Poor man's greenhouse

southlatropical · 12-20-2007, 10:37 PM

The seedlings were already planted in the cups. With the heater running every now and then, they were drying out. I have been misting them every evening with a spray bottle, but that was getting old. So I trimmed the first 1/4 inch off the rim of some more cups and cut little vent holes in the bottom. Then flipped them over and stuck them over the seedlings. It is much warmer up there on the shelf by the ceiling in the laundry closet.

magicgreen · 12-20-2007, 11:10 PM

Looks good to me. If thats what it takes, thats what it takes! I gotta hot as blue blazes bathroom, and i figure thats what it takes. Have to get a camera, then ya'll will really see something!

Magicgreen

mskitty38583 · 12-20-2007, 11:12 PM

that is a smart idea!!!you are a genius!!!if you run out of room on your shelf, use the top of your fridge. it gets warm there too. i would have neve thought of that. my utility room gets cold, but the top of the fridge dosent. YOU ARE A VERY SMART PERSON!

harveyc · 12-21-2007, 03:26 AM

For larger pots you can cover seedlings with 2 liter soda bottles after cutting the bottom off. If you decide you need slight ventilation you can take the cap off.

AllenF · 12-21-2007, 07:32 AM

Excellent idea. I used 1 litre soda bottles for my palm seeds. I slit open the bottle, near the top where it starts to narrow, 3/4s of the way around so that I could bend it open to add the potting soil and germinated seed. It pops back into place sealing in the moisture. I poked some holes in the bottom for drainage.

Once the leaf reached the top of the bottle I cut the rest of the top off and had a nice deep 3" pot.

Allen

CookieCows · 12-21-2007, 07:55 AM

I've sprouted on top of the fridge before! I love the 2 liter bottle idea.

magicgreen · 12-21-2007, 09:48 AM

cookiecow, if you like that, take a look at this..............http://www.toppers-place.com/pop_bottle_pots.htm

mskitty38583 · 12-21-2007, 10:39 AM

hey mg. that is a great idea! you get to drink the soda( if thats what you drink) and you get to recycle the bottle! dude, way kool. less trash in the landfills. i havent tried that before. i dont drink anything carbonated so i dont have any bottles, but i do have a friend who does. gonna have to try that. i use little yougart cups. i poke holes in the bottom of one cup and put some perilite in the bottom of another and put the one w/ holes inside that. put my dirt in, plant the seed, water just a little and cover w/ plastic wrap that has 3 tiny holes poked in it. that works for little seeds. but the whole soda bottle thing is great! see you guys are saving the environment and dont even know it. KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU!

CookieCows · 12-21-2007, 11:09 AM

I'm so impressed at what people invent. That website was so interesting. I saved it to go back to. Thank you SO much for sharing!! I love the make it yourself sites!

southlatropical · 12-21-2007, 01:56 PM

Hope you don't mind. I posted that link under the "Useful Sources" thread on the 'Other plants' forum. Someone I work with told me a while back that their mother made these same type of planters.

magicgreen · 12-21-2007, 04:05 PM

Hi Everybody! I thought people would love these pop-planters!:06: Its a 1st step before "Going Hydroponic". Southlatropical I dont mind at all you putting it under "useful sources". Matter-of-fact, it feels good to know that "I" {a newby} have made a useful contribution to our site! After all I didnt make them; Topper did! Anything i find good iam going to put on here! After all Ya'll are my friends.....

...Magicgreen

Mustang · 12-22-2007, 12:55 PM

Isaac, that's exactly the same method I use for my seedlings. An inverted plastic cup over another.

I use pop bottles as well, especially for deep rooted seedlings such as palms. And they also make great packaging containers for posting plants. I drop the plant complete within it's plastic cup, into a pop bottle that I've cut open part way. Seal the pop bottle back up with sticky tape, pop polystrene balls or packing beads in through the top, then screw the top back on. It keeps the plant humid, protected, and easy to post.

shopgirl2 · 12-23-2007, 07:31 AM

the bottom of plastic soda pops also can be separated and it already comes with holes in bottom, so there you have the planter (bottle) and bottom at the same time.

shopgirl2 · 12-23-2007, 07:47 AM

old rain gutters are also great for starting seedlings. Great for those that grow lots of seeds like a large business.

AllenF · 12-23-2007, 09:52 AM

I never thought of old rain gutters. They would be perfect and I am replacing mine in the spring.

