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southlatropical
12-20-2007, 10:37 PM
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x68/ijewellk/DSCN2139.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x68/ijewellk/DSCN2140.jpg
The seedlings were already planted in the cups. With the heater running every now and then, they were drying out. I have been misting them every evening with a spray bottle, but that was getting old. So I trimmed the first 1/4 inch off the rim of some more cups and cut little vent holes in the bottom. Then flipped them over and stuck them over the seedlings. It is much warmer up there on the shelf by the ceiling in the laundry closet.

magicgreen
12-20-2007, 11:10 PM
Looks good to me. If thats what it takes, thats what it takes! I gotta hot as blue blazes bathroom, and i figure thats what it takes. Have to get a camera, then ya'll will really see something!:cloudban: Magicgreen

mskitty38583
12-20-2007, 11:12 PM
that is a smart idea!!!you are a genius!!!if you run out of room on your shelf, use the top of your fridge. it gets warm there too. i would have neve thought of that. my utility room gets cold, but the top of the fridge dosent. YOU ARE A VERY SMART PERSON!:2212: :nanawhopp: :choochoo:

harveyc
12-21-2007, 03:26 AM
For larger pots you can cover seedlings with 2 liter soda bottles after cutting the bottom off. If you decide you need slight ventilation you can take the cap off.

AllenF
12-21-2007, 07:32 AM
Excellent idea. I used 1 litre soda bottles for my palm seeds. I slit open the bottle, near the top where it starts to narrow, 3/4s of the way around so that I could bend it open to add the potting soil and germinated seed. It pops back into place sealing in the moisture. I poked some holes in the bottom for drainage.

Once the leaf reached the top of the bottle I cut the rest of the top off and had a nice deep 3" pot.

Allen

CookieCows
12-21-2007, 07:55 AM
I've sprouted on top of the fridge before! I love the 2 liter bottle idea.

magicgreen
12-21-2007, 09:48 AM
cookiecow, if you like that, take a look at this..............http://www.toppers-place.com/pop_bottle_pots.htm

mskitty38583
12-21-2007, 10:39 AM
hey mg. that is a great idea! you get to drink the soda( if thats what you drink) and you get to recycle the bottle! dude, way kool. less trash in the landfills. i havent tried that before. i dont drink anything carbonated so i dont have any bottles, but i do have a friend who does. gonna have to try that. i use little yougart cups. i poke holes in the bottom of one cup and put some perilite in the bottom of another and put the one w/ holes inside that. put my dirt in, plant the seed, water just a little and cover w/ plastic wrap that has 3 tiny holes poked in it. that works for little seeds. but the whole soda bottle thing is great! see you guys are saving the environment and dont even know it. KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU!

CookieCows
12-21-2007, 11:09 AM
I'm so impressed at what people invent. That website was so interesting. I saved it to go back to. Thank you SO much for sharing!! I love the make it yourself sites!

southlatropical
12-21-2007, 01:56 PM
Hope you don't mind. I posted that link under the "Useful Sources" thread on the 'Other plants' forum. Someone I work with told me a while back that their mother made these same type of planters.

magicgreen
12-21-2007, 04:05 PM
Hi Everybody! I thought people would love these pop-planters!:06: Its a 1st step before "Going Hydroponic". Southlatropical I dont mind at all you putting it under "useful sources". Matter-of-fact, it feels good to know that "I" {a newby} have made a useful contribution to our site! After all I didnt make them; Topper did! Anything i find good iam going to put on here! After all Ya'll are my friends.....:nanablowskisses: ...Magicgreen

Mustang
12-22-2007, 12:55 PM
Isaac, that's exactly the same method I use for my seedlings. An inverted plastic cup over another.

I use pop bottles as well, especially for deep rooted seedlings such as palms. And they also make great packaging containers for posting plants. I drop the plant complete within it's plastic cup, into a pop bottle that I've cut open part way. Seal the pop bottle back up with sticky tape, pop polystrene balls or packing beads in through the top, then screw the top back on. It keeps the plant humid, protected, and easy to post.

shopgirl2
12-23-2007, 07:31 AM
the bottom of plastic soda pops also can be separated and it already comes with holes in bottom, so there you have the planter (bottle) and bottom at the same time.

shopgirl2
12-23-2007, 07:47 AM
old rain gutters are also great for starting seedlings. Great for those that grow lots of seeds like a large business.

