yep it sure does
i got all 5 shelves full !

Hello everyone!
My tip for seed and indoor bulb starting is one I've been using for years. Very inexpensive as well. I use 12 or 16 oz. styrofoam cups to start anything that needs room, or extra growing time, before it gets planted out. Just cut slits about 2" long from the bottom of the cups upward in about 3 places for drainage. Fill er up with sterile mix and plant. When it's time to transplant, just peel away the bottom half of the cup and place your plant, no root disturbance problems and you can "hold over" the plant for a longer amount of time if necessary.
I even have success with this method for items most folks say you can't transplant due to transplant shock. Like moonflowers. I'd never have a moonflower bloom if I could not start them early.

Hello everyone!
My tip for seed and indoor bulb starting is one I've been using for years. Very inexpensive as well. I use 12 or 16 oz. styrofoam cups to start anything that needs room, or extra growing time, before it gets planted out. Just cut slits about 2" long from the bottom of the cups upward in about 3 places for drainage. Fill er up with sterile mix and plant. When it's time to transplant, just peel away the bottom half of the cup and place your plant, no root disturbance problems and you can "hold over" the plant for a longer amount of time if necessary.
I even have success with this method for items most folks say you can't transplant due to transplant shock. Like moonflowers. I'd never have a moonflower bloom if I could not start them early.

right now i m doing viola's Johnny jump up and some Pansys. So i m still learning on these.
I reliezed they do better in dark . So i googled and found that out. LOL
guess i should google then plant .
sure hope i get some. I really enjoy them and i m to cheap to buy them .

Taynors...Just ask on here...someone will pop on with hints. Though I'll do an online search too, when I'm 1/2 way into the process and realize I'm missing a bit of info. Pansies--Cool and dark to germinate
Here are some good books on seeds starting, etc.
http://cubits.org/Germination/...

Chelle..Good to see you over here!
I've used the styro cups for glad bulbs, but never thought of using them for any of the multitude of seeds I plant. Sometimes we need to be reminded of the simplest concepts.

BTW ALL...Chelle has a really nice cubit that is growing called Plant Haven http://cubits.org/planthaven/

thanks will check it out

Thanks for the plug!

I like the cup method mostly because I get too busy in the springtime to want to transplant each plant 2 or 3 times before planting out.
Works great. I had to find something other than peat pots or pellets, I always either drown them or let them dry out to the point that I lose everything.

I sometimes use large styro cups with tomatoes. I only fill about half way with potting mix then plant the seeds. As the toms grow, I add potting mix to the top of the cup. As a result, the tom plant ends up planted deeper so can then form additional roots from the stem. I keep adding potting mix as the plant grows.

I got this tip from a friend on another forum and it works well.

Karen

just wanted to drop in and say hello. i plan on visiting this thread just as soon as it's too cold to garden outside. great pictures. thanks.

Welcome, mamajack. We'll look forward to seeing you visit more often.....

hey girl. i do want to learn how to do this. and i do want to get some lights set up inside. it is sanity making for me in the cold of jan/feb. to be able to plant seeds.

I have 3 shelving units set up in my basement with grow lights. I overwinter some large pots of herbs, do some coleus cuttings, then start tons of herbs indoors for our master gardeners group. I love having the grow lights on--when I'm working down there it's kind of like sunlight therapy for me! Helps ward off that SAD! Just in case that's not enough, I do wintersowing as well-just not enough room under the lights for everything LOL Will have to see if I can get some photos taken to post here....

My shelves with t5 lights sit in front on my dining room window. (yeah, real classy formal dining room!) . After dark those lights light up the whole back yard. My husband says planes are going to mistake my yard for a runway and land there some night.

Karen

I read somewhere T5 bulbs actually put out more light then T12s... not sure if it's true or not

Yes, that's what I found when researching fluorescents. The high output (HO) t5s are the brightest.

Karen

I have both T5 and T8 bulbs--I think the T5 bulbs are a little brighter, but it might just be because they are in a different type of fixture with a different reflector.

guess bigger is not always better... i have a small plant stand with t5 lights.. never put 2 and 2 together why those always did better than my shop lights.. live & learn

For what it's worth, two of my lights are cheap under the cabinet t5s. I bought them at Home Cheapo. Their light doesn't look nearly as bright to my eyes as the HO t5s. But the plants don't seem to notice that much. If I were going to buy more, though, I'd probably go for the HO ones.

Karen

here is another issue I have when I bring plants in... my shelves are mostly wood pieces on metal racks... some of the containers I bring in are wide and shallow.. I struggle every year trying to find something to catch excess water... without loosing too much space... now I realize it is my own fault for planting stuff I want to over winter in that size container... but in spring I never think about it... just wondering what you guys use in the situation that it won't fit in a standard size flat... other than a shallow rubber maid

How about a cheap serving tray?

Karen