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Old 23-02-2003, 10:41 PM
david
 
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Default Heated bench

Hi Trevor,
Yes covering the top of the sand with a sheet of polythene does cut out the
need to keep re wetting the sand, and as long as the sand is damp when you
put it down it stays that way for a good while.
I have 2 inches below the cables(With polystyrene under the sand) then
another 2 inches of sand over the cables.
Remember that the bench gets HEAVY with all that damp sand. A bucket full
doesn't go far.
I wouldn't root directly into the bench as you wouldn't get the benefit of
uniformity of heat. If you insert the cuttings just 1 inch into the sand
then some will be within 1inch of the cable whilst others could be 4 inches
away, and the bed will dry out quite fast. also if you let the plants
produce roots a couple of inches ling then some will be amongst the cables.
Much better to have Trays/Boxes a couple of inches deep to place on the
bench if you want to root lose ether in cells.
I root quite a lot of things directly into a bench with 1/3rd sand, 1/3rd
peat and 1/3rd pearlite, this bench is covered in polythene with around 30
inches of headroom. and is fastened all round 3 sides. with a curtain on the
4th that seals down to build up high humidity in the cabinet.
Visiting a nursery last week, they had heated benches, heated with hot water
pipes instead of cable then over the cuttings they had horticultural fleece,
which they kept damp, they said they didn't have any problems with damping
off as the fleece still breaths, but stops the wilting you would hove with
out some form of cover.
Worth trying.
Hope this is of help.

--
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk


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