I always use plastic pots for sprouting and early seedlings. In general I don’t like using plastic but it is such the perfect product for this. I wash the pots and cell packs with soap and water and then do a bleach rinse and then final water rinse when done. I’ve been reusing many of the same pots now for 5+ years. As some crack I patch with duct tape!
Something I found out years ago when using paper/cardboard to mulch in my garden was that, when you use ANY kind of cellulose (including straw, wood chips, rice hulls, etc.), nitrogen goes to break down the mulch, leaving less for the plants (easy solution, add more nitrogen). This, when combined with the porous nature of newspaper, which means one needs to water paper pots more often than plastic pots, means your plants in newspaper pots will not be as 'happy' as the others if treated exactly the same.
OMG I HAD THIS EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE!!!! All my paper pot plants looked yellow, small, and sad!!! Thank you for posting! I thought it was something I did! Maybe the paper leeches nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down?
My guess is that the plastic pots helped hold in nutrients better. Because newspaper doesn’t create a solid barrier, the nutrients in the soil is going to get washed away more easily when you water.
The decomposing paper might cause these issues as its similar to mulching and then you have to balance that out. Nitrogen deficiency would be able to happen.
Have you ever hear of Air pruning? Its using like felt type pots. When the roots reach through and touch air, it stops that roots growth and causes a mass of new roots and a healthy root ball. Pretty cool!
I have amazing success with paper pots!! I keep them constantly wet though. I cut the bottom off of amazon boxes (or any other cardboard box – about 2-3 inches tall), then I cut a sheet of plastic to make the cardboard waterproof (I use hot glue on the over hanging plastic to secure it to the outside of the cardboard box). I then cut a piece of one inch thick styrofoam about an inch smaller than the box on all sides, and place a piece of felt on the styrofoam (a big enough piece that it will hang off the styrofoam and reach the water in the box). Then you just put your paper cups on the felt covered styrofoam in the box, and keep the box full of water. The felt will absorb it and keep the paper cups (and soil) constantly moist. I had about 8 of these "trays" in my greenhouse and my seeds (and succulent cuttings) did great!! I happened to have all these items on hand, so maybe there is something easier to do, but this worked great for me.
My husband always uses the cardboard toilet roll centre. He just dips one end in water to dampen it and then folds it in to seal the bottom. Our plants seem happy with this!
I have been using both pots and paper pots myself and noticed that as the paper absorbs the plants water, they all needed water a bit more deeply.
Maybe it’s the ink???
I wanted to try brown craft paper next year. Reading these comments has been helpful when considering growing seedlings in paper.
I always use plastic pots for sprouting and early seedlings. In general I don’t like using plastic but it is such the perfect product for this. I wash the pots and cell packs with soap and water and then do a bleach rinse and then final water rinse when done. I’ve been reusing many of the same pots now for 5+ years. As some crack I patch with duct tape!
I noticed all the paper ones were on the end I wonder if the other ones just got more light and heat
Um the ink
after you planted them in the garden, did the paper pot plants catch up? or were they always sickly?
Something I found out years ago when using paper/cardboard to mulch in my garden was that, when you use ANY kind of cellulose (including straw, wood chips, rice hulls, etc.), nitrogen goes to break down the mulch, leaving less for the plants (easy solution, add more nitrogen). This, when combined with the porous nature of newspaper, which means one needs to water paper pots more often than plastic pots, means your plants in newspaper pots will not be as 'happy' as the others if treated exactly the same.
OMG I HAD THIS EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE!!!! All my paper pot plants looked yellow, small, and sad!!! Thank you for posting! I thought it was something I did! Maybe the paper leeches nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down?
For paper pots you should use NON INKED paper. Ink is mostly chemicals
My guess is that the plastic pots helped hold in nutrients better. Because newspaper doesn’t create a solid barrier, the nutrients in the soil is going to get washed away more easily when you water.
Everytime i reuse my plastic pots i end up with damping off. I will keep trying cause that is what i do
My guess is that the nutrients seep out of the paper when watered!
what about clay pots? no plastic or chemical leaching and infinitely reusable
The decomposing paper might cause these issues as its similar to mulching and then you have to balance that out. Nitrogen deficiency would be able to happen.
The paper absorbs nutrients. Good share!
Have you ever hear of Air pruning? Its using like felt type pots. When the roots reach through and touch air, it stops that roots growth and causes a mass of new roots and a healthy root ball. Pretty cool!
Paper wicks the moisture out of the soil, have to keep the paper wet.
Paper w ink has loads of poison
Ive used newspapers for over 30yrs for weed control. Never had an issue. I think the paper pots doesn't hold the nutrients when watered.
The pot retains water longer than the others but I think you have to use brown paper lunch bags
It's the ink in the paper
Maybe the ink in the paper?
I have amazing success with paper pots!! I keep them constantly wet though. I cut the bottom off of amazon boxes (or any other cardboard box – about 2-3 inches tall), then I cut a sheet of plastic to make the cardboard waterproof (I use hot glue on the over hanging plastic to secure it to the outside of the cardboard box). I then cut a piece of one inch thick styrofoam about an inch smaller than the box on all sides, and place a piece of felt on the styrofoam (a big enough piece that it will hang off the styrofoam and reach the water in the box). Then you just put your paper cups on the felt covered styrofoam in the box, and keep the box full of water. The felt will absorb it and keep the paper cups (and soil) constantly moist. I had about 8 of these "trays" in my greenhouse and my seeds (and succulent cuttings) did great!! I happened to have all these items on hand, so maybe there is something easier to do, but this worked great for me.
My husband always uses the cardboard toilet roll centre. He just dips one end in water to dampen it and then folds it in to seal the bottom. Our plants seem happy with this!
Ink
Paper pots, from my experience, need more water & fertilizer. I grow so many, that mine get planted out, before they start having trouble.