I'm sold! In years past, I always mass sowed seeds in premium potting mix then after they developed true leaves, transplanted them into nursery trays. I was able to start close to 1000 seedlings at a time, but it used up every bit of space I had. This year, I needed more than double that for just tomatoes and looked at other media. The winner, by miles, was the 162-cell Oasis Horticubes. The are not as cheap as nursery trays but that is the only thing they lack.
First - The number that can be grown in a small space. I can start 486 plants in a space as small as 31x22" or double that in under 10 square feet. The savings in running enough lights almost pays for the cubes.
Second - no need to transplant. Unless you are starting plants to sell, there is no need to ever pot these up. They can grow to full transplant size in just the cubes. The roots will nearly fill them but the plants stay stocky and grow quickly. Imagine how much time is saved by not having to transplant 500 seedlings, plus not having to buy any potting mix or more pots.
I also sell plants so did need to transplant some. Piece of cake. Add a small amount of potting mix in the bottom of the cells, place the cube in it and fill around the sides. The seedlings never missed a beat and grew faster than I experience transplanting into potting mix only.
Third - ease of watering. It is next to impossible to overwater these things. I built a very simple box with 2.75" sides, threw a piece of plastic over it, set the trays in it and added water until the box was filled. That was it! After the water evaporates or is soaked up by the plants, add more. I use a small water pump that was used in a hydro grow. If one wants to add nuits, mix them in the water. The roots will actually grow out the bottom of the nursery flats.
Hardening off - this was not a concern for me this year, as the plants grew in a greenhouse where they got plenty of direct sunlight and with a fan, wind. But even if I did have to move them outside into the sun and then back inside, moving a tray of 162 plants at a time is far easier than nursery flats of 36-72 at once.
Germination rates - I experienced anything from 75-94 percent, depending on the variety. Most of the varieties were in the upper-80 to mid-90 range. And that was sowing only one seed per cell.
I highly recommend these things and no, I do not own stock in the company - only found they are the cat's meow when it comes to raising seedlings.
Mike
First - The number that can be grown in a small space. I can start 486 plants in a space as small as 31x22" or double that in under 10 square feet. The savings in running enough lights almost pays for the cubes.
Second - no need to transplant. Unless you are starting plants to sell, there is no need to ever pot these up. They can grow to full transplant size in just the cubes. The roots will nearly fill them but the plants stay stocky and grow quickly. Imagine how much time is saved by not having to transplant 500 seedlings, plus not having to buy any potting mix or more pots.
I also sell plants so did need to transplant some. Piece of cake. Add a small amount of potting mix in the bottom of the cells, place the cube in it and fill around the sides. The seedlings never missed a beat and grew faster than I experience transplanting into potting mix only.
Third - ease of watering. It is next to impossible to overwater these things. I built a very simple box with 2.75" sides, threw a piece of plastic over it, set the trays in it and added water until the box was filled. That was it! After the water evaporates or is soaked up by the plants, add more. I use a small water pump that was used in a hydro grow. If one wants to add nuits, mix them in the water. The roots will actually grow out the bottom of the nursery flats.
Hardening off - this was not a concern for me this year, as the plants grew in a greenhouse where they got plenty of direct sunlight and with a fan, wind. But even if I did have to move them outside into the sun and then back inside, moving a tray of 162 plants at a time is far easier than nursery flats of 36-72 at once.
Germination rates - I experienced anything from 75-94 percent, depending on the variety. Most of the varieties were in the upper-80 to mid-90 range. And that was sowing only one seed per cell.
I highly recommend these things and no, I do not own stock in the company - only found they are the cat's meow when it comes to raising seedlings.
Mike
