mouldy peat pots

[ckfe]

is this normal??? i planted several different seeds in peat pots just over a week ago and now the peat pots have gone mouldy

[FionaH]

Are you overwatering them?

[lynda66]

they do tend to go mouldy sometimes mostly cos of too much water/not enough ventilation or both

[ckfe]

yeah possibly overwatering them, i've stopped now though.. is it ok to leave the seedlings in them? and can i still plant them in the raised bed without taking them out of the peat pot?

[FionaH]

You can plant the peat pot straight into the ground. However I found out recently that you shouldnt leave any of the pot above the ground

[ckfe]

doesn't it matter that they're mouldy when they go in the raised bed?
what's the problem with leaving a bit above the ground?

[Alison Adams]

Not leave any above ground ? Id like to know why, too.
I have previously done that on purpose as a slug detterent - I thought it might put them off a little tiny bit and maybe they wouldn't see the tasty seedlings and a bit of extra wind protection...
So what is the downside ?

[zazen999]

If you leave the top outside of the ground, it acts like a wick drawing moisture up and letting it evaporate thus drying the pot itself out and not allowing it to rot down.

[ckfe]

i'll cover them up tomorrow.. how long will it take the peat pot to break down? i don't want the plants to get pot bound

[selfraising]

You can plant the peat pot straight into the ground. However I found out recently that you shouldnt leave any of the pot above the ground

Well I never knew that! Quite a few of mine are poking above soil level but I think I will go out and just carefully tear back the edges to soil level as the pots tear quite easily when damp.

[FionaH]

Well I never knew that! Quite a few of mine are poking above soil level but I think I will go out and just carefully tear back the edges to soil level as the pots tear quite easily when damp.

Yup thats what I did.

[FionaH]

If you leave the top outside of the ground, it acts like a wick drawing moisture up and letting it evaporate thus drying the pot itself out and not allowing it to rot down.

And apparently it also stresses the root ball. Pretty sure I read that somewhere on the Vine?

[helanuels]

doesn't it matter that they're mouldy when they go in the raised bed?

That is a very good question, I was told to totally resoil and repot plants that went mouldy in peat pots. most of the plants were ok but I think I was just lucky.

[Alison Adams]

I have diligently been around peeling the damp tops off all my peat and newspaper pots...
Should have been obvious really, thanks for the explanation.
Another reason I discovered, is the damp tops fold in against the stems and could cause the stems to rot.