Plastic vending machine coffee cups as pots?

[moggssue]

Would any of you use those little (c. 2.5") brown plastic cups you get out of coffee vending machines for potting on seedlings coming out of seed trays? I have a ready and plentiful supply and it seems a shame to waste ..... but any problems you know of? (not big enough springs to mind?!)

[jacob marley]

They are just the job i have used them in the past just make sure that you cut a bit of the base where it joins the side for drainage jacob

[roadkill]

same here i take loads from work and they do the job as seed trays well

[crichmond]

I have recently put a recycling bin for cups next to the drinks machine in the staffroom so as to recycle them as plant pots, we also have a water macine and the cups are ideal as mini cloches.

[rustylady]

OH YES!!! Just make sure you make holes in the bottom for drainage.

[Snadger]

Thats all I use! The polystyrene cups are good as well!

[greenstar]

Same here. And I use the clear ones too so that the kids can see the roots developing.

[vegtable newbie!]

using clear ones to see roots developing is a fantastic idea - i am going to try that!!!

Sue

[Dotski McWellie]

I bought some fibre pots from Woolies and a also load of cheap white vending machine cups from Tesco - and divided my seeds into both sorts of planting receptacle. I didn't do holes in the plastic cups (through not thinking rather than plan) but the results were massively in favour of the cheap white cups. Even without holes. Somehow when I watered into the vending machine cup I could get a sense of the moisture concentration. All the plants in the vending cups have been good. So am sure it is a worthwhile idea. I don't even need mention you can use them again !!!

Dotski McWellie

[HeyWayne]

Absolutely! I don't have any "proper" pots of that size. I bought myself a cheap soldering iron on t'ebay which I use to make the holes in the bottom (making sure I'm in a well ventilated area). Using the soldering iron means I don't crack or split any of the "pots".

Best thing is, they're free!

[momol]

I have been using it for years now and it is a great stuff even after owning root trainers, I still can't do without these cups. Great for tomato, chili,pepper, beans, peas...etc. I use scissor to create drainage holes, just cut at the base-side at 4 to 6 place...voila, ready !

[Snadger]

Absolutely! I don't have any "proper" pots of that size. I bought myself a cheap soldering iron on t'ebay which I use to make the holes in the bottom (making sure I'm in a well ventilated area). Using the soldering iron means I don't crack or split any of the "pots".

Best thing is, they're free!

Great minds.....I use the poker from my woodburner!

[norazina]

I use those all the time, they work out cheaper than buying 3" pots and re-usable as well. It's also very easy to get rootball out when transplanting seedlings.

I use wooden bbq stick to make drainage holes.

I also buy plastic shallow soup cups (the one restaurants use for takeaways), about 4" diameter, these make fantastic seedtray, very handy when you want to sow a little bit of different variaties at the same time, so each plant has it's own seedtray.

[debjay]

Hi
We get 100 plastic ones for £1 at the poundshop 1p a pot not bad
Debbie

[moggssue]

haha, and there was me thinking I'd found something new - just goes to show, there is nothing new when it comes to gardeners inventiveness!! Thanks all - guess what I'll be doing this weekend .....