AllenF
12-23-2007, 09:52 AM
I never thought of old rain gutters. They would be perfect and I am replacing mine in the spring.

Allen

magicgreen
12-24-2007, 08:56 AM
heres something else i found.:2748:
http://www.packrat-pro.com/garden/moon.htm

CookieCows
12-24-2007, 10:57 PM
magicgreen I looked at the website you posted about gardening by the phases of the moon. The advice we get from locals out here is based on alot of the same information. The people around here have such a close relationship with the seasons and having a garden isn't a hobby, it's how they get their food. Some of the old farmers almanac stuff just doesn't seem logical to me but I have to admitt that everyone's garden flourishes around us and we struggle and endure failures with one thing or another every single year.

southlatropical
12-28-2007, 01:41 PM
I watered the seedlings last night for the first time since putting the cups over them. That's 7 days between watering as opposed to every other day without being covered.

weirdone66
01-14-2008, 12:01 AM
we are doing the same idea as u are its a great idea cant wait for ours to start growing only 1 to 6 months left lol we just started the growing process today cant wait to see if one will sprout out.

douglas gray
03-04-2008, 08:39 PM
excellent idea with the cups - I have a load at work - doing very well over 50 % now seedlings

mrbungalow
03-05-2008, 04:37 AM
But where's the light coming from?

douglas gray
03-05-2008, 02:08 PM
they are taken out every shift and placed on a clip folder ontop of the radiator which is next to the window. I work mostly nights however but the artificial strip lights in the office seem to be doing the trick - see my latest picture .....

now I just need to bin all my work folders to find some more night storage room !!!!!

stretch
03-05-2008, 10:33 PM
I liked everyone's ideas about makeshift greenhouses...I have 4 musa laliocarpa seeds planted right now (planted in Feb.) in a small plastic pot with a quart size bag over the pot secured by a rubberband. I keep it in a south window where it gets sunshine throughout the day (whenever its out, we've had alot of rain and some snow in VA here of lately) and at night I keep the pot on a heating blanket set on a low setting. Not your conventional method, I agree...I just hope these seeds germinate. Can anyone tell me what I need to do if these germinate (should I leave them to get bigger or put them in individual containers?) and also what kind of soil to use...I've read that potting soil isn't recommended...any help you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks...

douglas gray
03-09-2008, 03:14 AM
I'm a novice myself stretch but I have found that unless there is breathing room the soil stays wet/damp too long and the plant will get to a certain size, then die (I know this now!!). A mix with perlite allows this, so you can water regular but it also allows to drain a breathe properly. Try a search on this site, you'll be guaranteed to find something from one of the people here who really know what theyre talking about....
As for when to repot, I would like to know to. my plants are outgrowing theyre containers they germinated in, however they are nowhere near rootbound, far from it, so I am leaving for now..anyone else advise ??

stretch
03-10-2008, 05:19 PM
Thanks for your response Doug! I checked the seeds yesterday out of curiosity (I was sure none of them had germinated yet) and so happened to find one of them; it was as hard as a rock! What a disappointment! I went to Evergreen's on Fri. and spotted a Meyers lemon tree in bloom; the scent was beautiful...also I saw a coconut palm seedling (odd looking thing, it was) the old coco. was partially submerged in the soil and a branch was coming out of the coconut!

weirdone66
03-24-2008, 10:14 PM
just wanted to let everyone know that u can get grow light bulbs at home depot or lows that would prob work better then a heating pad. we tryed to grown some bananire plants but they never worked out we want to try again anyone have any ideas what type of pot and lid to use so it can stay moist thnxs so much.

douglas gray
03-27-2008, 10:51 AM
any old plastic pot with clingfilm over the top or perferabley just in a plastic bag tied off to keep humidity. If your looking for (success and new as I am) try Ensete Ventricosum. They take about 2-4 weeks to germinate, and quick growers with relative ease. Stick them in a small pot (compost & perlite), water through then place in a clear plastic bag and stick them in your airing cupbaord. My airing cupboard generally has lows of 21 degrees and highs of 28, plus ensete seem to do fine germinating in light or no light and static temperatures .....

I have cracked germinating palms and a few types of banana, now I'm trying to keep thenm alive !!!!!!