Allen

magicgreen · 12-24-2007, 08:56 AM

heres something else i found.

http://www.packrat-pro.com/garden/moon.htm

CookieCows · 12-24-2007, 10:57 PM

magicgreen I looked at the website you posted about gardening by the phases of the moon. The advice we get from locals out here is based on alot of the same information. The people around here have such a close relationship with the seasons and having a garden isn't a hobby, it's how they get their food. Some of the old farmers almanac stuff just doesn't seem logical to me but I have to admitt that everyone's garden flourishes around us and we struggle and endure failures with one thing or another every single year.

southlatropical · 12-28-2007, 01:41 PM

I watered the seedlings last night for the first time since putting the cups over them. That's 7 days between watering as opposed to every other day without being covered.

weirdone66 · 01-14-2008, 12:01 AM

we are doing the same idea as u are its a great idea cant wait for ours to start growing only 1 to 6 months left lol we just started the growing process today cant wait to see if one will sprout out.

douglas gray · 03-04-2008, 08:39 PM

excellent idea with the cups - I have a load at work - doing very well over 50 % now seedlings

12-20-2007, 10:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 161,286 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Poor man's greenhouse The seedlings were already planted in the cups. With the heater running every now and then, they were drying out. I have been misting them every evening with a spray bottle, but that was getting old. So I trimmed the first 1/4 inch off the rim of some more cups and cut little vent holes in the bottom. Then flipped them over and stuck them over the seedlings. It is much warmer up there on the shelf by the ceiling in the laundry closet. __________________

12-20-2007, 11:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 840 BananaBucks : 17,796 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 208 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 124 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse Looks good to me. If thats what it takes, thats what it takes! I gotta hot as blue blazes bathroom, and i figure thats what it takes. Have to get a camera, then ya'll will really see something! Magicgreen __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

12-20-2007, 11:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 193,303 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse that is a smart idea!!!you are a genius!!!if you run out of room on your shelf, use the top of your fridge. it gets warm there too. i would have neve thought of that. my utility room gets cold, but the top of the fridge dosent. YOU ARE A VERY SMART PERSON! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

12-21-2007, 03:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,119 BananaBucks : 273,486 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,025 Times Was Thanked 4,460 Times in 1,896 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse For larger pots you can cover seedlings with 2 liter soda bottles after cutting the bottom off. If you decide you need slight ventilation you can take the cap off. __________________

12-21-2007, 07:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
AllenF Junior Member AllenF's Photo Gallery Location: Edmonton, Alberta Find me on the map! Zone: 3a Name: Allen Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 151 BananaBucks : 34,144 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse Excellent idea. I used 1 litre soda bottles for my palm seeds. I slit open the bottle, near the top where it starts to narrow, 3/4s of the way around so that I could bend it open to add the potting soil and germinated seed. It pops back into place sealing in the moisture. I poked some holes in the bottom for drainage. Once the leaf reached the top of the bottle I cut the rest of the top off and had a nice deep 3" pot. Allen __________________ You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

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12-21-2007, 07:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
CookieCows Member CookieCows's Photo Gallery Location: Kentucky Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Deb Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,182 BananaBucks : 72,643 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,347 Times Was Thanked 696 Times in 393 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 159 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse I've sprouted on top of the fridge before! I love the 2 liter bottle idea. __________________

12-21-2007, 09:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 840 BananaBucks : 17,796 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 208 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 124 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse cookiecow, if you like that, take a look at this..............http://www.toppers-place.com/pop_bottle_pots.htm __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

12-21-2007, 10:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 193,303 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse hey mg. that is a great idea! you get to drink the soda( if thats what you drink) and you get to recycle the bottle! dude, way kool. less trash in the landfills. i havent tried that before. i dont drink anything carbonated so i dont have any bottles, but i do have a friend who does. gonna have to try that. i use little yougart cups. i poke holes in the bottom of one cup and put some perilite in the bottom of another and put the one w/ holes inside that. put my dirt in, plant the seed, water just a little and cover w/ plastic wrap that has 3 tiny holes poked in it. that works for little seeds. but the whole soda bottle thing is great! see you guys are saving the environment and dont even know it. KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

