 9:37:21 AM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

I start in peat pots. When the plant is growing well, I score the pot and plant it into a 2 gallon container without removing the peat pot so as to not disturb the root system. I prepare the larger container so that when it's put into the garden, it can be removed with just a few small snips of the plastic...then it's off to the races.

3/21/2008 10:07:31 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

I used 4" coco pots last year. When I saw roots growing out the bottom, I cut down the side and peeled off the pot, then repotted into gallon containers. The roots will pull out of the coco fiber without much damage but you have to be careful. I had the best transplants ever last year, so I am going to do this again!

Im not sure that even if you prune a few roots in this process, it really hurts them all that much. In fact, I think it may stimulate the plant to be more aggressive!

John

3/21/2008 10:28:09 AM

[email protected]

Peat pots tear off very easily after you wet them. When I'm ready to take the plant out of the pot I water the plant and spray the outside of the peat pot too. I use the little sprayer at the kithcen sink. Once the pot is wet they tear much more easily than dry. And I don't usually get any root damage. If there is a spot where a root has grown through the pot I just tear around it an leave a little chunk of pot there. Sometimes I leave the whole bottom if the plant was inside a little too long.

3/21/2008 10:56:51 AM

Georgia

Ive practiced many times this winter with plastic pots cut in half and taped and havent damaged any roots. Getting them out of the pot is preety easy. I used peat pots last year and hated them. Heck some of the remainders of the pots are still in the soil.

3/21/2008 10:58:05 AM

Minnesota

I switched to ice cream containers, its more fun & easy to do, you just cut the bottoms off and put the cover on the bottom, slide it out when ready. (and you get to pick out your favorite ice cream)

3/21/2008 12:06:23 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

I read last night that Peat Pots have fertilizer built into them to assist with growing. Now I wonder what kind of fertilizer? Being Mycho sensitive I wonder If I need to be concerned about too much P in my Peat Pots.....Its always something....Im not too worried as

Just as soon as they sprout, I do peel off the peat pot and discard to the compost pile when transplanting them into the Pipe Pots.....at about day 2 after they pop.

3/21/2008 1:37:27 PM

US of A

I'm going to use the case for a spindle of 100 CD's. This year I've cut them so they are open on both ends. I'll replace the bottom of the CD spindle (but remove the actual spindle. These containers are about the size of an ice cream container and are clear. When it comes time to remove the plant, I'll take out the bottom of the spindle holder and hopefully slide the plant out. Sure hope it works!

3/21/2008 1:40:14 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Prepare Properly:
Per Pumpkin Planting Procedures: Please Prepare 2 Peel Peat Pots Prior 2 planting Pipe Pots? ........Perfect!

3/21/2008 1:46:09 PM

western Kentucky

I plan on keeping my plants in peat pots no longer than a day or two after they germinate, then peeling off the pot and planting directly into the garden. Im not a fan of leaving a seedling to get root bound, or transplanting multiple times... My soil may warm up faster down here than in other places, so I can see where multiple transplanting would prove beneficial, its just not necessary here.

Justin

3/21/2008 1:58:35 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I use peat pots, but nothing smaller than 5". I try to peel them open some when planting. The roots seem to have no trouble growing through them.

3/21/2008 2:05:08 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

gave up on peat pots years ago, use milk jugs now more room

3/21/2008 3:34:58 PM

[email protected]

Many swear by them but I like sewer & drain pipe.

3/21/2008 5:45:12 PM

Rhode Island

if you time it correctly and have started with holes punched in several areas around the pots? then they will work fine
just make sure the peat pot is well saturated with water and you can peel the peat pot off and place seedling and soil either in the ground or in a larger pot.its not hard to do.
just go easy with it and the roots if not penetrated through the pots will not stick ( if the soil mass is moist
it will hold together with a little pressure
i would not put a plant in the ground or in a larger pete pot without getting all or most of the original peat pot removed first. i dont want any restriction once she is set out to grow
also if your planning on holding the seedlings for a longer period of time?( more than three or four days from germimation) then i agree you should start them an a larger
pre cut and taped pot or other style container

pap

3/21/2008 8:31:53 PM

Newmarket, NH USA

We all are very concerned about root damage I to am very careful not to damage roots at transplant. I have to tell you though in 1999 my 300 Mongeon lost 60 percent of the roots at transplant time due to my careless transplanting at that time and it turned out to be one of my most huge plants ever with a main vine over 3 inches in dia in places. So I agree be careful.But a few damaged roots is not the end of the world. These plants are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. I have never had a plant that big or aggressive since then. Maybe I should try it with all my plants in 08 LOL.

3/21/2008 9:47:49 PM

milford, CT,

I am using Cow Pots this year. They are much better than peat pots. They are made out of dehydrated cow manure (no smell I swear). I ran a few practice germinations and extraction from the pots was very easy. I noticed the soil held moisture well and they were very easy to tear on the corners with just your fingers. I poked holes in the sides and soaked the pots for 10 minutes before planting the seeds. They say you can plant the pot and it will decompose quickly but....I'm not ready to try that yet. Also...after planting just bury the pots somewhere in the patch, they'll just decompose into useable organic matter . Mark

3/21/2008 10:22:54 PM

[email protected]

I'm sorry...I can't see the point in buying peat pots only to peel them off to throw away or decompose. This'll be the fourth season for some of my sewer & drain pots & I've never damaged a root with one. The cost was zero other than the duct tape hinge which is a close to zero as it gets.

They're also big enough to allow a serious "fudge factor" should the situation require; time & nature being what they are & all.

3/21/2008 11:25:57 PM

So. Maine

We use 2 pound coffee cans with potting soil. Cut off the bottom of the can and tape the plastic lid in it's place , fill with potting soil & seedling and when it's time to transplant into the garden just add a little extra water set on the ground pull the plastic lid off , squeeze the can a bit and slowly pull it up while backfilling with soil. AL

3/21/2008 11:47:35 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I use tupperware containers. I cut the bottoms out then turn it upside down. The plants grows and when I go to transplant, I just take the lid off that is on the bottom and slid it off. The bottom is wider then the top. So it works good. Just have to be careful with sliding it out with the plant not getting it leaves caught. No root damage here....

3/22/2008 12:31:30 AM

Indiana

To be honest, I dont really buy into the whole seed start damaging roots bit. I transplant within a week of germination. For me this is 2 days after seed pops up.

I always shake all the potting mix out that I can and plop it down in the hole. I do not believe the root hairs have developed enough at that point to do any damage (after all dont we use a soilless mix?. I figure I might as well get my roots in contact with nutritious soil asap. I now usually have very little transplant shock.

16 ounce plastic cups with a hole drilled in the bottom. Simple and they don't require as much water.

3/22/2008 12:47:22 AM

[email protected]

Tom, You start a lot of plants. Do you use this method for all of them?

3/22/2008 2:27:47 AM

Niagara Falls,NY

I make my own out of news paper. I wrap the news paper around a 2 pound coffee can,fold the paper that is protruding past the can to form the bottom and hold it all together with a hot glue gun. I find by the time you're ready to plant the news paper is already starting to decay. The roots don't seem to have any problem going through it.

3/23/2008 11:46:24 AM

Indiana

Steve,
At first, I only did it on the genetics plants, but in 2004 switched over and now do all my plants that way.
Tom

3/24/2008 12:16:14 AM