Growing seedlings: 7 unusual ways
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With the arrival of spring, all summer residents begin to actively engage in the cultivation of their favorite seedlings. And the most important task when growing seedlings is to grow healthy plants that will give a good harvest in the future. Moreover, it is important to remember that many plants need a pick, while others it is contraindicated. To please both the first and the second, we offer you 7 non-standard options for growing seedlings using completely different types of containers. Another indisputable advantage of our methods is the huge cost savings. Every year boxes for seedlings, tablets and cassettes cost more and more, and summer residents need a lot of them, so we suggest you draw your attention to completely unconventional “boxes” that you can easily build from scrap materials.
Growing seedlings: eggshell
It is no secret that gardeners are very fond of shells. It is often ground and added to the soil to improve its structure. Today, the shells are carefully collected by gardeners and used for planting seedlings. Choose shells from the largest chicken eggs, goose shells are ideal. Before you pour the soil into your new boxes, they should be boiled for literally one or two minutes and dried thoroughly. Then, at the bottom of the shell, small holes need to be formed in order for water to come out of there. This can be done with a needle or knitting needles. Fill the shell with soil and place it in a store-bought egg crate. Water your future seedlings a little, put a few seeds in there and cover your plantings with foil around the entire perimeter. In addition to ease of handling in shell pots, you can find a lot of other advantages. The main one is those important nutrients that are contained in the shell: iron, fluoride, zinc, copper and others. So the eggshell, after decomposition, also improves the structure of the soil, increases its fertility, enriching it with the necessary chemical elements. Another indisputable plus is the ability to plant plants that do not tolerate transplants. The fact is that the eggshell is not removed during transplantation, but is only slightly deformed so that the roots can break through "to the light." And so plants are planted in a permanent habitat. It is also convenient to sign varieties on such boxes, so you never confuse what you put in this or that box. But the disadvantages of using this method still exist. And the most important thing is a small volume. You won't be able to plant a lot of seedlings in the shell, because you are unlikely to collect so many pots. Asthenia cannot be planted in shells, which need acidic soil, for example, asters or sorrel. Tomatoes cannot be grown in eggshells.
Growing seedlings: spunbond bags
Many seedling bags can be made from this covering nonwoven fabric. For this, identical rectangles are cut out of matter and connected on three sides in any way convenient for you. Remember that the bags must be dense, so the thin matter is folded in several layers. The sewn sachets are straightened and placed in plastic or ceramic trays, then soil is poured into them and planting begins. There is only one drawback for such containers: since the bags are quite close to each other, the planting of plants, germinating, becomes very dense, which negatively affects the growth of plants.
Tea bags
But what if instead of expensive peat tablets, we plant seedlings in Tea bags? Easily. Gardeners are doing just that. Cut off the top of the used bag, fill it with soil and plant your seedlings for health.
Citrus peel
If you are very fond of lemons and oranges, then this method will definitely suit you. Cut off the topmost part of the fruit, carefully select the pulp and leave the resulting citrus buckets in the freezer for storage. After that, the original and unusual pots are ready. Refill the soil, plant the plants and enjoy the result. A huge advantage of citrus seedlings is the content of phytoncides in pots, which are so necessary for seedlings.
Toilet rolls
These cardboard boxes can also be easily converted into seedling pots. They can be either left without a bottom or formed from thick paper. The cylinders are placed in containers, filled with earth, and the seedlings are planted. Then you need to cover them with foil and keep them in a warm place until the first green shoots appear. But remember that bushings decompose very quickly, so you need to have time to plant your plants in open ground in time.
Growing seedlings: gypsum containers
If you are not looking for easy ways, then this method is for you. If you want to turn a container for planting seedlings into a work of art, then you can create a beautiful, designer thing with your own hands - a plaster pot. However, this is a very lengthy process. First, you need to buy a gypsum solution, then carefully study the instructions, which are usually written on the package, then you need to dilute the gypsum with water and pour it into the desired container, having previously treated it with vegetable oil. After that, you need to wait for complete hardening and then remove the container and start decorating the product. The main disadvantage of gypsum containers: they are very heavy, so your seedlings will be less mobile, you probably won't bring them alone.
Snail
From a substrate for the laminate, you can create a small roll in which you can grow absolutely any ornamental and vegetable crops. To do this, you need to cut out a long strip - a tape, cover it with earth, tamp and moisten it, having previously spread the seeds in it, and then roll it into a roll. It is better to fold it in such a way that its uppermost part is slightly higher than the rest of the turns. This must be done so that all plants have the same amount of light. The finished snail must be placed vertically and wait for the first shoots. But remember that in such a snail you can grow seedlings only in the first stages of its development. In the future, it will still have to dive. Choose the methods that are right for you and grow strong and healthy seedlings, and do not spend a lot of money on seedling containers!