southlatropical

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.

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magicgreen

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! Magicgreen

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

mskitty38583

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!

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"kokomo" beach boys:

harveyc

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.

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AllenF

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

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You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

CookieCows

I've sprouted on top of the fridge before! I love the 2 liter bottle idea.

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magicgreen

cookiecow, if you like that, take a look at this..............http://www.toppers-place.com/pop_bottle_pots.htm

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

mskitty38583

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!

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"kokomo" beach boys:

CookieCows

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!

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southlatropical

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.

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magicgreen

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..... ...Magicgreen

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

Mustang

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

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.

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I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am me, If by chance we meet, it's beautiful, if not, it can't be helped. (Nietzsche).

shopgirl2

old rain gutters are also great for starting seedlings. Great for those that grow lots of seeds like a large business.

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I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am me, If by chance we meet, it's beautiful, if not, it can't be helped. (Nietzsche).

AllenF

I never thought of old rain gutters. They would be perfect and I am replacing mine in the spring.

Allen

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You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

magicgreen

heres something else i found.
http://www.packrat-pro.com/garden/moon.htm

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(Started growing bananas July 2007)
(Zone 6)

CookieCows

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.

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southlatropical

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.

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weirdone66

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

excellent idea with the cups - I have a load at work - doing very well over 50 % now seedlings