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I just read stinky's thread about the disadvantages of peat pellets. Now I am concerned about whether my seedlings will be able to penetrate the jiffy pots that they are growing in currently. I haven't put the jiffy pots into a larger pot yet. Anyone have experience starting seedlings out in jiffy pots? Your professional opinion?
StinkyAttic knows what she's talking about - Jiffy pots suck - been there, done that, never again - while you CAN have good results with them, they're not worth the effort ... tend to be acidic, go thru wet and dry cycles too easily, very easy to wind up with Pythium Wilt, etc - don't worry about penetrating the pot - when you transplant, just poke some holes in them, or make cuts - no big deal
Yup that's true.
If they are already in the pots, and ready to transplant, you've avoided the common pitfalls.
If you are using PELLETS, try to gently tear apart the mesh cover without damaging the roots.
If you are using POTS, as Frank said, cut them up a bit so the roots will find their way out. Or if the roots haven't reached the pot yet, you can remove chunks of the peat pot.
The peat pots suck for pot. I don't know if they are good for anything. If I buy a plant (flowers, vegetable, etc.) in a peat pot I take off the peat before I plant it.
Sho
Thanks for the replies. I'll tear away the bottom of the pot before transplanting.
ive been using peat-pots, they are ok, but try and transplant before the roots grow into the pot.
if you get them nice and wet, you can pull off most if not all of the pots
Just an side note; Last time I planted mj using peat pots(outdoors) I used 8 oz sized (small) pots. After the plants matured, six months later, I pulled up the plants and there were next to nothing for roots outside of the pot. The pots were all intact with a clump of roots. Rootbound like I've never seen! WTF! <G>
Shov
Yeah Shov I've had that experience as well.
Remember that even though peat is an organic substance, that doesn;t mean it breaks down quickly!
You know how they find peat bog mummies with thier skin and clothing still perfectly preserved centuries later? Peat is pretty resistant to decay!
i don't think peat pellets are too bad...i used them to start my first batch of plants, and after reading what stinky had said about the roots not penetrating the mesh too well, i dissected the root balls of the plants we just harvested. the roots appeared to have penetrated the mesh just fine, but perhaps the mesh gives them a slow start initially. The reason I don't like the peat pellets is because they dried out too quickly in my experience.
As for the pots, I use those for everything now- seeding and cloning. When I transplant I just water the pots so the peat gets soggy, and I tear away as much of the pot as I can without pulling off the parts that the roots are adhered to. If you cut the bottom of the peat pot off you are going to damage A LOT of roots, no question about that. Just water your plants with some root stimulator when you transplant, and they will be fine. I always have amazing results just after transplanting my babies, so if you follow my advice hopefully you will too!