Paper pots

[shangrilyla]

I started a few pea seeds and some acorn squash (to test if they were viable) a couple weeks ago in newspaper pots, and at first it was great... I was thrilled. They sat in the windowsill and came up nicely. But all of a sudden they all seemed to be covered in a white mould, newspaper and all! It killed the squash seedlings...covered them and smothered them almost overnight. I re-planted the peas into a windowbox and they seem to be doing fine now.

I guess my question is, those of you who use newspaper pots... how do you avoid mould?

I don't think it was my compost mix... I used the same stuff for other seedlings in plastic trays and they seem fine.

[Bren In Pots]

Could it be down to over-watering ?

[shangrilyla]

Possibly... The newspaper did always seem damp. Should I let the compost dry almost completely before watering again? I have been using a spray bottle to mist them every 3 days or so. Is that too often? I'm new to starting my own seeds inside... so this whole thing is kind of an experiement!

I'm trying to make my life a little "greener".. and I hated switching from the newspaper pots back to plastic trays... but the mould was driving me nuts.

[Shadylane]

It's best to use paper pots just for things that won't be in them that long, otherwise you're bound to get a bit of fungus. The misting probably didn't help though. If you pick up the pot you can generally tell by the weight if it needs watering or not. Apparently, it's easier to kill stuff from overwatering than under.

If you don't want to buy plastic pots why not recycle yoghurt pots(large and small), margerine tubs, tomato tins with a hole drilled in the bottom, or even ask your neighbours to save you stuff.

[LittleShamrock]

I have killed manys a plant by overwatering I heard that plants needed plenty of water and I'd even set pots in the bath with a few inches of water in it until the soil was saturated. If the top was even slightly dry, it got watered again the soil was covered in mould and then the plants died, whoops!

[arpoet]

I have used home made paper pots for years and even made a short video about it some years ago, but i have adapted my mode of operation since then.
Dailymotion - Paper pots - a Lifestyle video
I find them fine for peas (3 per pot) but not much good for cabbages, etc, as they are prone to the white mould. I just dig a hole and dump the paper pot of peas straight in and give a good watering.
Roger

[Two_Sheds]

those of you who use newspaper pots... how do you avoid mould?

Don't use paper pots in the winter - they are OK for short-term use, and don't over-water them

[Two_Sheds]

I have been using a spray bottle to mist them every 3 days or so.

Why?

Plants take water through their roots, not their leaves. The only things that would like misting would be tropical jungle type plants, such as cheese plants, ficus etc

[Alan G]

I quite fancy making paper pots this year.

Out of interest, will they degrade over the course of a year?

Or will I find myself pulling damp newspaper up when I prepare/turn over the soil next Spring?

[Bren In Pots]

So long as they are fully buried the paper pots soon rot down.

[Kristen]

I've never seen any "reminder" of the newspaper pots when preparing the soil a year later ...

[Alan G]

Thats good news.

Had visions of preparing the soil next Feb to see Miss Page 3 staring up at me

[smc999]

Thats good news.

Had visions of preparing the soil next Feb to see Miss Page 3 staring up at me

Happy days!