[Scullion]

Hello!!

What are people's views on using fibre peat pots?

Package says that the pots can be planted too; preventing any disturbance to the plant's roots!? Surely this would restrict the roots growing in the soil they have just been transplanted to!?

Would it be worth it, for example with tomato plants?

Many thanks,


Mike

[BabbyAnn]

When the pots are kept moistened, the fibre become softened and roots simply push through when they start to outgrow the pot.  The key is keeping them wet but, during hot weather & in sunlight, this can be quite difficult as the fibre acts like a wick and water loss is greater than expected.  When planted out, the pots will rot down in the soil.

However, it is important to bury the pot in the soil otherwise the same "wick" action from the pot exposed above soil level draws moisture out of the pot/soil where the roots are growing.  Something like tomatoes and brassicas should be fine as you can bury the pot below soil level, but care should be taken with other crops.  The other disadvantage is that the pots can disintergrate on handling if the pots have been kept wet for some time.

I've had mixed results with fibre pots - I used to be a great fan of peat pots but a lot of what you see on the market today are fibre pots made from other materials.  I noticed these go slimey, mouldy, smelly and I also saw a drop in the plants overall vitality (combined with a drop in compost quality too with peat free composts) when you really want seedlings to be growing at their best.  I don't use them anymore and prefer using modules or plant pots - at least these are re-usable and more cost effective in my opinion.

[dugless]

When the pots are kept moistened, the fibre become softened and roots simply push through when they start to outgrow the pot.  The key is keeping them wet but, during hot weather & in sunlight, this can be quite difficult as the fibre acts like a wick and water loss is greater than expected.  When planted out, the pots will rot down in the soil.

However, it is important to bury the pot in the soil otherwise the same "wick" action from the pot exposed above soil level draws moisture out of the pot/soil where the roots are growing.  Something like tomatoes and brassicas should be fine as you can bury the pot below soil level, but care should be taken with other crops.  The other disadvantage is that the pots can disintergrate on handling if the pots have been kept wet for some time.

I've had mixed results with fibre pots - I used to be a great fan of peat pots but a lot of what you see on the market today are fibre pots made from other materials.  I noticed these go slimey, mouldy, smelly and I also saw a drop in the plants overall vitality (combined with a drop in compost quality too with peat free composts) when you really want seedlings to be growing at their best.  I don't use them anymore and prefer using modules or plant pots - at least these are re-usable and more cost effective in my opinion.

I agree 

[mumofstig]

Why not use paper pots, they last long enough from sowing to transplanting, and the roots easily grow through the damp paper.
Easy recycling 

(the thing about burying the top is easily remedied with paper pots by tearing of the top inch when planting. There are few roots at that level to damage.)
 

[Trillium]

I've tried many of the peat pots and fibre pots, and now refuse to plant out any. If I purchase something in a fibre or peat pot, I immediately remove it and then plant the item. I find that they just don't dissolve well enough and the plant roots are stunted for almost 2 years before the pots begin to break down, if even then. I just dug out some 2 year compost and found bits of shredded peat pots still intact, so enough said.

[shokkyy]

This year I tried some parsnips in cardboard (half a kitchen roll) pots for the first time, and they did seem to work very well. I've planted them out in the bed still in the cardboard (which was already pretty soggy) and they've bounded away. You do need to put them into something deep sided, though, so they support each other and stand up straight.

[stompy]

As Trillium said the peat pots don't break down for ages so i don't use them either.

I now only use loo roll inners not kitchen rool inners as i find these a bit too thick.

I will be giving paper pots a go at some point but not got around to it yet.

[Scullion]

Thanks for the advice people!! Think I will be giving the fibre pots a miss then... might have to try the paper pots!! :-)