Disposable seedling pots have long been proven to be practical. Increasingly, gardeners are experimenting with materials, shapes and manufacturing methods. Containers made of newsprint are very popular. You can even find kits for making them in stores. In open ground, seedlings are transplanted directly in such pots. It is fast, and most importantly, very convenient.
In this article, I want to talk about an equally practical method, which involves planting in an eggshell. You don't need to buy raw materials for such pots. It is enough to gently break the top of the egg during cooking, leaving the main part of the shell intact. So that the remnants of the contents do not start to deteriorate, the future pot must be rinsed with running water. In this form, the shell can be stored for a long time. You can start harvesting raw materials from the beginning of the new year.
Growing seedlings in eggshell
The process of sowing seeds in egg-shell pots is not much different from the standard procedure, but it has some peculiarities.
Step 1. Making a drainage hole
A drainage hole must be made in the previously prepared shell. This can be done with an awl or a thick needle. In order not to split the future pot, the puncture site must be held on the inside.
Step 2. Fill the pot with substrate
After the drainage hole has been made, the container must be filled with universal soil or a pre-prepared mixture. In order not to accidentally spill the substrate, you can insert a homemade funnel made from a piece of newspaper into the hole.
The filled pots are placed in an egg tray or bowl of sand.
Step 3. We sow the seeds of a crop
Now you can start sowing seeds. If necessary, the soil can be moistened with a spray bottle. The further process depends on the planted crop.
Do not forget to sign each pot so as not to confuse the seedlings in the future. The easiest way to do this is with a dark, non-toxic marker or felt-tip pen. Remember that the plant will be planted with the shells.
We plant seedlings
Over time, when the seedlings grow up and form two full leaves, they should be planted in a larger pot or open ground. It all depends on the culture, climate and weather conditions.
Seedlings are planted directly in the eggshell. In order for the young roots to develop, the bottom of the pot must be carefully broken with a knife. It is not recommended to squeeze the container, as this can harm the plant. The shell will be an excellent fertilizer and temporary protection against soil pests.
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Read also on my website - Homemade seedling pots: free and practical