A Great Way To Start Seeds

By sherrilosee
September 20, 2012

Noticing that the deep plugs many plants are sold in grow vigorously due to their well developed root system, I decided to start seeds in pots modeled after these plugs: long, narrow, tubular containers with good drainage.

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Sep 19, 2012 6:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Clint Brown
Medina, TN (Zone 7b)
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I've been saving brown hydrogen peroxide bottles. I cut the top off and poke holes in the bottom. They are tall too. I think I will get some of these to increase the amount of containers I have!
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Sep 19, 2012 6:54 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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Wow, I agree ... a really great idea ... perfect seed starting containers and that basket is ideal for watering too! Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Sep 19, 2012 6:59 PM CST
Name: Sherri Losee
Bloomington, IN (Zone 6a)
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Clint and Lin, glad you enjoyed! Smiling
We are stardust, we are golden;
and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. ~ Joni Mitchell ~
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Sep 19, 2012 7:14 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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Most excellent tip Sherri! Thumbs up I tip my hat to you.

I really like the clear container too so you can see the root system.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Sep 19, 2012 7:17 PM CST
Name: Allison
NJ (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
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really neat idea!!!
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Sep 19, 2012 7:28 PM CST
Name: Susan
Virginia (Zone 8a)
God is the only thing that matters.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Level 1 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Hibiscus Dragonflies Daylilies
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Terrific!! Hurray! I tip my hat to you. Green Grin! Thumbs up
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Mat.6:28-29
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Sep 19, 2012 7:54 PM CST
Plants Admin
Name: Zuzu
Northern California (Zone 9a)
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Wow! That's amazing, Sherri, and ingenious! Hurray!
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Sep 19, 2012 9:07 PM CST
Name: Sherri Losee
Bloomington, IN (Zone 6a)
Birds Sedums Plays in the sandbox Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Indiana
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Thanks all - glad to share! Smiling
We are stardust, we are golden;
and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. ~ Joni Mitchell ~
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Sep 19, 2012 9:34 PM CST
Name: Julia
Washington State (Zone 7a)
Hydrangeas Photo Contest Winner 2018 Garden Photography Region: Pacific Northwest Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Forum moderator
Plant Database Moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Sempervivums Container Gardener Foliage Fan
Love it. I was just thinking of what I could use to place coleus cuttings in. Thumbs up Thumbs up
Sempervivum for Sale
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Sep 19, 2012 10:52 PM CST
Name: Cheryl
North of Houston TX (Zone 9a)
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A most excellent idea! Can you share with us your source for the science tubes, if that's allowed? TIA
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh
uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.
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Sep 20, 2012 3:42 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Very clever.

Karen
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Sep 20, 2012 4:00 AM CST
Name: Allison
NJ (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: New Jersey Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1
Randy's mom gave me test tubes with a styrofoam holder one year.. like the ones the doctor will use to get your blood work.... I tried them.. to hold over cuttings from NC farms.. when I did a big order... and they all leaked the water out... I can say those are not a good choice.. and they were hard to fill ... so I would assume if I filled them with mix .. they wouldn't be easy to water.. never saw the ones with caps on both ends.. love that!!!
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Sep 20, 2012 4:19 AM CST
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
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I'd like to try some cuttings in these as well. Thumbs up I could actually see what's happening root-wise.
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


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Sep 20, 2012 4:32 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Chelle, a cheap option for being able to see root development is solo cups.

Wintersown tomatoes in 16 oz. Solo cups
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Roots
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Karen
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Sep 20, 2012 4:37 AM CST
Name: Susan
Virginia (Zone 8a)
God is the only thing that matters.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Level 1 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Hibiscus Dragonflies Daylilies
Bee Lover Dahlias Butterflies Hostas Birds Lilies
That is a great idea Karen, How many holes did you put in the bottom ?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Mat.6:28-29
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Sep 20, 2012 4:53 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I guess I poke 2 or 3 good sized holes.

I got this tip from a wintersowing friend. Fill the cup about 1/2 with soil, sow the seeds. As seedlings grow, add soil to the top. Plants end up planted deeper.

But again I've taken this thread astray. Sad

Karen
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Sep 20, 2012 7:39 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
I've used the small clear solo cups for rooting plants which works great, but I love those narrow tubes and would love to find some like those Sherri used. I really like using clear containers to be able to view the developing root system.
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Sep 20, 2012 7:57 AM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
For seeing root development, and terrific root development, there's nothing like rootrainers.
Thumb of 2012-09-20/kqcrna/143b02
Thumb of 2012-09-20/kqcrna/04002c

I like the British ones, made by Haxnicks.
http://www.haxnicks.co.uk/sear...

Karen
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Sep 20, 2012 9:19 AM CST
Name: Sherri Losee
Bloomington, IN (Zone 6a)
Birds Sedums Plays in the sandbox Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Indiana
Hellebores Foliage Fan Ferns Dog Lover Daylilies Cat Lover
I think it would be OK to share where I got these. They were from American Science and Surplus. Here's the page they are on: http://www.sciplus.com/categor... . They're online, but there is a store nearby and what a FUN store! All kinds of quirky things. The website is fun, too!
We are stardust, we are golden;
and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. ~ Joni Mitchell ~

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