Emily, I didn't like paper cups at all. I found that they dried out way to fast in dry weather, and in wet spring weather they turned wet and moldy and downright nasty. As long as I can get 2 liters or milk jugs, I'm sticking to them.
Andi, I saw of picture of your wintersown seedlings that you posted elsewhere, I think it was the echinacea cubit. In the picture the soil in your jug looked kind of shallow, maybe an inch deep. I usually suggest to new wintersowers that a good 3" of soil in the jug is desirable- holds moisture much better. I always shoot for around 3", sometimes it seems to compress to only 2" or 2.5" over time, but they usually hold moisture well. With milk jugs, I generally use 2 strips of duct tape vertically to close them and I've never had one pop open. In fact, I often have to cut the tape with scissors to open them. Is the jug nice and dry when you apply the tape?
I've had great results with wintersowing for the past 4 years. But this year was not so hot. I only did 20 containers this year, only a third or a fourth of what I've done in the past. First I had the disaster windstorm, re-sowed some annuals and have had poor germination in them.
Oh well, not every try can be great, I guess.
Karen
