Beginning veggies in styrofoam cups?

[headfullofbees]

The problems with paper pots are, that they have no rigidity and don't support your plants, and if you over-moisten them once, they disintegrate.
You look at instructions for pricking out & potting on practically any plant, and they end, "Water in well."
That's because it's necessary to minimise transplant shock.
I've tried paper pots, and I've lost a lot of plants.
I don't use them.

I use plastic pots, most of which I get from friends and relatives second-hand, and some of them are decades old and still going strong.

How does that, and the positive environmental impact of not buying a newspaper really compare with the use of paper pots?

Many of those "cardboard" bio-degradable pots are actually made from peat, and as such, have their own negative environmental impact.

 

[Annetteb]

I am open to trying new things and I would like to try this out to see if it works for me. I like the idea of using newspaper because my mom throws away a lot of newspapers and I would like to be able to put them to good use rather than throwing them away.

 

[Gina145]

I've tried paper pots, and I've lost a lot of plants.
I don't use them.

That doesn't sound so good. Maybe I'll give the paper pots a miss.

I often cut down plastic juice bottles or use other unwanted plastic containers instead of putting them in the recycling. It's not that difficult to put a few drainage holes in them. And anything transparent has the advantage that I can see when the roots start to grow. That's not so important for seeds, but I really like it for cuttings.

 

[zigs]

I use all sorts, loo roll tubes are good for Sweetcorn.

Old pot noodle pots with a few holes in them are very sturdy.

 

[lemonzest]

Hmmm, now I'm wondering if there is a fun origami solution to this. It would be neat to have something fun to look at, and less likely to distract me by wanting to read the pot

 

[Annetteb]

Hmmm, now I'm wondering if there is a fun origami solution to this. It would be neat to have something fun to look at, and less likely to distract me by wanting to read the pot

Lol I kinda see what you mean. I would still like to try the newspaper pots though.

 

[firelily99]

Styrofoam is not the best thing to be starting plants in given some of the chemicals that go into making it. I like the little peat pots as well as make little pots out of newspaper. Cardboard egg cartons are handy too and they can go right into the ground. I try to go as organic as possible when I plant vegetables, don't want to harvest something and eat it when there is a possibility that they will be tainted chemically.

 

[Annetteb]

I agree with you. It's best to go as organic as possible when it comes to planting a garden. I don't like a lot of the chemicals they put into a lot of things and I also grow my own garden because I hate the stuff they spray on the foods at the stores.

 

[firelily99]

What's the point of going to the trouble of creating a garden and using chemicals in it? I garden in order to get healthier veggies rather than the stuff at the grocery that has been sprayed and sprayed. It certainly tastes better when I grow it and is a lot better for me.

 

[Annetteb]

Yeah growing your own is way better than store bought. It's slso cheaper. I like the convenience as well because when I want some veggies I just go out back and get some.