Is starting seedlings in peat pots and transplanting the pot into larger containers a good idea or are there negatives in doing that. Dose it hold back roots and mess up watering? I’ve been using them but once into a larger pot seedlings seem to go down hill.
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I start mine directly in soil. The problem with peat pots is that they retain water very well, which is not desirable for a seedling. I cringe when I see growers using them. It is too easy to overwater when using them and overwatering seedling is the leading cause of seedling loss.
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I shy away from peat pots and pellets as @MidwestGuy said directly into the medium I use nursery bags instead of solo cups but putting them in their forever home works great for me
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One of my six germinated seeds went into a peat pot and the the pot went into a five gallon bag. It never grew. Stayed a weak small seedling for weeks until I tore it off and put the “seedling” directly in the dirt in a small container because I have no room for another five gallon bag. Now it’s big and healthy but awkwardly weeks behind the other plants that are the same age. I don’t recommend using peat pots or anything really. Germinate the seeds and plant directly into final container.
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Mine go in soil and soon as the seed cracks
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That’s exactly what I experience, Goodbye peat.
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This grow around im going from seedling trays to 1 gal transplant pots, then to 25 gal final homes… for those wondering why such big pots? I plant on training the entire circumference with overhang…
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I’m with @MidwestGuy - I’ve earned the cringes 
I’ve tried to make peat pods work, but I either end up with stunted growth or a root injury during transplant. I’ve started to plant directly in the forever home and it has gone much better:)
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I just removed peat pots and repotted.
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Yep, peat pods are the kiss of death. I’ve seen a ton of posts with stunted plants because of them.
I use solo cups with 3 or 4 holes cut in the bottom. Usually ready to transplant at 14 days.
Peat moss has always created an issue for me seedling stage… It’s not even an option for me anymore…
I personally like to start the seed in the final pot with autoflowers.
However if you must use a smaller transplant I’ve had 100% success with the cup in a cup method. This is my way of doing The cup in a cup works every time
1.) Take a solo cup take a razor knife and cut the entire bottom of the Solo cup completely off now you have a whole straight through the top and the bottom.
2.) Take your razor knife and cut a straight line from the very top of the cup to the very bottom of the cup. Now the cup is completely slit down the middle.
3.) Ever so gently squeeze the cup in the center so both flaps that you just cut ever so lightly overlap each other take a piece of masking tape and gently tape that so it doesn’t open back up
4.) Take a second I drill three holes in the bottom and cut two small square slats
On the sides of the cup
5.) Take your first cup set it down inside your second cup. Now you’re ready for your medium. I like a 50% cocoa 50% soil for a seedling transplant it’s not hot and it’s wonderfully loose. (I generally moistened the cup of medium the day before I plant it)
6.) Simply proceed to put your seed tap Root down inside your hole I generally put it the length of a pencil eraser Tap Root down
- ) Within 2 to 3 days they’ve always popped out I simply cut a soda bottle in half drill a few holes in the top two on the side you have the perfect humidity done for your Solo cup. I keep my temps around 80° and my humidity around 65%
8.) A couple of times a day I make sure the humidity dome is freshly squirted with a mist of 6.5 pH water cooled at room temperature.
9.) For me this step is the most crucial. From the day the seed pops out of the dirt I start a countdown from 12 days to transplant day.
10.) On day number 9 I take the final pot and place a solo cup inside the hole where you would normally put your seed (yes the entire Solo cup will be submerged in the dirt) I then generously water the soil and place it in the tent
11.) On day 12 I remove the forever pot from the tent and the Solo cup the seeds are germinating in and move them to my work table. Remove the Solo cup submerged in the dirt of your final pot leaving you with a perfect hole in the center of your pot.
- optional… if you’re going to use a root stimulating powder like mycorrhizal fungi powder mushroom spores etc. Nows the time to dose that hole nicely with the recommended amount of counter
13.) Now, remove the cup from inside the cup that you’re terminating in cut the piece of masking tape on the side and slide the entire cup inside the hole of your final pot.
14.) Gently grab the top of the cup where it’s cut and pull on both sides opening the cup and slide it straight up. You have now transplanted your little girl.
I find this method to be superior for ME for several reasons
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you get to dose your root system with mycorrhizal fungi powder. This is a huge benefit for building a strong root foundation.
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The roots are never exposed during transplant
3.) The method is so gentle for autoflowers they have never shown a single sign of transplant stress.
That’s just how we do it in the hood y’all…
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Ive always use peat pellets and warming mat never had any lost. Once they sprout i put them in my dry soil . The wet pellet gets it damp enough with a dome for about 3wks
Very creative! What a great way to transfer/transplant
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