12-21-2007, 11:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
CookieCows Member CookieCows's Photo Gallery Location: Kentucky Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Deb Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,182 BananaBucks : 72,643 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,347 Times Was Thanked 696 Times in 393 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 159 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse I'm so impressed at what people invent. That website was so interesting. I saved it to go back to. Thank you SO much for sharing!! I love the make it yourself sites! __________________

12-21-2007, 01:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 161,286 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse Hope you don't mind. I posted that link under the "Useful Sources" thread on the 'Other plants' forum. Someone I work with told me a while back that their mother made these same type of planters. __________________

12-21-2007, 04:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 840 BananaBucks : 17,796 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 208 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 124 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse Hi Everybody! I thought people would love these pop-planters!:06: Its a 1st step before "Going Hydroponic". Southlatropical I dont mind at all you putting it under "useful sources". Matter-of-fact, it feels good to know that "I" {a newby} have made a useful contribution to our site! After all I didnt make them; Topper did! Anything i find good iam going to put on here! After all Ya'll are my friends..... ...Magicgreen __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

12-22-2007, 12:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mustang Getting there... Location: UK Find me on the map! Zone: 8-ish Name: Helen Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 94 BananaBucks : 17,886 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse Isaac, that's exactly the same method I use for my seedlings. An inverted plastic cup over another. I use pop bottles as well, especially for deep rooted seedlings such as palms. And they also make great packaging containers for posting plants. I drop the plant complete within it's plastic cup, into a pop bottle that I've cut open part way. Seal the pop bottle back up with sticky tape, pop polystrene balls or packing beads in through the top, then screw the top back on. It keeps the plant humid, protected, and easy to post.

12-23-2007, 07:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
shopgirl2 shopgirl2's Photo Gallery Location: Camp Lejeune, N.C. area Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Carmensol Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 212 BananaBucks : 146,695 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 61 Times Was Thanked 48 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse the bottom of plastic soda pops also can be separated and it already comes with holes in bottom, so there you have the planter (bottle) and bottom at the same time. __________________ Orinoco by the sunlight.

12-23-2007, 07:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
shopgirl2 shopgirl2's Photo Gallery Location: Camp Lejeune, N.C. area Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Carmensol Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 212 BananaBucks : 146,695 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 61 Times Was Thanked 48 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse old rain gutters are also great for starting seedlings. Great for those that grow lots of seeds like a large business. __________________ Orinoco by the sunlight.

12-23-2007, 09:52 AM	#15 (permalink)
AllenF Junior Member AllenF's Photo Gallery Location: Edmonton, Alberta Find me on the map! Zone: 3a Name: Allen Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 151 BananaBucks : 34,144 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse I never thought of old rain gutters. They would be perfect and I am replacing mine in the spring. Allen __________________ You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

12-24-2007, 08:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 840 BananaBucks : 17,796 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 208 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 124 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse heres something else i found. http://www.packrat-pro.com/garden/moon.htm __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

12-24-2007, 10:57 PM	#17 (permalink)
CookieCows Member CookieCows's Photo Gallery Location: Kentucky Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Deb Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,182 BananaBucks : 72,643 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,347 Times Was Thanked 696 Times in 393 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 159 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse magicgreen I looked at the website you posted about gardening by the phases of the moon. The advice we get from locals out here is based on alot of the same information. The people around here have such a close relationship with the seasons and having a garden isn't a hobby, it's how they get their food. Some of the old farmers almanac stuff just doesn't seem logical to me but I have to admitt that everyone's garden flourishes around us and we struggle and endure failures with one thing or another every single year. __________________

12-28-2007, 01:41 PM	#18 (permalink)
southlatropical Member southlatropical's Photo Gallery Location: Fordoche, Louisiana Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Isaac Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 420 BananaBucks : 161,286 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 71 Times Was Thanked 196 Times in 83 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse I watered the seedlings last night for the first time since putting the cups over them. That's 7 days between watering as opposed to every other day without being covered. __________________

01-14-2008, 12:01 AM	#19 (permalink)
weirdone66 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 BananaBucks : 6,451 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse we are doing the same idea as u are its a great idea cant wait for ours to start growing only 1 to 6 months left lol we just started the growing process today cant wait to see if one will sprout out.

03-04-2008, 08:39 PM	#20 (permalink)
douglas gray Bananaman douglas gray's Photo Gallery Location: Berkshire, UK Zone: 8b..I think Name: Doug Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 44 BananaBucks : 7,550 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Poor man's greenhouse excellent idea with the cups - I have a load at work - doing very well over 50 % now seedlings

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