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Will a long toilet roll work the same as a proper root trainer? or will only the real deal work?
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Hi there
I use them, but i fold them a bit to make the roots go downwards when they hit the sides. To do this, I squash the circle into a flat, and do it again to make it square. Then fold the straight bits in so that it becomes a sort of star shape. Then use.
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I bought some root trainers a few years ago on an offer at Tatton show, wasn't sure how good they'd be but have been very pleased with them. We don't get through enough kitchen rolls to get plenty of long ones for growing and I like the fact that I can reuse the root trainers and don't have to worry about them going mouldy etc as the cardboard can. Also, you can open the root trainers up to have a look at the root development without harming the plant if you want - don't do it much but next door's little girl was quite impressed! Suppose if you have enough rolls then use them but I'll stick with what I've got, especially for some of the things I keep in them for longer eg autumn sown sweet peas.
Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
Which one are you and is it how you want to be?Comment
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Welcome to the Vine Keep it Green. Toilet rolls work well for me. Some people complain they go mouldy, but this mould seems to be harmless. I find if I don't soak the toilet rolls, but just water carefully into them, they don't go mouldy and I get plants with long roots to plant out without disturbance. Good luck with the project.
From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.Comment
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I've used Rootrainers for the past 5 years or so and now I'm growing on a semi-industrial basis, have just bought another £100 worth. I don't know anybody that uses them that doesn't think they're the muts nuts, especially if you're careful and reuse the 'books' for several years.
There just aren't enough toilet or kitchen rolls being used within the various families who collect jars and similar for us to grow what we want in cardboard tubes.
I'm now thinking of making newpaper pots as an alternative tho, not for any other reason than recycling, will be able to while away the odd winter evening or two doing that.TonyF, Dordogne 24220Comment
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Add my vote to Tony's they are indeed the dogs dangly bits!
If you need to do a bit of running repairs on them I've found thin electrical tape is just the job, stays on even after washing.
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flowerComment
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I save all the toilet and kitchen rolls over the year and always use them. I know sometimes they can go a bit mouldy but like Alice says, it seems to be harmless. You can plant them out without any root disturbance.
I use them for peas, sweet peas, leeks and dahlias.
And when your back stops aching,
And your hands begin to harden.
You will find yourself a partner,
In the glory of the garden.
Rudyard Kipling.sigpicComment
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Technically, do the two methods produce slightly different root formation? Just thinking about it...
Rootrainers rely on "air pruning" where the roots stop as they literally have nowhere to go, this encourages new roots to form.
They do this to an extent in a tube or pot which is flat on a surface, but I have found that some roots start growing back into the pot.
So, there's something for you to think on!
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I might invest and give both a trial run. I have plenty of seeds to go at.
Thanks for the repliesComment
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The initial cost of root trainers I find a bit expensive. So I use what trainers I have but the majority goes into the loo rolls.Comment
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ditto Tony and SBP - I have used Rootrainers for a long while now, some of mine are currently nursing sweetpeas (yaaaaay) - dogs bits they indeed are
and welcome to the superbest group ever
aka
SuzieComment
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Each year our company sends me a load of wallplanners to send out to customers, and every year we have too many. The wallplanners (A1 size) come in those cardboard tubes - so this year I am going to save the surplus tubes and use them as almight root trainers.
If anyone wants a wallplanner by the way...A simple dude trying to grow veg. http://haywayne.blogspot.com/
BLOG UPDATED! http://haywayne.blogspot.com/2012/01...ar-demand.html 30/01/2012
Practise makes us a little better, it doesn't make us perfect.
What would Vedder do?Comment
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I can't get the root trainer here and since my toilet rol tube aren't enough I am using the used plastic cup ( left over from party) as it is more and less the depth of a toilet tube and of course I drill some holes at the bottom for the drainage and they can be reuse from year to year ( mine are on their third year now).
MomolI grow, I pick, I eat ...Comment
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momol, if you want to use them (rootrainers) I'm happy to get some and ship out to youaka
SuzieComment
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I did treat myself to some root trainers and I must admit they are pretty good, although I still do resort to the loo roll when I've run out. I just find that the root trainers keep the plants better over a longer period, particularly useful for me as I'm not always ready to plant out in May .... June or even July sometimes .....~
Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.
~ Mary Kay AshComment
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