[Markw]

This will be my third year using float trays for starting all my plants. You have to make your own trays as you are unable to buy them over  here. A friend sent me one over a few ago, but I now make my own for free.

It is gardening made easy. I only have to top up the water when it needs it, about every couple of weeks or so
I have been using them over the  winter for cut and come again and spring onions.

I would be happy to start a topic on how to make your own if members are interested. further information on how they work can be found on the link below.

http://www.sustainablekentucky.com/2012/05/11/starting-seeds-in-float-beds/

[dmg]

Hi Mark,
I would be interested in how to make them. For the float trays could you use the Styrofoam packaging that you get bedding plants in?

Dmg

[cadalot]

looks interesting.

[Markw]

Hi there Dmg
No you can't use the Styrofoam packaging they don't work as you end up getting a root ball plus they sink in the bath, I make mine out of old water bottles. I am just trying to work out how to insert pictures into the post.

[Markw]

Just seeing if the picture has been loaded to the post. this is what my first pots looked like when I started working on this, and how the plants grew compared to growing in a standard pot.

[Salmo]

Hi there Dmg
No you can't use the Styrofoam packaging they don't work as you end up getting a root ball plus they sink in the bath, I make mine out of old water bottles. I am just trying to work out how to insert pictures into the post.

They are using strofoam in the article? Many people use capillary matting. Is it a similar effect.

[Markw]

The ones in the link are special tobacco float trays. if you google tobacco float tray and look at the pictures you will see how they are different to the trays we use over here .They are more like root trainers that float like a boat in a bath of water.
The ones over here sink as they are unable to take the weight of the soil and plant. I grew most of my salad and herbs just floating them on my fish pond. I never found any slugs or snails with scuba kit on

[Beetroot Queen]

I love the idea of these. Going to try

[Dantheman]

Hi

It's a deffo from me think this is a great idea. thanks for posting it, could you put more photos of yours in action thanks.

Dan

[Markw]

Here is the picture of the cut and come again little gem and spring onions, it is not very clear but it is in the propagator



And these are how you make the the pots



You can make them out of old suite cases

[cadalot]

Markw

There are a couple of pictures missing, and I have a few questions

1) What is the boarding with the holes in ?
2) What is the filling material in the bottom of the bottle?
3) How deep is the water in the suit case when you use it
4) Does having that much water in a greenhouse cause any problem with mould etc.

[Beetroot Queen]

Markw

There are a couple of pictures missing, and I have a few questions

1) What is the boarding with the holes in ?
2) What is the filling material in the bottom of the bottle?
3) How deep is the water in the suit case when you use it
4) Does having that much water in a greenhouse cause any problem with mould etc.

The first two I was after knowing too. I hadnt got as far thinking of 3 and 4 yet 

[cadalot]

Great Minds BQ 

[Markw]

Great Minds BQ 

1 The board material I use is Corecell. but you can use anything that floats such as the typical one inch thick foam insulation that you can get from B&Q or off a builders skips.

2 The filling material or wicking material is coconut fibre from old hanging basket liners.

3 25-50mm of water I usually change the water every 2 to 3 weeks. you need to keep an eye on the water PH

4 No as the floating board stops the evaporation from the water bath . the system uses hardly any water. un-like watering all those pots and splashing it around in the greenhouse.

What pictures are missing I can see 3 ?

[Markw]

You can see the difference in plant size on this photo from growing in normal pots