I have been growing my seedlings using the square 2 1/4" and 3" peat
pots. They make transplanting easy and clean. The problem is that if I
am forgetful about watering them (from the top) from time to time and
their large surface area tends to dry them out quite a bit. They are
put into large plastic growing trays with a drainage hole. Can I put
them into trays without drainage and keep about a 1/2" of water in the
tray. Will the water wick up into the pots and provide adequate
moisture or would it tend to drown the seedlings.
TIA, Richard

Richard wrote:
I have been growing my seedlings using the square 2 1/4" and 3" peat
pots. They make transplanting easy and clean. The problem is that if I
am forgetful about watering them (from the top) from time to time and
their large surface area tends to dry them out quite a bit. They are
put into large plastic growing trays with a drainage hole. Can I put
them into trays without drainage and keep about a 1/2" of water in the
tray. Will the water wick up into the pots and provide adequate
moisture or would it tend to drown the seedlings.
TIA, Richard

That's what I do. No problem with drowning seelings. It may depend on
your soil mix, how much water it soaks up, but it works well for me.

Lorenzo L. Love
http://home.thegrid.net/~lllove

"We recognize, however dimly, that greater efficiency, ease, and
security may come at a substantial price in freedom, that law and order
can be a doublethink version of oppression, that individual liberties
surrendered for whatever good reason are freedom lost."
Walter Cronkite, in the preface to the 1984 edition of 1984

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 11:02:12 -0500, Richard
wrote:

I have been growing my seedlings using the square 2 1/4" and 3" peat
pots. They make transplanting easy and clean. The problem is that if I
am forgetful about watering them (from the top) from time to time and
their large surface area tends to dry them out quite a bit. They are
put into large plastic growing trays with a drainage hole. Can I put
them into trays without drainage and keep about a 1/2" of water in the
tray. Will the water wick up into the pots and provide adequate
moisture or would it tend to drown the seedlings.

Be careful. Half the problem with growing plants is not enough water;
the other half is too much. The seed-starting trays I've used
(successfully) have a wicking mat that dangles in a water reservoir
and delivers moisture to the (open) bottom of soil-filled cells. Works
well. Not quite the same as setting pots in standing water.

Be aware, too, that peat pots will wick water away as well as take it
up. When planting the pots, tear or cut off the tops at soil level to
keep them from providing a large evaporative surface.

Richard wrote in message . ..
I have been growing my seedlings using the square 2 1/4" and 3" peat
pots. They make transplanting easy and clean. The problem is that if I
am forgetful about watering them (from the top) from time to time and
their large surface area tends to dry them out quite a bit. They are
put into large plastic growing trays with a drainage hole. Can I put
them into trays without drainage and keep about a 1/2" of water in the
tray. Will the water wick up into the pots and provide adequate
moisture or would it tend to drown the seedlings.
TIA, Richard

That is what I do (give them 3/4 inch of water at a time). If you do
that, you will increase the chance of damping off for certain types of
veggies. In my case, most damping off happens with brassicas,
sometimes with chard and rarely with the other veggies. For the
sensitive veggies, I start with sterile (microwaved or baked) potting
soil and trays that have been washed, bleached and rinsed. For most of
the other seedlings (notably chicory, lettuce and tomatoes), I don't
even use potting soil, just compost passed through hardcloth.
They don't mind the soaking all that much, and of course, if they can
take it you are safe and only need to water once a week. I have a well
ventilated situation (southern glass door) and that may help with
damping off.