Corn starch pots

 

Hi Everyone,

I have acquired and am trying some of those corn starch pots (maybe
3") that look like thin green plastic. They are said to break down in
the soil.

I have potted on some veggie seedlings in them, and will plant them
out in a week or so.

Has anyone had any experience of them? Do they really break down in
the soil to let the roots move out, or should I cut a few slits in
them???

Any thoughts at all on them?

Linda
kapana[at]netspace.net.au

 



I haven't used this type so cannot comment.

Something similar is a system of making little pots yourself out of
newspaper.  I haven't tried it but a friend of mine who is a very keen
gardener, has been for 70 years, uses them and says they are good and cheap.
You need a little wooden spindle for shaping them which twists the newspaper
around and like magic it stays together without glue.  Then you use them to
start your seeds and plant them out, much to my amazement the newspaper will
last through watering the seeds or seedlings for some weeks and then breaks
down when you plant them out.

David

 

Thanks David - have researched a bit more, and will now answer my own
question.

Definitely not for planting with the seedling. They are for throwing
in the compost bin after the seedling has been removed and planted.
They are that sort of biodegradable.

Pity. :(

Think I might go and look at an origami book, to see if I can come up
with a newspaper one.

Linda

 


iirc without checking <g> i _think_ there's instructions at
www.selfsufficientish.com for a newspaper one.

i'm currently trying some cucumbers & dwarf beans in toilet rolls!! i am NOT
sure if it's going to work - i had to staple the bottoms to keep the potting
mix in & they're probably going to have to be torn a bit prior to planting,
which might make everything fall out anyway :-) but i'll see. my thought was
that loo rolls are taller than egg cartons (which i tried last year but just
don't seem tall enough for my liking - probably good for plants which are
still short at planting out time, not taller things like cucumbers).
kylie

 



Tall format pots are really good for larger seedlings like curcurbits.  They
direct the roots downwards which gives a better rootball and less
disturbance at transplant and the seedlings will have deeper roots to start
with when they are in the ground so they will be less likely to dry out.  I
use the black plastic square-section tubes that tubestock plants come in
whcih gives very good success with transplanting with curcurbits that
traditionally are sown direct.  Of course degradeable pots should avoid the
root disturbance problem too.

The gadget that I saw for making the newspaper ones was wooden and had a
hollow cup and a plug.  You put the paper in the cup and force the plug in
whcih forms the shape.  I don't know where you get - them that one looked
home made.



David