Lootrainers

[Bigmallly]

Having just taken delivery of my first Rootrainers, I thought there must be a way of putting the principles into loo rolls. Do you think it is worth the effort doing the Origami or just use the rolls as intended.

[OllieMartin]

I'd not even heard of rootrainers before, but looking at that I'm sure you could fashion one out of a loo roll. Or even a sheet of card, folded in a zig-zag and then wrapped into a cylinder.

[Bigmallly]

I believe the main principle Ollie is training the roots down grooves in the trainer so that they do not coil up as they do in pots.

[zazen999]

I've been folding mine like this for ages. It's something to do whilst you are sat there; if you get my drift.

You can store them folded inside of other non-folded loo roll innerds; thus cutting down on storage space.

[sarraceniac]

I just plant anything I want to plant out after growth is established, but don't want to disturb roots, into a loo roll anyway. Why would I want it's roots to go just downwards? I'm quite happy for plants to push their roots through the walls of the loo roll after being planted out. And before then, they never bother me. The closest thing I grow to Triffids are Puyas. And the spikes on those are on the leaves not the roots.

[FionaH]

As far as I can tell loo rolls do the same job as rootrainers anyway. Possibly with evwn less root disturbance as I plant mine straight out

[Two_Sheds]

I did a 'trial' last year of sweet peas in loo rolls v. root-trainers.

The ones in loo rolls were taller and had a better root system. Waste of £8.99 !

[Glutton4...]

Thanks for that TS - I'd contemplated doing a comparison, but you've saved me the bother.

[Jillyreeves]

I always use loo or kitchen rolls instead of root trainers, cant bring myself to part with the cash :-)

[zazen999]

See, I love roottrainers, and use them all so many times each year. I find it easier than transplanting mouldy loo rolls; and only use loo rolls when the crop is only going to be in there for a short period.

Also, roottrainers fit nicely on the back of my bike; with the elastic thingys 2 roottrainer inserts apart, so no stems get damaged.

[Bigmallly]

Thanks guys, it's so good to have a vast range of opinions. That's one of the things I like about the vine.

[Alison]

I love root trainers too and use them over and over again. My oldest ones are about 6 years old now and only one of the inserts is a bit damaged so I don't think they're working out bad value. As Zazen says above, they're much easier to transport than loo rolls and there is no way we'd ever get through sufficient loo roll to cater for all my root trainer needs - there's only two bottoms in our house and we're out at work most days.

[RedThorn]

I have 1 set of the deep rootrainers which I got beginning of last year. Found the trainers themselves to have really thin flimsy plastic and and not sure it will stand the test of time. Loo rolls on the other hand are in abundance in this household...