jiffy pellets

[Codie_McGuire69]

jiffy peat pellets good or bad for growing
I was going to sprout my seeds in peat pellets then plant them in teh ground is this a good idea?

Codie_McGuire69 Reviewed by Codie_McGuire69 on 04-10-2008. jiffy pellets jiffy peat pellets good or bad for growing I was going to sprout my seeds in peat pellets then plant them in teh ground is this a good idea? Rating: 5

[Mr. Clandestine]

I'm not that fond of using them for seedlings. They tend to dry out too quickly, requiring watering several times a day if kept under enough light. They can also stay excessively saturated for too long when totally wet, which can lead to damping off. I'd recommend starting the seeds in a seedling mix and small containers, then transplanting outside. But that's just me.

If you decide to use them, make sure you squeeze some of the excess water out of them after that initial soaking so that they won't stay too wet and possible smother your seeds. It's also not a bad idea to cut the netting off of the pellets when you think the roots are about to pop out the sides. When you start seeing roots protruding from the sides, you'll need to get them into some kind of container, or the ground as soon as possible. The roots won't survive for very long outside of the pellet and in direct contact with air/light.

[sensilights]

yes they tend to dry out very quickly even after just sitting under the lights while you're at work they can dry out til they're almost crispy...it is fun watching them pop up though after you soak them lol

[Codie_McGuire69]

thanks guys so your saying that if i use em before i plant them in teh ground i should cut off the netting?

[Mr. Clandestine]

yes they tend to dry out very quickly even after just sitting under the lights while you're at work they can dry out til they're almost crispy...it is fun watching them pop up though after you soak them lol

Granted, that is one cool thing about them! :jointsmile: I've never used anything else for my clones, they work very well for that purpose since in the early stages the pellets are kept at 100% humidity. They never completely dry out then. Still, I'm leaning more towards Rapid Rooters now after hearing so many good things about them.

thanks guys so your saying that if i use em before i plant them in teh ground i should cut off the netting?

I would. The netting seems to hinder the roots ability to poke their way through the sides sometimes. I've actually done side-by-side comparisons with clones, and the one without the netting had more a more abundant root system right off the bat. All of the Jiffy Pellets I've ever used actually held together well enough for me to cut the netting off right away, without suffering any ill effects. The peat holds together pretty well without it. Just remember to squeeze some of that excess water out of them when you first plant the seeds. That first soaking REALLY saturates the pellets.

[sensilights]

yeah i had made the mistake of not cutting the netting so not only were they crispy, they were also EXTREMELY rootbound before they got transplanted....noob mistakes are the reason bag seed is a good place to start lol

[buttyrekka]

hey Clandestine i'm useing rapid rooters now(they gave 100% of my clones and are excellent)but was hoping to start using jiffy cubes (there cheap and the rooters are much too expensive).so whats wrong with em?,what success rate do you get?,are they hard work?like i said i get 100% with the rooters but their so expensive!!!

[Mr. Clandestine]

hey Clandestine i'm useing rapid rooters now(they gave 100% of my clones and are excellent)but was hoping to start using jiffy cubes (there cheap and the rooters are much too expensive).so whats wrong with em?,what success rate do you get?,are they hard work?like i said i get 100% with the rooters but their so expensive!!!

Hey chief, I actually really like the Jiffy Pellets for cloning, and have never had problems with them. It's when I used them for seedlings that I had some issues. I'd say that I get about a 95% success rate cloning with them, but I think that the only reason I'm not getting 100% is simply because of the rooting hormone that I use. It's powdered, and it's starting to get pretty old. If I had a hormone that coated the stems better, I bet my success rate would be perfect. Sometimes the powder rubs off on the pellet when I'm sliding it in, and those are generally the ones that fail to root.

The only reason I'd like to try Rapid Rooters is because I've heard so many people speak so highly of them, and I'd like to try starting seeds in them as well. I figure if I'll have them around for seedlings, why not use them for cuttings, too? The pellets are great for cloning, though, so if you're looking to save a little money on your next batch of clones, then I'd definitely recommend them.

Just make sure your rooting gel/powder isn't decrepit & old, like mine! :thumbsup:

[gbf4ever]

I just started my grow, and have had nothing but problems with the peat pellets, stayed too wet with the humidity dome on, and dried out too fast with it off. Having much better results planting strait in some fox farms light warrior, but I'm sure any good seed starting mix would work. Planted them a day and a half ago, and already 7/12 have sprouted.

[jimm1432]

I love jiffy pellet i use them with my NFT system i soak them then squeze excess water out and leave it in a unheater prop for 2 days no light then use a 80w seedling/clone cool light. Ive had 100% success so far... mite be just luck. but i water very few times in the first week or so.

as i use nft i just move the jiffy pellet into a net pot filled with cellmax (small rockwool cubes) and i have no drying problems cus of nft :thumbsup:

I can see how for some they arent the right thing but they do have great growth in the first week over rockwool when using water no nutes