Question about quick paper pots

**Iamhanuman** · 28-02-2009, 10:00 AM

also can they be half the height, i.e toilet roll tube height?

**IgglePiggle** · 28-02-2009, 10:27 AM

I'm guessing if you use glossy paper, like what junk mail uses it, will last longer then newspaper. Maybe make them thicker if you want them to last longer...

**BrideXIII** · 28-02-2009, 11:14 AM

you can make them whatever size and height you like, i have small module sized, large 4 inch across dumpy ones and 6 inch tall tubular ones for the carrots.
if you ensure you use at the very least a double thickness rolled round a couple of times they stand up to watering very well, dont make them too wet, water from the top at first but then into the tray holding them. they are good indicators that way of how moist the soil is.
i have 4 courgettes that have been in paper pots for over a month and no sign of the pots falling apart.
just dont handle when the paper is wet, i have torn a couple

use ordinary paper, not glossy or coloured, the ideas is for the paper to rot down and those two types take much longer, ordinary is just fine, and goes quite hard after a while, a bit like paper mache.

**tamsin** · 28-02-2009, 01:01 PM

I made some for peas mid November and just planted them out. They do go soft so you have to handle them carefully - don't try to lift um by the rim

If you hold um around the middle they are sturdy though and they didn't dissolve just sitting around.

**lettucegrow!** · 28-02-2009, 01:32 PM

My sweet peas have been growing in paper pots over winter and they are fine. They just wont stand a lot of moving around but they are ideal for plants that don't like their roots being disturbed.

**Sanjo** · 28-02-2009, 06:36 PM

Just in case anyone is interested (and I cannot at this stage guarantee the result!!) but I have used Toilet rolls in the past and they do become fiddly to plant out when wet, bearing in mind the idea is to not disturb the roots, soooooo I made a little sleeve for each T.R. from a piece of black plastic (from a compost bag)
I measured the diameter of the T.R. and made it it slightly longer to overlap a bit at the bottom to stop the compost falling out.
I stapled it three times down the edge so in effect had a plastic "sleeve".
Into this I have inserted a T.R., tucked in the end, filled with compost and sowed with parsnip.
The intention is that when it comes to popping it into the hole I can either slip it out of its "sleeve" or if that proves difficult, I shall just cut the plastic away from the T.R.
As T.R. (and indeed any of the degradable pots) dry out very quickly, I was hoping that my initiative would also help conserve moisture, especially as I am away from home for a while soon.
Hope this helps.

**maytreefrannie** · 28-02-2009, 07:57 PM

Sounds good to me, Sanjo, as I find compost can spill out the end of the toilet roll centre, also they can driy out sometimes. Generally, though, I find them a useful free pot for starting stuff in.

**Iamhanuman** · 28-02-2009, 08:43 PM

Thanks to all

i think i'll keep the double height ones for anything requiring the longer roots
the rest can go in the shorter ones
i like the idea of the sleeves for the TR tubes!!

going for it tonight - will Blog it tonight or tomorrow!

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