The begonias that I sowed in vermiculite are a bust. Dragon wings seem to have just disappeared. Boliviensis is there, and green, but really not growing. With a magnifying glass, I can see that some have one true leaf, but I still can't see them without a magnifier. I won't do that again (i.e. use vermiculite for such tiny, slow growing seeds).

The echinacea have done well. I started Warm Summer first (in January), then Cheyenne Spirit and Pow Wow Wild berry a week later. The differences in the cultivars is apparent. Cheyenne Spirit are the biggest, healthiest looking, thriving seedlings. PWWB look good too. But a few Warm Summer croaked, (none of the other 2 cultivard died) and the remaining ones just don't look as big and healthy. A few of those are downright puny.



Karen

Oh, those look good! Where'd you get the cool pink tray?

Gardener's Supply, and I really like it. Big cells, very sturdy, should last a long time. The walls are very slippery, feels like Teflon, seedlings pop right out. And they're bottomless, so I've been constantly bottom watering with capillary matting.

http://www.gardeners.com/Seeds...

Karen

RATS!! They show the pink ones as no longer available.

>> And they're bottomless, so I've been constantly bottom watering with capillary matting.

Gee, doesn't the mix fall out if you lift or move the tray?

I found that fuzzy cotton flannel seems to bottom-water pretty-OK even through relatively small holes in a 128-cell plug tray (8 cells x 16 row).

"Trays are 13-7/8" L x 8-1/2" W "

Hmm! They wouldn't fit neatly into a 1020 tray.

And speaking of 1020 trays, does anyone else have problems with tiny holes developing in them? So that they leak all over the place when you try to bottom water? I bought a can of that spray sealant that they're always advertising on TV and it works great for plugging those bitty holes.

"Gee, doesn't the mix fall out if you lift or move the tray?" no, it doesn't. In fact, you have to lift them occasionally, because the roots grow into the capillary matting. I really like them.

Karen

Thanks, Karen. The "very sturdy" part sounds especially good.

I found a local source (Steuber's Distributing) of plug trays (propagation trays) that seem a little thicker then ones I bought online. And those online plug trays are MUCH sturdier than flimsy "inserts" like 6-packs.

I like that those are dishwasher safe!!!

They are really, really sturdy. I think they'll last for years. They were on sale, so cheaper, when I bought them. I only bought two of the 15 cell trays. Each cell is nice and big.

Karen

yeah new thread!!.. thought this one was worth posting alone.. looks really nice!!

Good call, Allison! Those trays do look nice. Too bad they discontinued the pink ones, tho.

Final update on these trays.

They performed beautifully. The seedlings did well and were mostly well rooted (except Warm Summer Echinacea, which seems more a reflection on the type of plant than the trays.). The petunia seedlings did exceptionally well, and roots were amazing. Very easy to pop out of the cells. Afterward, I just squirted them with a hose and they then looked clean. They really feel like teflon, they're so smooth. I expect these to last for many years. Recommended.

Karen

awesome!!!

I think I need some of these. Karen--you are an enabler.....