| Author | Content |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
February 26, 2007
10:33 PM Post #3228733
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I just started 72 plants in the Jiffy seed starter greenhouse. Seems to be working well, as many are up already, and it's not even been a week. Mostly lettuces, cabbages, and a couple kinds of tomatoes are up. Some of the others may take their time.
It's the one I got at Wal-Mart with the 72 little peat pellets (look like huge tablets) that swell up when watered the first time.
I had to poke some air holes in the plastic dome lid, as it was staying too damp and condensation was collecting.
I have it under a plain flourescent light held about 2 inches above it.
Has anyone else used these for starting seeds ? Did it work ok for you ? |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
 February 26, 2007
11:45 PM Post #3229006
| Take the lids off...their only purpose is to keep the soil and humidity regulated for germination...their purpose is finished. Your little plants need to learn how to live in the regular world. Even if all of your seeds are not up yet, take them off.
When you plant the peat pellets in a bigger container be sure to pull the netting off. It does not decompose very fast and sometimes strangles roots.
You lights sound just about right...be sure to raise it as your seedlings grow.
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critterologist
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6b)
February 27, 2007
12:59 AM Post #3229153
| I've left the dome on for a while longer with tiny seedlings, but only after poking some holes for ventilation as you've done. I like not having to water as often that way. If you don't take the dome off when the seedlings are tiny though, sometimes you have to get them used to the real world a bit more gradually, taking the dome off for increasingly long periods over several days rather than just suddenly removing it.
Peat pellets... some people hate to deal with them, and others wouldn't garden without them... but if you follow Melody's advice about removing the netting, they should work out fine for you.
Good luck with your little sprouts! |
melody
Benton, KY
(Zone 7a)
February 27, 2007
08:23 AM Post #3229593
| If you're hesitant about taking the lids all the way off, prop them open with a couple of pencils wedged in at the front. This will give more air circulation than the holes. The air needs to circulate for the best plant health. This keeps down fungal diseases.
Yeah, critter is right, some people swear by peat products...some people swear at them...I happen to be one of the latter. |
KaperC
No. San Diego Co., CA
(Zone 10b)
February 27, 2007
12:42 PM Post #3230390
| I had some of those pellet things once - kept finding them in the compost bin still intact! |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
February 28, 2007
09:55 PM Post #3236173
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I'm so glad you mentioned about the netting. I wouldn't have known they wouldn't decompose fast enough.
I had one other bad experience with the pellets, and decided to give it another try. This time, so far, so good.
My seedlings are almost tall enough to touch the dome, so I guess it is time to take it off. Thanks for the helpful advice. I surely don't want them to have fungal problems before I can even get them out to the garden. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
February 28, 2007
10:10 PM Post #3236195
| I would definitely take the dome off--I usually take it off as soon as the seedlings have their first true set of leaves, if you keep it on longer than that you're running a risk of fungal problems. |
Windy
Belleville , IL
(Zone 6b)
March 01, 2007
12:46 PM Post #3237648
| I also used the netting things once. Do they warn you about taking them off? If not it would halp. I only used them the one time and didn't like the results because of the netting. |
greenjay
Centennial, CO
(Zone 5b)
March 02, 2007
10:12 PM Post #3243032
| you still need to spread out the roots after taking off the netting. Some people dunk the seedlings in a pan of water to unfurl the roots, then plant.
If you don't you will find that the plants never really expand their root systems much beyond the original diameter of the jiffie. I have seen the same thing happen with rootbound annuals from the plastic packs, so I don't think it is an exclusive problem with the peat pellets. |
Windy
Belleville , IL
(Zone 6b)
March 03, 2007
09:53 AM Post #3243947
| I bought some four inch pots of ornamental grass from a nursery here last year. When I got the containers home and emptied them to plant in the ground you could see the shape of the jiffy size pot they had grown up in and were root bound in the shape of. . So the nursery was just selling the plugs as larger plants. Sigh. I did spread the roots out and they did take off finally but I found that rather deceptive..
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LorraineR
Gilmer, TX
(Zone 8a)
January 28, 2008
08:19 PM Post #4466648
| Some of the seeds in the flats are up and some not, do I totally take the lid off , or do I wait till the biggest marijority is up |
AngelG1111
Frisco, TX
February 19, 2008
09:31 PM Post #4562097
| I am not happy with my Jiffy peat pellets and germinating flower seeds. I have had better luck with Burpee flats. Their planting medium is finer it seems. I will only buy Burpee in the future.
Angela |
Fairy1004
(bestest fairy)Tempe, MI
(Zone 5b)
February 20, 2008
08:22 AM Post #4563583
| I used the peat pellets last year and the ones I left the netting on were annuals that I would have to remove in the fall when they died-It actually helped me to be able to get them up w/ the roots...all the perennials & such I took the netting off. LOVED the peat thing last year-saved my trays and am getting more pellets today for more annulals!!
Just my 2cents |
msrobin
Caneyville, KY
(Zone 6b)
February 20, 2008
10:09 AM Post #4563864
| I started 20 trays of seeds, 12 with a potting mix and 8 with Jiffy pellets. I'm not seeing much difference in germination rate. If there are huge droplets of water on the top, I'll take it off for a few hours and wipe it dry. My reasoning is, if there is that much condensation, then my flats must be too wet. If there is just a mist, I leave them in place. |
LorraineR
Gilmer, TX
(Zone 8a)
February 20, 2008
01:28 PM Post #4564674
| My problem with them is my fault and not the product. I keep putting things with different germination rates in the same flat, so then the problem. Do I take the lid off when the first ones germinate or do you wait for them all.,, blah blah blah. I think I've learned the lesson, but still have flats that have half germ. half not., so I'll either kill the ones that are up with too much humidity or kill the others with not enough |
msrobin
Caneyville, KY
(Zone 6b)
February 20, 2008
09:46 PM Post #4566441
| LorraineR, gotcha...LOL! I did the same thing. My inserts aren't separated into 6 or 9's. It's all one piece. Guess which one I planted multiple varieties in? Of course not the trays with the Jiffys...that would have been too easy. I know I could cut them apart, but I'm afraid I'll disrupt the babies. |
LorraineR
Gilmer, TX
(Zone 8a)
February 20, 2008
11:09 PM Post #4566835
| I know, I did cut some of mine apart and I'm sure I murdered them. Not many are coming up. Course I forget that it's just Feb. so some of them may just not be ready!!
It's so warm here, it feels like spring |
