Using fiber pots

[rary]

I thought that I would try potting on into fiber pots this year, I have sat them on capillary matting along with some plastic pots, due to some problems I have not managed to keep an eye on them so out this morning and I find that the compost has dried out and the plants are not worth keeping, so if I use the rest of the pots would I be better to soak them before filling with compost

[veggiechicken]

They're awful, rary, dry out very quickly. I've ripped mine up and put them in the compost.

[Small pumpkin]

I used them for the first time last year. Never again!

[muck lover]

If you pot up with them dry they suck all the moisture out of the compost. If you keep them wet they fall apart. And whatever anyone says I think they present a barrier to roots if you plant them out whole.
Bring back the dreaded plastic.

[muck lover]

Although I do feel ecoguilt when using the plastic modular trays so flimsy and almost impossible to reuse. The plastic gets Terribly brittle the following year.
If anyone has sourced really strong reusable modular trays I would like to know. I had some dear old polystyrene ones years ago that we’re pretty strong but I have t seen them for sale for many years now. Should have stocked up...

[Penellype]

Agree with all of the above re fibre pots - loo roll innards are better.

I hate modules and agree that they tend to split or buckle and be unusable after a couple of uses. I also find I can never get all of the plants to come out nicely and end up with some on the floor and often some broken. However, I did buy one of these Self-Watering Seed Success Kits (the 12 cell one) to try, and used it for spinach, which I have just planted out. I got the 12 cell so it would fit on the windowsill. The modules themselves are robust and look like they will last quite a while. The self watering tray underneath performed well and 18 of the 24 seeds germinated (spinach is notorious for bad germination). Using the platform upside down to push the seedlings out (as recommended) was hopeless, but the holes in the bottom of the cells are a bit bigger than usual and a pen worked very well. They are not cheap, but you get much more than a module tray and it should last much longer.

[rary]

If anyone has sourced really strong reusable modular trays I would like to know. I had some dear old polystyrene ones years ago that we’re pretty strong but I have t seen them for sale for many years now. Should have stocked up...

Try Nutleys extra large root trainer cells, supposed to be able to reuse several times, they are a lot more expensive but that is a thing we will have to face due to the environmental problems of throw away plastic, but I suppose we can always go back to making out own trays as was done in the past and more environmentally friendly

[Snoop Puss]

Try But lets extra large root trainer cells, supposed to be able to reuse

Do you mean Nutley's?

Plus, another vote against fibre pots. Useless things.

[rary]

Sorry Snoop was trying to sort my post when you posted so missed yours, finished up I had to use my computer, the kindle is handy but a bit limited

[Bluenowhere]

Thanks grapes one and all, was considering trying fibre pots. Will now avoid.

[Philthy]

Going to raise a small and lonely hand to say I think fibre pots do have some merit, certainly not without flaws, but I personally like to use a variant of them every year.
I specifically choose the smallest which come in preformed cell trays 3x4, each cell approx. 1" sq. at the top. I use them for seed germination, filling each cell 3/4 full with mpc, watering and placing in the propogator. On their own and exposed to light they do dry out quickly. But at this size they are small enough to be separated once seed has sprouted and each put into a 3" plastic pot with added compost, then I find with the sides shielded from the light and watered they actually help keep the pot moist for longer. And of course they do protect the delicate roots when potting on, avoiding pricking out entirely. That said I only use thin fibre pots; the thick ones from places like Homebase are too dense, and the larger sizes generally regardless of origin are fiddly to handle when wet as they don't hold their shape, easily tearing or squashing, and as standalone pots I agree they dry out much to quickly. So not exactly an endorsement but I wouldn't write them off either

[rary]

I have several 3in. fibre pots (40)which cost me a £1 so rather than waste my money I am going to drill holes in the base to see if this helps, will let you know.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I tried them for one season only, never again just to much trouble

[Bren In Pots]

I've only ever used them once they were a birthday gift along with some bonsai tree seeds, not something I'd buy for myself but I did give them a go.

[4Shoes]

Although I do feel ecoguilt when using the plastic modular trays so flimsy and almost impossible to reuse. The plastic gets Terribly brittle the following year.
If anyone has sourced really strong reusable modular trays I would like to know. I had some dear old polystyrene ones years ago that we’re pretty strong but I have t seen them for sale for many years now. Should have stocked up...

I found the same problem so switched to the small pots from Aldi. not much more expensive .

To save space, I sick them in Seed trays and water from below in a gravel tray and you can mix and match the plants as the get bigger. Keeping back slower germination seedlings etc.