are rootrainers that good?

[Tripmeup]

Like Taff, I find them very good for Sweetcorn as well as peas and beans...

[marchogaeth]

It's a bit frustrating, as I'm sure that it's just me, I just haven't got the knack.

They do use a lot of compost to fill, but then I don't pot them on, I wait till they're big and sturdy, plant them out, ....

I think this is the knack to getting the most out of them and the most out of the compost you use. You leave the plants in for much longer than you think you need to, then the roots come out in a nice little cuboid. When we discussed root trainers before, one of the things I asked about was whether it was important to stand the root trainers on a none growing surface so that the roots died when they came out into the air. I am now of the opinion that they do work better if the roots don't come out of the bottom and access soil.

[zazen999]

I love them but I didn't use them at all this year! Must get them taken to the community garden and get some stuff in them now that I have loads of home made compost to fill them with.

Notes: I fill the bottoms with choppings and only the top half with actual compost. Or I use the bits that I sieve out of seed compost. I have my 'tightwad' badge displayed on my lapel at all times.

[Littlefox2000]

I love them too. I got a set in a bundle if flowerpots on Freecycle. I like them so much I bought 3 more sets. I've used them for peas, beans and sweetcorn. I will use them again alot in the future. But am frantically collecting toilet roll innards (even forgaing my office toilets - its crazy what allotmenteering gets you doing) to use for next years beans and peas.

[jayjaybee]

I have had some deep roottrainers for years, yes they split/broke into two halves the first year but I still use them ok. I only plant sweetcorn in mine. But having said that I wouldn't buy any more because i think they're overpriced. I am going to look at these airpots everyone is talking about.

[dim]

I have had some deep roottrainers for years, yes they split/broke into two halves the first year but I still use them ok. I only plant sweetcorn in mine. But having said that I wouldn't buy any more because i think they're overpriced. I am going to look at these airpots everyone is talking about.

like I said .... I've tested them (after reading reviews from guys who grow 'medical cannabis') .... they are superb .... use a good compost though ...(I buy imported compost from hydroponic stores):

[marchogaeth]

What I've managed to find on air pots makes me think they are for a totally different job to the root trainers. The "seedling trays" seem to hold a lot of plants which would have to be broken up to plant on, whereas the root trainers are for individual plants.

They have been discussed on here before (as have root trainers). I seem to remember someone making their own by melting holes in Morrison's buckets.

Dim if you have any trial results we are always really glad to share those.

[dim]

What I've managed to find on air pots makes me think they are for a totally different job to the root trainers. The "seedling trays" seem to hold a lot of plants which would have to be broken up to plant on, whereas the root trainers are for individual plants.

They have been discussed on here before (as have root trainers). I seem to remember someone making their own by melting holes in Morrison's buckets.

Dim if you have any trial results we are always really glad to share those.

I never documented or photographed results, as I tsted them for myself ....

I had several root cuttings of tetrapanax rex which were potted in normal pots aswell as airpots of the same size .... I used the same compost, and watered the same for all .... all of the plants in the airpots grew faster, had thicker trunks and were a lot larger and had a much more vigorous root system when I transplanted them from the airpots

I done the same with Ricinus communis ..... those grown in airpots performed and looked much better (and larger) and healthier than those grown in normal pots

I will be growing tomatoes and potatoes next year in the large airpots (there are huge ones available).... I am well impressed with what I have seen so far

one drawback, is that you need to water slowly, as if you water too quick, the water runs out of the holes on the sides of the pots

and when I have some extra cash, I will buy the very large airpot that is used for composting

[marchogaeth]

Interesting, Dim, in a way you have sort of echoed my point. These are all plants that are being grown to a large size before planting on if at all. Root trainers are for a very different purpose. I did think these looked really interesting as they are a combination of seed tray/air pot but can't seem to find them for sale anywhere.

As regards slow watering, I use the bottle inside a bottle technique, there was a thread with a lot of links recently but (as usual) I have failed with the search on here. However, at the end of this video (on bottle towers) the basic principal is shown. I use this in my sweet potato bags and hanging bags and baskets. For the plants in beds I use one bottle on variations of this method.

I will look at air pots for my overwintering chillies if I can pick them up fairly cheap. I don't think I have the patience to make them!

[Naga]

I actually started to find out about air pots but I only wanted them for cuttings. Then I started looking at hydro cloning.... All from researching rootrainers!

[marchogaeth]

I actually started to find out about air pots but I only wanted them for cuttings. Then I started looking at hydro cloning.... All from researching rootrainers!

Nobody said the quest for knowledge was along an easy path .