Peat pots

Hello :D

After reading a few topics on here and seeing that people use peat pots for sowing their seeds, I decided to give it a try today with some Geranium seeds (yes, I know a few weeks later than normal, but someone gave them to me). All went okay until I got a little over excited with watering.

The potting soil is damp yet the pots are soaking wet. I assumed that I was meant to keep them wet when the plants were established. Should I re-do it or will the pots become dryer? Have I overwatered?

 

It`s something to do with the level of the soil.If it isn`t right up to the rim,the water gets soaked up by the pot.Somethig about it acting as a kind of wick.Some one else will be able to explain it better Gilly.

 

I tried peat pots this year as they were cheap, but I've found that I'm struggling to stop them drying out all the time! As a consequence the stuff I put in them, compared with the same stuff in plastic pots isn't half as big!!
Oh well, I'll know next year!!! :rolleyes: :D

 

I always use peat pots as they are easy to plant out whole [I have trouble bending]. They do need a lot of water, but if you keep them packed together in a seed tray they don't dry out so quickly. I also use loo roll centres and paper pots made by an ingenious little gadget called a- wait for it- Paper Potter. They all dry out quickly in propagators.
I f I used plastic ones I'd be inundated with the things the rest of the year. Try using trays without drainage holes to keep them in.
Gilly, I think as long as the compost itself is damp then all should be OK. Water more if the compost is looking dry.

 

Thanks everyone.

Windy, that is something worth noting re: the size of what you can grow in them.

Thanks Liz. That paper potter sounds great and the loo roll tip is certainly worth trying too :D I read somewhere else that people use egg boxes too!

What about mouldy bits? I have read that you can get mould / white fur around the pots - is this okay?

 

Yes the mouldy bits and fur are normal.They get a bit slimey too.It`ll probably be there when it`s time to plant out.I wouldn`t worry,it never hurt my flowers last yr.
Try and pack them in tight,as Liz says,into some sort of container or you`ll find them collapsing and toppling all over the place.