Do you plant the biodegradable fabric bags?

[cpurola]

Just wondering if the fabric bags that claim they are biodegradable and you can put the whole thing in the dirt is REALLY biodegradable?
The reason I ask is because I used the jiffy pellets and that netting does NOT biodegrade in my dirt.

Anyway, I just transplanted a boat load of seedlings into them and would hate to have to peel them off to put into their forever home.
Thanks

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Wow! You have a lot of plants. Are you going to grow them in a greenhouse or are some of them going outside?

 

[cpurola]

Wow! You have a lot of plants. Are you going to grow them in a greenhouse or are some of them going outside?

They are all going outside. I started alot of seeds from too many varieties. LOL
Most are regular, so I figure at least half will be male, then there's the weak or stunted ones to cull.
And there are the critters, bugs (earwigs, sow bugs, cutworms, ants), mammals (ground hogs, rabbits, deer).
So, I always grow backups. Possibly too many this year. LOL

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

To answer your leading question: No. I don't use biodegradable fabric bags. I tried the compost type and found that they didn't degrade quickly and constricted the roots.

They are all going outside. I started alot of seeds from too many varieties. LOL
Most are regular, so I figure at least half will be male, then there's the weak or stunted ones to cull.

Expect about 40% to 45% male. How many plants have you started?

 

[EternalSun]

To answer your leading question: No. I don't use biodegradable fabric bags. I tried the compost type and found that they didn't degrade quickly and constricted the roots.


Expect about 40% to 45% male. How many plants have you started?

Pretty much my experience with the bags as well.

 

[Deadstill]

I have been using those exact style bags for years now. They work great. They do not biodegrade quickly and I've been able to reuse them many times. I start ALL my seeds in bags just like that, that are about the size of a soda can. When I am ready to put them into a bigger container or ground, I simply put the whole thing in. It will not restrict root growth, roots grow right through them no problem. I manage to save a few of these each year and reuse them if I can get all the roots out without destroying the bags. But these work great and less shock on plants when transplanting since you just place the whole bag in soil.

 

[cpurola]

To answer your leading question: No. I don't use biodegradable fabric bags. I tried the compost type and found that they didn't degrade quickly and constricted the roots.


Expect about 40% to 45% male. How many plants have you started?

Pretty much my experience with the bags as well.

Thanks.

 

[cpurola]

I have been using those exact style bags for years now. They work great. They do not biodegrade quickly and I've been able to reuse them many times. I start ALL my seeds in bags just like that, that are about the size of a soda can. When I am ready to put them into a bigger container or ground, I simply put the whole thing in. It will not restrict root growth, roots grow right through them no problem. I manage to save a few of these each year and reuse them if I can get all the roots out without destroying the bags. But these work great and less shock on plants when transplanting since you just place the whole bag in soil.

Thank you so much. That is the info. I needed.
Do you put them in the ground or bigger fabric pots?

 

[Deadstill]

Thank you so much. That is the info. I needed.
Do you put them in the ground or bigger fabric pots?

either way works! I generally use hard pots (plastic) after I start them in these, but they work in any kind, really.

 

[cpurola]

My plan is to put these in 20 gallon fabric pots, split the bottom open and place on top of the soil in my raised boxes.
I want to split the bottoms open, because I've noticed the roots coming through on previous grows and want to make it easier for them.

 

[Deadstill]

My plan is to put these in 20 gallon fabric pots, split the bottom open and place on top of the soil in my raised boxes.
I want to split the bottoms open, because I've noticed the roots coming through on previous grows and want to make it easier for them.

Right on! Yeah, that works fine, though probably not necessary, in my opinion. I can't tell you how many times, especially when I was a landscaper, I've seen plants in general, their roots break through concrete and blacktop and all sorts of things you would think would stop roots They're determined! But shouldn't hurt, either way.

 

[Galgrows]

Hey cpurola i've looked at those bags before but never used them. It's ok what your planning to do with the fabric bags by splitting them but.....the concept of the fabric bags are to "air prune" the roots so if they do come thru they die but inside they regrow. I've seen them just placed ontop of soil and the roots dig into the soil also. But do what ever you want cause it's your grow. And it will work either way. But what i was gonna say is.... I have a japanese maple i grew from sprout and planted it in a lovely large ceramic pot it has a hole the size of a half dollar on bottom. Well the roots grew thru that whole so i dug around the whole pot just to sink it 1/2 way. I could'nt bring myself to smash the pot LOL it's so pretty and would cost $70 now. The tree is over 6ft tall now and just beautiful. Guess i'm saying roots will find a way to the soil.

 

[RoadKillSkunkHunt]

Hey cpurola i've looked at those bags before but never used them. It's ok what your planning to do with the fabric bags by splitting them but.....the concept of the fabric bags are to "air prune" the roots so if they do come thru they die but inside they regrow. I've seen them just placed ontop of soil and the roots dig into the soil also. But do what ever you want cause it's your grow. And it will work either way. But what i was gonna say is.... I have a japanese maple i grew from sprout and planted it in a lovely large ceramic pot it has a hole the size of a half dollar on bottom. Well the roots grew thru that whole so i dug around the whole pot just to sink it 1/2 way. I could'nt bring myself to smash the pot LOL it's so pretty and would cost $70 now. The tree is over 6ft tall now and just beautiful. Guess i'm saying roots will find a way to the soil.

True, they will find their way through pretty much all fabric pots if the whole pot is planted in the ground. Thickness is only relative to how quickly the get through. This is not to say its best practice ...