Can you re-use peat pellets?
Suzanne D.
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should I just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden soil?
--S.
Pat Kiewicz
They are very difficult to re-wet, and who's to know why the seeds never
germinated. (Did they carry some sort of mold or pathogen?) The pellets
themselves are relatively cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk mail
order, so my opinion is, better safe than sorry. I don't reuse them.
I always run my 'extra' seedlings and dud pellets through the compost
bin.
(I use the Jiffy-9 pellets for the most part, which avoids the netting issue.)
--
Pat in Plymouth MI
"So, it was all a dream."
"No dear, this is the dream, you're still in the cell."
email valid but not regularly monitored
gunner
"Suzanne D." <bbb_bus_c...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:h33aq6$k9c$1...@news.albasani.net...
To be sure, you can sterilize them, say in a microwave.
phorbin
gun...@stopspam.com says...
And what happens if they aren't completely dessicated?
Suzanne D.
"Pat Kiewicz" <pkie...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:20090709-104506.265.0@Pat-
> They are very difficult to re-wet, and who's to know why the seeds never
> germinated. (Did they carry some sort of mold or pathogen?) The pellets
> themselves are relatively cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk mail
> order, so my opinion is, better safe than sorry. I don't reuse them.
That was what I figured as well. They would probably do just fine in the
compost. I am actually thinking of getting a soil blocker next year and
making my own small blocks instead of the Jiffy peat pellets.
--S.
George
I just re-used some. They were from last year, and completely
dried-out. They worked OK: some stuff germinated, some hasn't yet.
About the same as usual, for us.
I can't say for sure about any particular pellet, but we often get a
slimy green mold in our trays - so, there's a good chance some were
'infected'. Nothing bad happened.
G
gunner
"phorbin" <phor...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.24c0443d3...@news.execulink.com...
Interesting question.
You want the pellets a bit damp if you are using a microwave to sterilize,
otherwise it wouldn't work well. I'm sure it wouldn't matter much with most
any other sterilization method such as various steam or heat methods.
Biocontrol/Chemical sterilization methods would be another matter. However,
I really do not find proof beyond Internet mythology that chemical
fertilizers will "sterilize" soils very well as often alluded.
phorbin
gun...@stopspam.com says...
I framed my question in the way that amused me at that moment (though I
don't know why it did) but obscured my thought.
That is, does a partially dry peat pellet explode in the microwave?
R M Watkin
and the right type of soil,
or it will not work very well. I gave up in the end. It was more trouble
than it was worth.
Hope this helps you.
Richard M. Watkin.
Suzanne D.
"R M Watkin" <rmwatk...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4a584709$1_4@mk-nntp-
> I made a soil blocker. The soil has to be just right [ damp but not wet ]
> and the right type of soil,
> or it will not work very well. I gave up in the end. It was more trouble
> than it was worth.
It's something I am only thinking about right now. On one hand it DOES seem
like a lot of hassle--making sure the dirt blend is just right, dealing with
the inevitable crumble, and spending a lot of time to make planters when you
can prepare 72 Jiffy pellets in minutes just by adding water to the tray.
On the other hand, I like the idea of having really tiny blocks (I'd get the
3/4" size) for things like corn, of which I would want a LOT but on which
wouldn't find prudent to waste a whole Jiffy pellet for each seed, and for
having no leftover pots and netting, and for having to hardly spend any more
money once you get the initial equipment. I'll just have to see how I feel
about it next spring.
--S.
gunner
I appreciate the candor.
> That is, does a partially dry peat pellet explode in the microwave?
No, I invite you to do a quick search on sterilizing soils. There are a
lot of myths about microwave use. It is still heat that kills most
bacteria, ( But note: NOT the toxins). Pesky critters, such as fungus
gnats and
fruit fly, can also survive microwaving under certain conditions and you
can use metal in microwaves although you really need to know what you are
doing.
This is the quickest way to sterilize small amounts of soils when you need
to.
I use a thermometer rather than time to ensure I have a good 165 + internal
temp.
