Do paper pots work?

Do paper pots work or do they smother the roots like jiffy pots do? Fine roots and thick roots.

I know both kinds work for me. Have never had a problem with a jiffy pot. I use them for starter pots all the time.

The biggest problem with the paper pots is drainage. Folsk have a tendency to over water them. Then the roots start rotting and next thing ya know your little bitties are croaking fom damping off disease.

Paper pots would be great if after you made your pot you could poke a big hole in the bottom of it. Paper just doe s not drain the way a good ole hole will. The paper itself once it starts breakign down has lots of nutriets in it for the plants, but it take s time for that to happen. Usually your plants are in the ground long before the paper has time to disentigrate.

It a little bit more expensive but you can buy them dixie bathroom cups and use them, again poke a hole in the bottom. Some times you can find kids party cups on sale which work just as well for starting seed.

Dave shows a video about rolling them and they have holes on the bottom.

But a lot of people haven't had luck with jiffy pots. It has nothing to do with dampening off b/c I use Hydroguard diligently.

I start all my plants in newspaper pots and have had good luck for the last three years. When it comes time to set the plants out I just tear the bottom off the pots. Plus making the pots gives me something to do in the middle of winter.

Those fiber pots, like Jiffy pots, are not for me. They dry out too quickly.

Has anyone tried "Cow Pots" ? http://www.cowpots.com/

I saw them in the catalog I got the other day. Couldn't fidn out what else they was using to hold the pots together though. If they like the bags of composted manure then they more of a novelity thing and you paying just for a cute idea. Normal bags of composted manure actually only have about a handful of the real manure all blended up into them. Yoour better of f finding a cow farmer and asking him if ya can pick up some pattie s and let them compost yourself.

Still. cute idea and somebody gonna make a bunch of money I imagine.

Dave; I made some paper pots after watching your video. You used dry paper. I thought I could dredge the strips of paper in wall paper paste! I felt that the pots needed some stiffening to hold them together. :-)
I used my wife's large cast iron skillet (any shallow pan will do). I added two to three quarts of water, turned on the burner to high. Added 1/2 cup "quick mixing" wheat flour and one tablespoon of Elmer's School glue* --- non-toxic. Brought all to a gentle boil while stirring, about 10 minutes on medium heat---just enough to solublize the starch.
I took the skillet off the burner---didn't want the paper strips catching on fire. I dredged each paper strip (about 40) thru the paste. I set strips one on top of the other in a cardboard box. Once I had all 40 strips wetted (don't over soak them as the paper will disintegrate---best to quickly dredge so some paper is still partially dry).
Because the wetted paper has a tendency to strongly adhere to the form, I had to make two adjustments; (1) the form must be very smooth (shaving cream can is hard enamel) so wet paper can slide, and (2) I blowed gently by puffing my cheeks on the bottom of the can. This puts a film of air between the paper and the can so it will slide off. Handle paper pot with a dry paper towel to keep some of the glue off your hands.
Leave the paper pots set to air dry; about three hours. Then set them in a cardboard box to cure for several days. When dry they are like a starched shirt---stiff and easy to handle. (I learned the hard way that they will glue one to another if you set them close together to dry:-{
I haven't filled them with peat yet as it's too early. Thanks for the good idea!

I like the idea, but were I your wife, you'd be wearing my iron skillet. sheesh..........You couldn't find a disposable container?? Consider yourself scolded!! LOL

Lol

Cow pots sound like an excellent alternative. I was washing dishes the other day and saw a show in the family room called "Dirty Jobs" or something like that. I watched how they made the cow pots. Really interesting process. If they were affordable and if they were readily available, I'd certainly try them. I suspect they will degrade considerably faster than jiffy or paper pots. I too have had some issues with jiffy pots but not with paper pots.

Nice fine tuning of the paper pot process johnb14!
I'd let you use my kitchen and my skillets any day!

really? i was SO planning on using jiffy pots this year... Last year i didn't start anything indoors - i waited till i could sow seeds outside, and i was so jealous at all the flowers some people had while i had only little sprouts. i thought jiffy pots were going to be the answer...

amy
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If you are worried about dampning off, just put some Sphagnum Moss in the bottom of the peat pots. It keeps the moisture at the roots instead of at the surface where the seedlings are susceptible to rotting and fungus.

1. I have used Jiffy 7 pellets for MANY years and never had a problem with them. You MUST water from the bottom! I remove the netting when I plant, but I have left it on also without a problem. I just didn't like the look of the remaining netting at the end of the year, the roots DO grow through them.

2. I used newspaper pots that I rolled around a bean can last year (don't over-complicate, just fold in half and roll around whatever size can you choose, fold up the bottom and tape). They should be watered from the bottom. They will suck up water and work fine with no holes in the bottom. I did use 2 strips of masking tape to make sure they held together (you can get away with 1 if you position it correctly on the bottom, so it also gets the side seam), and I removed the pot by unrolling when I transplanted. They worked beautifully and I am using them again this year.
JMO,
Tom

Good to know, Tom! i thought making the pots was more complicated than that.
What i have now is a Jiffy 36 pellet "greenhouse", the little kind with the lid. i don't think the pellets have netting, but i haven't looked too close. (i won't be starting anything till i get back from a trip on the 23rd....)

thanks!

amy
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I have a bunch of the same type although they are 5x5 greenhouses with Jiffy7s that I have been using the last few years. IMO they work wonderfully and are much easier than anything else I have found. The only time I didn't water from the bottom was when I transplanted into the newspaper pots (just thought of this and figured I should mention it).
Happy Gardening,
Tom

do you have to use special lights? i'd been hoping a sunny windowsill would work...

I use regular flourescent (sp?) lights. Utility lights 4' long. Just above the top of the plants. I have mine on ropes so I can raise and lower the lights as the plants grow. They are usually pretty cheap. You don't need special bulbs.
JMO,
Tom