How to Plant in Collapsible Peat Pots

Seedlings can be planted in the peat pot in which they were grown.

Collapsible peat pots are a miracle of packaging efficiency; they are compostable and completely recyclable. They are flat and made of organic materials that help feed the baby plant they will house. Often they are sold as "Jiffy Pots" for the speed in which they expand for use. The pots are inexpensive and fit neatly into trays that are sold for that purpose. The pots are made of compressed and dried peat that come in flat round discs. When the seedlings that have been grown in the peat pot are ready to transplant they can be planted in the pot and the roots will grow out of the peat medium.

Things You'll Need

• Peat Pots
• Tray
• Seeds

Instructions

1. Place the compressed peat discs in the seeding flat. They can be touching, as the growth of the pot is primarily upward and not outward. Fill the flat with several inches of tepid or lukewarm water and let the discs soak for an hour or two.

2. Check the pots to see if they have all expanded. If the peat interior is dry, add another inch of water and let them sit for fifteen minutes to moisten the planting medium. If the pots have all expanded and the interiors are wet, tip out any extra water, as that will attract gnats and would not be good for the roots of new plants. These pots are simply made of Sphagnum moss and pulp and will create a good starting medium for seeds.

3. Plant seeds according to the depth indicated by the package. Keep the pots wet by adding water to the tray daily. Only add what the pots can absorb in fifteen minutes and then dump the rest of the water out. Keep the tray in a warm area to germinate and then move to a warm and light area once the seedlings have emerged. When plants have two sets of true leaves and conditions are warm enough outdoors, plant them in the ground in the pots.

References

• Green Thinkers: Peat Plant Pots
• How To Garden Guide: Peat Pellets and Peat Pots