Billy
"gunner" <gun...@stopspam.com> wrote:
To sterilize jiffy pots, or soil heat (in convection oven) to 200F for
30 min. "If" you had perfect heat transfer, it would only take 20 min.
at 182F. I use a metal mixing bowl.
--
- Billy
There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who
learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and
find out for themselves.
Will Rogers
http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm
http://www.tomdispatch.com/p/zinn
Bigal
'Suzanne D.[_2_ Wrote:
> ;855587']"R M Watkin" rmwatk...@tiscali.co.uk wrote in message
> news:4a584709$1_4@mk-nntp--
> I made a soil blocker. The soil has to be just right [ damp but not
> wet ]
> and the right type of soil,
> or it will not work very well. I gave up in the end. It was more
> trouble
>
> It's something I am only thinking about right now. On one hand it DOES
> seem
> like a lot of hassle--making sure the dirt blend is just right, dealing
> with
> the inevitable crumble, and spending a lot of time to make planters
> when you
> can prepare 72 Jiffy pellets in minutes just by adding water to the
> tray.
> On the other hand, I like the idea of having really tiny blocks (I'd
> get the
> 3/4" size) for things like corn, of which I would want a LOT but on
> which
> wouldn't find prudent to waste a whole Jiffy pellet for each seed, and
> for
> having no leftover pots and netting, and for having to hardly spend any
> more
> money once you get the initial equipment. I'll just have to see how I
> feel
> about it next spring.
> --S.
I got a paper plantpot maker and it does the job perfectly. They
are fairly easy to make by using anything cylindrical with a flat base.
You can decide what size you want to use. You use up your old
newsppers to make them, and two thicknesses of paper is adequate to
prevent them falling apart. Allow about an inch overlap at the base,
fold it over and press it down on a hard surface. The roots grow
easilt through the paper offering no problems with transplanting. I
use three diameters of approximately 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, and 2 inch.
You can make the pots whatever length you wish. Your costs are based
on whatever you use fr potting. I have no problems with using one
seed per pot. Anything that hasn't germinated goes n the compost heap.
If you like small leaf salads try growing several varieties in the 1
1/2 inch pots on the windowsill, or staging in the greenhouse. THree
seeds to a pot works well. I havent tries it through the winter yet.
--
Bigal
Suzanne D.
"Bigal" <imadontbel...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
> I got a paper plantpot maker and it does the job perfectly. They
> are fairly easy to make by using anything cylindrical with a flat base.
> You can decide what size you want to use.
I have thought abut making these as well, though have no source for
newspapers. Would phone book pages work as well, or do the papers have to
be fairly large?
--S.
Bigal
'Suzanne D.[_2_ Wrote:
> ;855729']"Bigal" imadontbel...@tiscali.co.uk wrote in message-
> I got a paper plantpot maker and it does the job perfectly. They
> are fairly easy to make by using anything cylindrical with a flat
> base.
>
> I have thought abut making these as well, though have no source for
> newspapers. Would phone book pages work as well, or do the papers have
> to
> be fairly large?
> --S.
Probably, and would do the 2 smaller sizes I mentioned. If the book
is a standard size A4 you should get 2 pots from each sheet, but don't
use glossy paper (not so porous). A loty of people just dump their
old newspapers. If you don't know anyone, do you know where the
newspapers are dumped? You won't need many, you can get quite a few
pots from one paper.
Bigal
--
Bigal
gunner
"Billy" <wildbilly@without_a.net> wrote in message
news:wildbilly-CF26E...@c-61-68-245-199.per.connect.net.au...
Your method can also be used in conventional for those who don't have
convection ovens, still its a bit of overkill sterilization
though.
"The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and
Disease Control",
by Barbara W. Ellis, Fern Marshall Bradley, Helen Atthowe, which
recommends covering "a shallow pan of moist soil with aluminum foil in a
preheated 200 degree f oven. Start timing for 30 minutes when the soil
reaches 140 degrees f. If the soil begins to exceeds 180 degrees, take it
out and allow to cool and then put it back or sprinkle with a small amount
of water to cool below 180.
also
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Soil/sterile.htm
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/propagation/seeds.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/226670/how_to_sterilize_potting_soil.html?cat=32
>
Seed waster
--
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