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Plug plants in biogradable pots

chembluechemblue Posts: 39
in Problem solving
Hi. Hope you all keeping well and keeping safe. 

I bought mini plug plants from Thompson and Morgan and planted them into biodegradable pots in the way as Alan Titmarsh advised. None of them appear to have taken after placing them on the windowsill in the utility room. What did I do wrong can I rescue them and how.  Also had a dianthus planted in the garden and that appears to have died. Please advise. Regards and blessings to you 



Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,496
    Via a post some weeks ago, chemblue , it was generally agreed that so called degradeable pots usually fail to perform the task they're supposed to, and are a waste of space.  So, your dilemma could be duff plants from T&M or the use of those pots.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 8,713
    In this instance I don't think the biodegradable pots are the problem.  If I understand the OP, the plug plants haven't developed since repotting.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    KT53 said:
    In this instance I don't think the biodegradable pots are the problem.  If I understand the OP, the plug plants haven't developed since repotting.
    That could because of the biodegradeable pots not doing what it says on the tin? Perhaps OP can confirm if they degraded or not and the time-scale involved as I wasn't sure if they were a factor or not. I've never had a lot of luck with them.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,350
    What plants are they, and what size? Why were they inside and did they have adequate care inside? 
    These are all factors as well as the pots.
    I'm not convinced by them either, and I htn kit largely depends on the plant that's in them and the conditions it prefers.

    Dianthus are quite straightforward unless it's been a tiny plant and/or planted in unsuitable conditions. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • chembluechemblue Posts: 39
    Thank you for all your comments. I have now received new plug plants. Can you advise how I should grow them. Also should I be using perlite. I am very new at this so any advice is much appreciated. 
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Can you answer some of the questions above so that we have a better understanding of what went wrong last time?

  • chembluechemblue Posts: 39
    Summer perennials. They were mini plug plants. I received and planted them middle May. 
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,495
    The plugs have to be made of something that holds the compost together. Usually this looks a bit like a teabag. It is supposed to degrade naturally, but often doesn't, and the roots are trapped inside it and the plant struggles. Many of us now remove this, to give the plants a better chance, but you have to be very gentle.
    Mini plugs demand quite a high level of care, in watering, monitoring and potting on, then hardening off. They are easy for the nurseries to grow and sell on, but often tricky for those who buy them, even those of us with more experience than you have. Your new plants will need to be potted into individual small pots.
    As you have some perlite you could mix a little in with the compost; it is supposed to help retain a little water and keep the compost looser. Multipurpose compost dries out very quickly and is then hard to re-wet as the water just runs off the top. You will need to keep it just moist but not soggy, not easy with our fluctuating weather.
    Put the plants somewhere cool and shady, out of the wind and give them some protection from heavy rain or hail if it is forecast. they will be vulnerable to slugs and snails until they have toughened up, so use organic slug pellets or a beer trap or raise them above ground level. If you see any sign of munching it is time to seek and destroy the culprit!
    When you are sure they are well rooted and have made some new growth you can start giving them more sun, just a little at first, until they are large enough (they may need potting on again) and strong enough to cope successfully with border life. They are perennials, you may not see many flowers this year, but your care should pay off in better plants next summer :)
    Good luck.
  • chembluechemblue Posts: 39
    Thank you we have potted them out into larger pots. Hubby decided to keep the biogradable containers to hold them together. We noticed that the ones that haven't taken are bone dry but soaking containers.  Hopefully I will learn from mistakes. Take care and keep safe 
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