Peat Pots

AK Grower

Member
So I thought it might be convenient to use peat pots to germinate/start my plants in. However, I just expanded one with water and did a PH test as I know peat can be fairly acidic. Turns out the runoff from the peat pot is around 4. Should I PH up the water I use to expand these of choose a different medium for propagation? Do other growers have success using these to start plants in?
 

Pinworm

Well-Known Member
Do you mean the pellets or the actual pots? I've never had any issues with the pellets. Come to think of it, I've never had any issues with the pots either. If you want better ph control for your seedlings, might wanna consider germing in rockwool cubes under a humidity dome.
 

deadgro

Well-Known Member
So I thought it might be convenient to use peat pots to germinate/start my plants in. However, I just expanded one with water and did a PH test as I know peat can be fairly acidic. Turns out the runoff from the peat pot is around 4. Should I PH up the water I use to expand these of choose a different medium for propagation? Do other growers have success using these to start plants in?
Did you pH your water before the test?

Ive used rapid rooters brand for my last 2 hydro runs after throwing out a bunch of bad rockwool. The RRs actually have some added nutes. They've worked really well for clones.
 

AK Grower

Member
Yes. the water tested right at 6.0. I will be growing in soil from seed. I could also go with rockwool cubes or a starter mix. Trying to decide.
 

sunny747

Well-Known Member
I have had mixed results with the pellets I believe. I think I failed miserably starting clones in them. From seed I think I did ok. I don't really like that they have the webbing on them and I feel that they retain too much water.

If was going to sprout 100 seeds and select the best ten I guess I'd use pellets. If I was sprouting a few seeds I'd just sprout them in soil mixed with perlite in solo cups. If I was worried that the soil would be too hot I guess I'd get some light warrior or mash up the peat pellet and place it in center of solo cup. This will allow for better drainage than a pellet in a container,,

Ultimately I feel they are best suited for sewing lots of seeds or inexpensive seeds.
 

NorthernHize

Well-Known Member
never had a problem in either, honestly I never thought to check the PH of either, good info though
I have had mixed results with the pellets I believe. I think I failed miserably starting clones in them. From seed I think I did ok. I don't really like that they have the webbing on them and I feel that they retain too much water.

If was going to sprout 100 seeds and select the best ten I guess I'd use pellets. If I was sprouting a few seeds I'd just sprout them in soil mixed with perlite in solo cups. If I was worried that the soil would be too hot I guess I'd get some light warrior or mash up the peat pellet and place it in center of solo cup. This will allow for better drainage than a pellet in a container,,

Ultimately I feel they are best suited for sewing lots of seeds or inexpensive seeds.
do you mean you failed miserably at cloning your plants, or you failed miserably because of the pellets?
 

sunny747

Well-Known Member
never had a problem in either, honestly I never thought to check the PH of either, good info though

do you mean you failed miserably at cloning your plants, or you failed miserably because of the pellets?
All around fail :) haha.... It took me a few tries to get it right. I tried to clone using gel with the pellets and putting them in the dome that the pellets came with.. FAIL :) Not until I bought a clone dome and rockwool did I get it right. It wasn't so much the pellets as it was not having a proper dome I think.

For seedlings I have used pellets, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
 

NorthernHize

Well-Known Member
All around fail :) haha.... It took me a few tries to get it right. I tried to clone using gel with the pellets and putting them in the dome that the pellets came with.. FAIL :) Not until I bought a clone dome and rockwool did I get it right. It wasn't so much the pellets as it was not having a proper dome I think.

For seedlings I have used pellets, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
I hear ya. I had tried different things the first few times I tried to clone, with mixed results. In the end my soil mix has worked the best for me.
 

KawanaGanja

Well-Known Member
I'm using the peat pellets for cuttings with great success. I soak them in a half strength Clonex clone solution, and I think that's the secret. The root developement is phenomenal.
Not so good with seeds though. Tend to stick with a good seed raising mix.
 

AK Grower

Member
All good info. I think that I am now leaning toward using the soilless starter mix. That way I don't need to worry about "hot" soil and will be able to carefully control any nutrients starting out. Peat can be a good amendment to use to naturally balance soil grows into the optimal range for nutrient adsorption. But PH 4.0 is too low and they pellets do hold a lot of water.
 
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