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  • #1

    Potting on dilemma HELP!

    Hi all. I have quite a bit of success with seeds. However some of mine do get leggy prior to second set of leaves appearing. I know this is due to light levels but I'm restricted as to where I can put my trays to germinate. Despite moving stuff around.. and in that over used phrase ....it is what it is
    I will eventually have a heated green house. Eventually..
    What do you all do when you move seedlings from seed tray to next pot? A 3" pot seems excessive. But I need the depth to avoid root damage. I'm loathed to buy more plastic.
    I thought of toilet roll cardboard inner but ... well not to go into too much detail I dont have many available. Also thought of wrapping paper roll inner .but not many either. I'm at my wits end. Any suggestions pleeeese. I'm hoping I'm missing the obvious.
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  • #2
    Could you let us know what sort of seedlings you have please ?

    As an aside you might want to consider buying some led light strings of the type sold for use in the garden as decorations or whatever - you can rig them up so that your seedlings will fit underneath, light is much cheaper to produce than heat - should help stop them getting leggy.

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    • #3
      Lots of people here make their own newspaper pots. I've never done it but I'm sure someone can tell you how it's done?
      He-Pep!

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      • #4
        Seeds don't need to be in the light until you see them emerging from the soil. then they do.
        I usually pot seedlings into modules before moving into pots but it depends on what they are and how fast they grow. Bigger seeds like squashes and beans are started in modules, not seed trays.
        I don't have a heated GH. No need for the type of growing I do.

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        • #5
          Newspaper pots are good. You can google videos of how to make them, and it's dead easy. They will fall apart when wet, so work best when crammed together in tray (for me, often the type of plastic tub mushrooms come in!).

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          • #6
            Originally posted by bario1 View Post
            Lots of people here make their own newspaper pots. I've never done it but I'm sure someone can tell you how it's done?
            Bren always does her own.

            I don't have a heated GH but I try to make use of the light when my seedlings are up by putting them out during the day.
            If the numbers outside are in double figures and you have a sunny spot that is sheltered, by a wall or patio etc I would put them out for a few hours if you can.

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            • #7
              Ive got 2 different sized pot makers both were prezzies they're really handy and you don't get any root disturbance when potting on or planting out.
              I made my own pot maker before getting the store bought ones I'll have to find the link.
              My seedling stay on the window sill with foil behind to reflect the light it does help with preventing the leggieness.
              Location....East Midlands.

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              • #8
                Found my post about making your own newspaper pot maker.

                https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ml#post1146251

                Hope this helps.
                Location....East Midlands.

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                • #9
                  Root trainers are good if you need a deeper pot for leggy seedlings which doesn’t have a large footprint on your restricted space.
                  I rarely use heat on seedlings to minimise leggyness ( not sure if that’s a real word)
                  Regarding plastic I do understand that it’s an environmental hazard but if the alternative is buying stuff that’s conventionally grown then I think careful use of plastic which will last many years and can be recycled isn’t so bad. I have no experience with newspaper pots or toilet roll tubes but I have not really succeeded with peat pots which seem to suck up all the moisture from the compost and then get soggy and fall apart.
                  I’m using a lot of 1Kg yoghurt pots which can eventually be recycled.
                  I think we are in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water if we try to avoid plastic totally.

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                  • #10
                    I have been making bigger paper pots by wrapping 1/4 height of broadsheet newspaper around a glass bottle, then folding the ends over and crimping the corner by hand.

                    The glass bottles that posh cordial comes in are about the right size - look out for a brand where the sides of the glass bottle are smooth and vertical.

                    I will also be making my next batch with double thickness paper (ie half sheet, folded double) as most of my broad bean pots disintegrated as I was planting them out this afternoon. In some ways that’s a good thing, as you can see the roots start to emerge through the paper, so you know when they’re getting ready to plant out. Remind me in a couple of months and I’ll tell you how I get on with the double thickness ones

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                    • #11
                      I believe that a seed just needs warmth to germinate, not light.

                      Then when germinated, it will grow based on two things - light and/or warmth.

                      Even availability of both will produce stocky, healthy plants. If it's warm but a lack of light, the plants will go leggy.

                      So maybe add lights in the future perhaps? They can be had from fleabay for not so much money these days.
                      https://nodigadventures.blogspot.com/

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                      • #12
                        I got some growlights from Amazon in December and have been using them initially for very early tomatoes (VC's challenge), then other seedlings once they have germinated.

                        Seedlings grow straight up under the lights, they've made a real difference. Cost about £28, twin light, with a clamp that I've attached to a standard lamp, but could be a bench or whatever.
                        Mostly flowers, some fruit and veg, at the seaside in Edinburgh.

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