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How to choose a container for seedlings: tips and review of popular types
15.01.2024 06:50
Growing seedlings is an important stage in preparing for the gardening season.
The health and development of plants depends on the container you choose for planting seeds. What types of containers exist and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, told how to choose a container for seedlings.
Seedling box - practical, but not suitable for all plants
Seedling boxes can be made of wood or plastic. They hold a lot of seeds, but the plants tend to grow too big and have intertwined roots.
Therefore, the boxes are suitable for seedlings that do not require picking or transplanting into separate pots, such as onion sets, lettuce or flowers.
Trays and cassettes are a good option, but...
Trays and cassettes are plastic containers with sections for each plant. They are convenient for growing seedlings with or without picking, since each plant has its own earthen lump and does not interfere with its neighbors.
In addition, trays and cassettes save space on a windowsill or shelf. The disadvantage of such containers is that they are more expensive than regular boxes or pots and can be inconvenient to carry.
Peat tablets are a great solution, but the price is steep
Peat tablets are special disks of pressed peat with added fertilizers and growth stimulants. They are placed in special trays or containers with water, where they swell and turn into ready-made pots for seedlings.
In such tablets you can sow seeds without preliminary germination and not worry about watering and fertilizing.
In addition, peat tablets can be planted in the ground together with plants, as they decompose and improve the soil. The main disadvantage of such containers is that they are quite expensive and not always available.
Seedling pots are suitable for all crops
Seedling pots are the most common and versatile type of containers. They can be made from different materials: plastic, ceramics, peat, cardboard, etc.
Pots allow you to control the growth and development of each plant, facilitate the process of transplanting seedlings into the ground and save space on the windowsill or shelf.
However, pots require more soil and fertilizers compared to boxes or trays.
They can also be expensive, especially if you buy ready-made pots made of quality materials. So when choosing pots for seedlings, you need to consider not only their size and shape, but also the material they are made of.
Homemade containers - cheap and cheerful
You can save money on seedling containers by making them yourself from what you have on hand.
For example, you can use plastic bottles, cups, toilet paper rolls, paper napkins, and even cardboard juice or dairy containers. The main thing is that such containers have drainage holes in the bottom and are strong enough.
Homemade containers have their advantages: they are practically free, environmentally friendly and diverse. But they also have disadvantages: they may not be very beautiful, inconvenient to carry and store, and may also contain harmful substances.
As you can see, the choice of containers for seedlings depends on many factors: the type of plants, the method of growing, the budget and personal preferences. The main thing is that the seedlings feel comfortable and please you with their health and harvest!
Earlier we told you why summer residents feed seedlings with validol .
